ABOUT BEAR BASICS
meet the team behind bear basics.
PET GUNDOG BEHAVIOURISTS - WEST YORKSHIRE & ONLINE
We're Nick and Yas - co-founders, countryside people, and genuinely obsessed with helping pet gundog owners build the life with their dog they always imagined.
WHO WE ARE
hi, we're nick & yas.
our 6o-day behaviour-led programme for pet gundog owners.
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, quite country walks, farming, gundogs, and a genuine love for the working dog lifestyle. Their approach is to work with instincts, build real understanding, and create calmer, more connected partnerships.
Whether they're training or out exploring with their own dogs, they live and breathe this world.
WHAT DRIVES US
our why behind bear basics.
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.
Our vision is 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.
"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."
nick & yas - bear basics
100 +
FIVE-STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS
60
DAY STRUCTURED PROGRAMME
uk & online
IN-PERSON & WORLD-WIDE
instinct
We work with what a dog was built to do, not against it.
partnership
The goal is always a calm, more connected relationship between dog and owner.
grit
Real progress takes consistency. We're here for the lone game. not quick fixes.
THE STORY BEHIND IT ALL
nick & sid's story
My journey into dog training started with my Springer Spaniel, Seidon. I brought him home dreaming of off-leash 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, worked
at a dog daycare, took part in mentorships and courses and kept learning through gundog clubs, dog sports, and hands-on experience.
One of my favourite chapters was fostering a working-line German Shepherd called Luna for six months. She was smart, intense, and full of character - and she taught me a huge amount while we had an absolute blast together.
Now, at Bear Basics, I specialise in helping owners of driven, working-line gundog breeds understand their dogs better, work with their instincts and build a calmer, more balanced life together.
