BEAR BASICS CANINE ACADEMY
stop feeling overwhelmed by your gundog's behaviour. start enjoying life together.
A clear, step-by-step programme for gundog owners who are ready for real change.
Over 80 Five-Star Reviews
1,000+ Dogs Helped
If your gundog struggles with overexcitement, reactivity, lead pulling, unreliable recall, poor focus, or anything else that’s making walks or daily life harder than it should be, this gives you a structured way forward over 60 days.
does any of this sound familiar?
Your gundog has unmanageable energy and no ‘off switch’.
They are constantly buzzing and struggling to settle at home, leaving you feeling exhausted.
Your dog ignores you outdoors. They become ‘self-employed’, chasing birds and following scents, while you feel helpless and out of control.
Walks feel stressful and hard. Your dog pulls relentlessly on the lead, and you find yourself dreading every outing instead of enjoying it.
You’ve tried other training with no lasting results. You’re starting to feel the weight of owner burnout and are losing hope.
The reality of owning a gundog is different from what you expected. You researched the breed, but the day-to-day has become a source of constant stress.
You love your dog, but you're starting to feel like you're failing them. You see other people with calm, responsive dogs and wonder, "What am I doing wrong?"
THE PROGRAMME
calm by nature
A clear, step-by-step programme designed to help overwhelmed gundog owners move from constant stress to calm. With personalised, behaviour-led support, your dog learns how to relax at home, listen more reliably outdoors, manage impulses, and cope better with the world around them.
We work with your dog's natural instincts, not against them. By focusing on the underlying drivers of their behaviour, we create lasting change.
01
foundations
02
key skills
03
fulfilment
04
settling
We start by building food drive, clear communication with markers, and solid engagement. This is the bedrock for all future progress.
We teach practical skills for real-world situations, including loose lead walking, reliable recall, and impulse control.
We show you how to provide appropriate outlets for your gundog's natural instincts. A fulfilled dog is a calm and balanced dog.
The final piece is teaching your dog how to genuinely switch off and relax, both at home and in public environments.
Imagine this:
Confident, off-lead walks in your favourite walking spot. A dog who settles quietly under the table at a cosy pub or cafe. The joy of hearing people compliment your dog’s focus and reliability. This is what’s possible.
hear from owners who have got their gundogs under control
from running on overdrive with no ability to settle, to focused, calmer and confidently off-lead.
"Before Bear Basics, Loki was running on overdrive, unable to settle and walks were a struggle. Now he settles much better, listens to what is being asked of him and has even been off lead for the first time ever."
becca & loki - @itsmeloki24
from chaotic, uncontrollable walks to a dog that listens and settles outside.
"Before Bear Basics, walks were a nightmare and we couldn’t trust him off-lead. Now he’s calm on walks, follows boundaries, responds to training, and settles at home. He’s happy, engaged, and life with him is finally enjoyable."
toni & remy - @sprocker.adventures
from pulling, overexcitement, and chasing wildlife to a calm, manageable, and enjoyable companion.
"Since starting with Bear Basics, everything has changed. Walks are calm, he stays on a loose lead, pays attention, and recalls reliably off-lead, even around pheasants. He’s calmer at home, and he gets along with our cat. Changing his diet has even made a positive impact."
holly & cooper
how calm by nature is different from traditional gundog training
traditional training
Training-First Focus
Focus is on teaching obedience and commands, but the underlying issues (reactivity, anxiety, energy) are never truly addressed.
Manages Visible Behaviour
Teaches you how to correct pulling or barking, but the dog is still frustrated underneath.
Short-Term Fixes
Some trainers promise results in a single session or a day. But without addressing the root cause, the behaviour always comes back. It's a temporary patch that keeps you dependent on a trainer.
Session-Based Training: Training happens in a controlled session, but your dog behaves differently at home, and you’re left figuring it out alone.
the calm by nature way
Whole-Dog Approach
We understand your dog as a whole, their instincts, breed drives, daily stress, diet, and routine, and work with all of it.
Focus on Underlying Drivers
We dig into why your dog is reactive or pulling. Once we understand the root cause, we can fix it.
Long-Term, Lasting Change
Build a system that works for your dog's entire life, so you're never dependent on a trainer. Because we resolve the root cause, the behaviour stays changed, and that's better for you and your dog.
Real-Life Training
We train you to handle real situations, in your home and around distractions, so you can apply the system in the moments that matter.
is this programme right for you?
this is for you if...
You’re feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or embarrassed by your dog’s behaviour.
You live with a high-energy gundog (Spaniel, Lab, HPR, etc.) who struggles to settle.
You’re open to doing things differently and want to understand your dog properly.
You have the flexibility to apply changes consistently in everyday life.
You’ve tried other routes and are ready to follow clear, specialist guidance.
this is not for you if...
You’re hoping for a quick fix without putting in the work between sessions.
You’re not open to changing how things are currently done at home.
You mainly want reassurance rather than being guided through change.
You’re unwilling to use practical tools or strategies that support progress.
You’re not ready to make changes yet and prefer to live with the problem for now.
real updates from real owners
a simpler path forward
With the Calm by Nature system, you can get results without:
Endless trial-and-error at home. Stop guessing and follow a clear, repeatable playbook.
Scrolling through conflicting advice online. Get a single, trusted source of guidance tailored to your dog.
