TRAINING & BEHAVIOUR SPECIALISTS FOR GUNDOGS IN FAMILY HOMES
- IN-PERSON & ONLINE
you love your dog, but blimey, they're a lot.
You chose a gundog for long walks, days out and a dog who could come everywhere. But right now they pull, disappear into the world outside or make every outing feel like hard work. Bear Basics helps gundog owners build safer freedom outside, more enjoyable walks and a dog they can include in everyday plans.
Prefer a quick, informal chat? Message Nick on WhatsApp
110 + FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
IN-PERSON & ONLINE - UK, EUROPE, USA & CANADA
GUNDOG SPECIALISTS
SOUND FAMILIAR?
when the outside world takes over.
You might recognise one of these or all four. Either way, it's tiring when a walk becomes something you manage rather than enjoy.
the long line has become permanent.
scent, wildlife or movement takes over.
they pull and pull and pull.
they spot something and lock on.
There is no recall once your dog is into a scent, sees wildlife or finds something more interesting than you.
You brace before leaving the house, and a simple walk can leave you dragged, embarrassed or worn out before you have properly got going.
Birds, rabbits, a ball or a good scent can make your dog feel unreachable, leaving you constantly looking over your shoulder.
A dog, person, runner, bike, animal or movement in the distance can make them freeze, stare, bark, lunge or become impossible to reach, and a normal outing starts to feel like something to avoid.
If your dog is also always on the go at home or struggles to switch off after a busy day, we can build that into the plan too.
You may have tried longer walks, treats, whistle practice, classes, trainers, videos and advice from every direction. You may even have had a good session, then watched it disappear when a scent, another dog or open space became more interesting.What is missing is a clear order of work that makes sense for a gundog and the walks and outings you want to have together.
SUPPORT THAT FITS THE DOG IN FORONT OF YOU
two clear routes.
one better life together
Whether you need a structured route over eight weeks or a focused in-person intensive, we will help you work towards walks that feel less restricted and a dog who is easier to reach outside.
calm by nature
The clear eight-week route.
For owners who need a structured plan and consistent support to improve walks, recall, lead skills, a proper outlet and the day-to-day life around their dog over time.
bear basics bootcamp
The focused four-day intensive.
For owners who want concentrated, in-person work on the parts of a walk that feel hardest: pulling, long-line life, unreliable recall and a dog who gets carried away outside.
Tailored eight-week roadmap
Pre-bootcamp preparation
In person or online
Four owner-and-dog training days
Direct support throughout
Four weeks’ follow-up support
REAL OWNERS. REAL RESULTS
they had already tried. this is what changed.
charlotte & mable
FROM BOLTING AND UNCONTROLLABLE TO RECALLED AND FREE
colleen & pearl
FROM UNABLE TO SETTLE AND EXHAUSTING TO LIVE WITH, TO CALM, OFF-LEAD AND THRIVING
steve & marley
FROM OVERSTIMULATED, NO RECALL AND UNMANAGEABLE, TO CALM, FOCUSED AND FULFILLED
"in 3 weeks, nick helped me get mable off the lead and her recall is so much more reliable. another dog owner even commented on how well-behaved she is. sometimes i just have to pinch myself that this is no longer just a dream."
"the change in pearl during the first week was remarkable. we are now enjoying off-leash walks in parks, at the beach, in forests and across grasslands without the struggle we had before. people now comment on how well behaved she is,"
"fast forward 60 days and marley is a completely different dog, happy, focused and fulfilled. he walks beautifully on a loose lead, and his recall is something that makes me wish everybody was watching. i only wish we'd started sooner."
CHARLOTTE - SHEFFIELD
COLLEEN - CALIFORNIA
STEVE - LEEDS
FIVE-STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS
IN-PERSON & WORLD-WIDE
110 +
gundog behaviour specialists
SUPPORT BUILT AROUND REAL LIFE
uk & online
THE PEOPLE BEHIND BEAR BASICS
hi, we're nick & yas.
our 6o-day behaviour-led programme for pet gundog owners.
Bear Basics started with a Springer called Seidon. Like a lot of owners, Nick had the picture in his head: long walks, a dog who could come everywhere and a proper partnership. The reality was an intense, reactive dog and a walk that felt like a battle. Everything changed when we stopped trying to fight him and learned how to work with the dog in front of us. That is the clear, practical support we now give gundog owners — with straight talk and a laugh along the way.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOG
what makes a gundog different in a family home?
A gundog is a spaniel, retriever, HPR, setter, or pointer bred to hunt, search, retrieve, range, and notice movement, now living as part of a family.
Those instincts still need a useful place to go. Fulfilment, boundaries, and communication work together to make daily life feel easier. They help you stay relevant when scent, birds, the ball, the hedge, or another dog becomes exciting.
The Gundog Owner’s Field Guide explains this in more detail, with practical prompts to help you understand the dog in front of you and what is worth looking at first.
spaniels
Bred to flush game from cover. Nose-led, fast, and often still ready to go long after you are not. They need more than physical exercise; they need a useful outlet.
retrievers
Bred to mark, remember, retrieve, and work closely with people. Sensitive and capable, but often overwhelmed when their need to carry, search, and use their brain has nowhere to go.
hpr's (hunt, point, retrieve)
Vizslas, Weimaraners, German Shorthaired Pointers, etc. Bred to hunt, point, and retrieve over distance. Independent, observant, and full of stamina. They need a clear role, structure, and an owner who understands the drive behind the behaviour.
pointers & setters
Bred to cover ground and lock onto scent and movement. Their calm exterior can hide a very active brain. They need fulfilment, communication, and real-world reliability.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
ready for a clearer route forward?
Tell us what walks and outings look like right now, what you have already tried and what you would like to be different.Nick will help you work out the most useful next step for you and your dog.
Still making sense of what is going on? Read the free Gundog Owner’s Field Guide