meet the team behind bear basics. hi, we’re nick & yas!
Pet Gundog Behaviourists — West Yorkshire & Online
Co-founders of Bear Basics, Nick and Yas are all about helping you and your working breed dog find balance and understanding. Nick’s the behaviour nerd, Yas runs the show behind the scenes (and behind the camera).
They’re countryside through and through, think muddy boots, equine, farming, gundogs, and a love for the working dog lifestyle. Their approach? Work with instincts, not against them, and build calmer, more connected partnerships.
Whether they’re training or out exploring with their own dogs, they live and breathe this world and they’re here to help you do the same.
mission & values
For us, there's so much more to training than fixing a problem behaviour, we build real connections and partnerships that make life better for both ends of the lead. Every dog has its own story, shaped by instinct, genetics, and environment, and every owner deserves the tools to understand that story, not just survive it.
Our mission is to give pet gundog owners the understanding they were never given, so that life with their dog becomes what it was always supposed to be.
And our vision? A future where gundog owners feel supported, educated, and part of something bigger. A space that replaces overwhelm with clear advice, relatable content, and resources that actually raise the bar for these brilliant but often misunderstood breeds. We’re not just here for quick wins, we’re building a community for owners who want to do right by their dogs without running themselves into the ground.
↟ instinct
↟ partnership
↟ grit
diving deeper. nick and sids story
My journey into dog training started with my Springer Spaniel, Seidon. I brought him home dreaming of off-lead freedom and adventure, but what I got was far from that. His reactivity, drive, and nonstop energy left me overwhelmed and out of my depth. Nothing seemed to work until I stopped fighting his instincts and started working with them. That shift changed everything. Walks became enjoyable, our bond got stronger, and I finally felt confident handling him.
From there, I was hooked. I shadowed experienced trainers while working at a doggy daycare, took part in many mentorships and courses and have kept learning ever since, through gundog clubs, dog sports, and hands-on experience.
One of my favourite chapters? Fostering a working-line German Shepherd called Luna for six months. She was smart, intense, and full of character and she taught me loads while we had an absolute blast together.
Now, at Bear Basics, I specialise in helping owners of driven, working breeds understand their dogs better, work with their instincts, and build a calmer, more balanced life together.
a little bit about us
↟ nick
↟ hobbies: training with Sid, gundog work, hiking, camping, field sports, gym, fishing
↟ pets: Sid the Springer Spaniel, formerly fostered Luna the GSD (hopefully a puppy soon!)
↟ favourite foods: a proper roast, burgers, anything cooked over fire
↟ favourite drinks: old fashioned, strong coffee, and good beer
↟ perfect weekend: early start, dogs in the truck, out training or exploring somewhere quiet, pub lunch after, then back for a nap on the sofa (dog included)
↟ yas
↟ hobbies: gundog work, reading, hiking, camping, horse riding, photography, anything horror and gothic related
↟ pets: Sid the Springer Spaniel (even though he's Nicks), hopefully my own Labrador one day!
↟ favourite foods: pizza, anything meaty, mint choclate
↟ favourite drinks: pepsi max, a good cuppa (anything other than Yorkshire tea is wrong)
↟ perfect weekend: similar to Nicks -> early start, dogs in the truck, out on a hack or exploring somewhere quiet, pub lunch after, then back for a nap on the sofa (dog included)
