ABOUT BEAR BASICS
we’ve been where you are.
PET GUNDOG BEHAVIOURISTS - WEST YORKSHIRE & ONLINE
We’re Nick and Yas, gundog owners, co-founders, and the people behind Bear Basics. We know the gap between picturing long walks and a dog who comes everywhere, and finding yourself planning the day around the next walk. We help pet-gundog owners build a clear route towards safe freedom outside, a calmer home, and a dog they can enjoy doing life with.
WHO WE ARE
hi, we're nick & yas.
our 6o-day behaviour-led programme for pet gundog owners.
Nick and Yas run Bear Basics. Nick is the behaviour nerd; Yas runs the show behind the scenes and behind the camera. Together, they help owners of spaniels, retrievers, HPRs, setters and pointers understand the dog in front of them and follow a plan that fits real life.
They’re countryside through and through, muddy boots, field walks, farming, gundogs, and a genuine love of the working-dog life. Their approach is simple: work with a dog’s instincts, explain what is going on, and give owners clear, practical support they can actually use day to day.
Whether they’re training, filming, or out with their own dogs, this is the world they live in. And it is the world they help other pet-gundog owners enjoy more.
WHAT DRIVES US
what we want life to feel like.
“A fuller life for the dog. A clearer one for the owner.”
nick & yas - bear basics
We want you to enjoy an ordinary walk with your dog. We want them to be able to explore outside while staying connected to you, come along to the places you enjoy, and settle when the day is done.
That comes from understanding gundog instinct, giving it a useful outlet, and building the structure that makes daily life easier for both ends of the lead. You need to know what matters first, why it matters, and what to do when real life changes the plan.
Our mission is to give pet-gundog owners the clear, supported guidance they need to build safe freedom outside, calm at home, and a more enjoyable life together.
110 +
FIVE-STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS
60
DAY STRUCTURED PROGRAMME
uk & online
IN-PERSON & WORLD-WIDE
instinct
Gundog drive needs an outlet that makes sense. We build fulfilment, structure, and communication around the dog you actually have.
partnership
The goal is a dog who can enjoy the world and remain connected to you when it matters.
grit
Real progress comes from clear, little-and-often work that fits into everyday life and keeps moving forward.
THE STORY BEHIND IT ALL
nick & sid's story
My journey into dog training started with my Springer Spaniel, Seidon. I brought him home with the picture a lot of owners have: off-lead freedom, long walks, a proper partnership, and a dog who could come along for the ride.
What I had was a dog with huge drive, a lot of opinions about the world, and very little ability to switch off. Walks felt stressful. I was out of my depth and constantly wondering what I had missed.
I tried the usual routes. Some of the advice came with more judgement than explanation, and I came away feeling that I was getting it wrong. What I needed was someone to help me understand the dog in front of me, explain why things were happening, and give me a route I could actually follow.
The turning point came when I stopped working around Seidon’s instincts and started building a life that gave them a useful place to go. Walks became enjoyable. Our communication improved. I could see what he needed from me, and I finally felt confident handling him.
From there, I was hooked. I shadowed experienced trainers, worked at a doggy daycare, took part in mentorships and courses, and kept learning through gundog clubs, dog sports, and hands-on experience. Fostering a working-line German Shepherd called Luna for six months gave me another deep lesson in living with an intense, capable dog while keeping the work enjoyable.
That experience shapes how I work with clients today. I will be clear about what needs to change, explain why we are doing it, and keep the work practical. You will get straight answers, proper support, and a laugh along the way. The programme should feel like something you can get on with, not something you dread.
That is why Bear Basics exists: to give pet-gundog owners a clear, supported route towards safe freedom outside, a calmer home, and a dog they can enjoy doing life with.