Struggling through group classes that make your dog worse or don't fix the behaviour in real-world situations. Get personalised support for your dog’s specific needs.
Figuring it out alone. You’ll have our full support and guidance for the entire 60 days.
Constantly correcting your dog. Learn how to build a partnership where you’re both working together.
your life befor and after calm by nature
without us
Walks are a constant source of stress and pulling.
You can’t trust your dog off-lead and rarely let them run free.
Your dog is wired at home, unable to settle down.
You feel embarrassed by your dog’s behaviour in public.
with calm by nature
Walks are calm, manageable, and enjoyable for both of you.
You have a reliable recall and can give your dog off-lead freedom with confidence.
Your dog can switch off and relax peacefully both at home and on days out.
You feel proud of your dog and confident taking them anywhere.
the results speak for themselves
from pulling and overexcitement to calm, focused walks and a confident dog.
"From day one, we felt understood and supported. The 3-month plan was spot on. It wasn’t a generic training plan, it was tailored to us, with plenty of flexibility. The one-to-one sessions, ongoing feedback and guidance were all invaluable. Nick helped us see not just how Ozzy could improve, but how we could improve as owners, too."
shell & ozzy
from fearful, frustrated walks and zero recall to confident, calm, and reliable outdoors.
"From the moment we got started everything clicked into place, and now Saige’s recall, lead walking, and day to day confidence have all completely levelled up."
lucy & saige - @arloandsaige
from being dragged on walks, lost recall, and relentless jumping, to a dog that walks calmly on the lead, comes back reliably, and settles in the house.
"The transformation has been incredible. Vinnie is so much calmer on walks and in the house... I can now confidently take him out without fear. Three months ago, I didn’t want to leave the house with him. Now, I’m confident and reassured."
stacy & vinnie
from an inability to settle and unreliable recall around other dogs, to a calm, self-regulating companion with reliable recall.
"The improvements that Zeus has made have just been incredible. The recall has gone from 80% right up to 100%. It's made walks so much more enjoyable. He's so much more settled in the house now too. He seems happier, we're less stressed, and it's just easier in general, which is what I really wanted from the start."
aisling & zeus
from a manic and stressful life to enjoyable walks and a completely transformed relationship.
"Now, I understand my dog's needs, our walks are enjoyable, and our relationship has completely transformed. I'm no longer stressed, and my dog is much calmer and happier. This programme was an absolute miracle for us!"
trish & copa
from jumping up, pulling on the lead, and unreliable recall, to a confident, calm companion her owner genuinely enjoys walking.
"So much has changed now. I can let her off, and I feel way more confident. If we see another dog, she comes back to me. I actually enjoy going for a walk with her now. We enjoy her more, feel more confident taking her out, and the kids are happier playing with her. It's definitely a lot easier having her around."
milly & mae
ready to stop guessing and start seeing results?
This isn’t one of those programmes where content trickles out week by week. You get everything on day one, the full tool kit, the roadmap, and our support, so you can start making real change with your gundog straight away. We only take a limited number of owners each month to make sure everyone gets proper hands-on guidance.
Fill out a short form and we'll be in touch to see if we're the right fit.
i created this programme because i was once where you are
Hi, I’m Nick. When I first brought my gundog, Seidon, home, I had a vision of long walks and perfect partnership. The reality was nothing like that. Seidon was reactive, wired, and full of an energy I couldn’t control. Walks were stressful, and I honestly started asking myself, “Am I just not cut out for this?”
I did what everyone does. I tried traditional gundog training, where the answer was always to slap on a slip lead and correct him. It only made things worse. I tried buying all the latest tools and gadgets, hoping for a magic bullet. I even saw trainers for weekly sessions, but the progress we made in the sterile training environment would vanish the second we got back to the real world.
I felt like I was failing him. The problem wasn’t Seidon, and the problem isn’t your dog. It was that I wasn’t working with his instincts. His behaviour was just his breeding screaming out, with no proper outlet.
That’s when I started developing my own system, built around 7 core pillars that address a gundog’s needs from the ground up. Once I started understanding the why behind his behaviour and gave him the right outlets, everything changed. Walks became calm. He grew confident. We finally reconnected. I created Calm By Nature to give other owners the system I wish I’d had, so you can skip the years of frustration I went through.
the people behind the programme
Nick and Yas are the co-founders of Bear Basics, countryside people through and through. Nick is the behaviour specialist; Yas keeps everything running behind the scenes and behind the camera.
Between them, they bring a deep understanding of working breeds, gundog life, and the real day-to-day of owning a driven dog. Their approach has always been the same: work with the dog in front of you, understand the instincts behind the behaviour, and build something that actually lasts.
risk-free calm by nature
We are so confident in our ability to help you and your dog that we offer a full money-back guarantee. If you complete the programme, do the homework, and don't see a significant improvement in your dog's behaviour, we'll refund your investment.
are you ready for a calm, confident gundog?
You can keep hoping your dog will "grow out of it," or you can follow a clear, step-by-step system designed by a gundog specialist who has been in your shoes.
1
fill out your application
Click the button below and tell us about your dog and your goals. It only takes a few minutes.
2
chat with nick
If we think we're a good fit, we'll invite you to a free, no-obligation 30-minute call.
3
start your programme
If you decide to move forward, we'll get you onboarded and begin your 60-day journey.
There’s no obligation. The first step is just a conversation to see if we can help.