we don’t train over instincts,
we work with them.
Bear Basics started with a Springer called Seidon.
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Like a lot of first-time owners, Nick got a working breed thinking it’d be fun.
Adventures, focus, drive, it looked ideal. But the reality hit hard. Seidon was intense. Reactive. Obsessive. Every walk felt like a battle. Nick was overwhelmed and grieving the bond he thought they’d have.
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It all changed when he stopped trying to fix Seidon and started trying to understand him.
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He learned that pet gundogs aren’t wired like other dogs. They’re instinct-led, sensitive, and bred for a job. And when that job isn’t being fulfilled? That’s when the behaviour struggles begin.
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By working with Seidon’s instincts, not against them, things finally clicked. Calm came naturally. The chaos eased. The connection came back.
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That journey is what shaped Bear Basics.
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Today, we help pet gundog owners do the same, through behaviour-led, breed-aware support that works in real life, not just in theory.
hi, i’m nick. behaviourist, co-founder, and lifelong working breed nerd.
I help owners understand their dogs on a deeper level, not just train them, but really get them. My approach is rooted in behaviour, instinct, and respect for what these dogs were bred to do.
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Before Bear Basics, I was just another overwhelmed owner with a reactive Springer and a head full of questions. Seidon taught me more than any textbook could about drive, sensitivity, and how hard it can feel when your dog’s struggling and nothing seems to help.
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Now, I specialise in helping owners of working breeds move from stress and frustration to calm, connection and confidence, through behaviour-first, breed-aware coaching that actually makes sense for your dog’s instincts and your lifestyle.
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When I’m not working with clients, you’ll find me out with Sid, obsessing over training theory, or getting way too excited about a good gundog session.
what's a pet gundog?
A pet gundog is exactly what it sounds like, a working gundog breed living the pet life. These dogs were bred for hunting and retrieving, with instincts and energy levels that come straight from generations of fieldwork.
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Even if your dog’s not out in the countryside competing in trials or on a shoot, they still carry those natural drives deep down. That means they need more than just the usual “sit, stay, good boy.” They need outlets for their energy and minds, and training that gets what makes them tick.
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Ignore those instincts and you’ll probably end up with behaviours that drive you mad, think pulling on the lead, chasing squirrels, barking, or just constant restlessness.
At Bear Basics, we specialise in helping you understand and work with those instincts, so your gundog isn’t just a pet, they’re a happy, fulfilled partner in your life.
the dogs of bear basics
Here are just a few of the brilliant dogs we’ve supported, each one with their own quirks, challenges and story. Some are still in progress, some have come a long way, all of them remind us why this work matters.
leo - show cocker spaniel
troy - springer spaniel
elsa - german shorthaired pointer
willow - cocker spaniel
mungo - labrador retriever
goose - cocker spaniel
ozzy - labrador retriever
cooper - golden retriever
one programme. two ways to work with us.
Our Calm by Nature programme is designed for pet gundog owners who are feeling overwhelmed, burnt out or just stuck in the chaos.
Whether you’re based near Wakefield or across the UK (and even globally), we offer the same level of support, tailored to your dog, your lifestyle, and your goals.
in-person support (wakefield)
↟ 3-month behavioural coaching programme
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↟ 6 sessions (1:1 in-person)
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↟ Daily check-ins​
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↟ Real-life training in the environments that matter
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↟ Support for recall, reactivity, over-arousal, and more
online support (global)
↟ Same programme, delivered virtual
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↟ Daily check-ins
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↟ Tailored advice with flexibility
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↟ Just as effective as in-person, without the travel
↟ Support for recall, reactivity, over-arousal, and more
Words from previous clients