Bear Basics Canine Academy

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Bear Basics Canine Academy

Bear Basics Canine Academy 🪶 Behaviour training for pet gundogs
🐻 Helping working breeds thrive in pet homes
🧬 Training that honours your dog's instincts
🌲 Get started today

02/04/2025

Spring training tip👇🏼

Spring is here, and with it comes ALL the distractions. Birds, fresh scents, and lots of wildlife. For many dogs, this can be the ultimate test!

Training tip: gradually increase distractions in a controlled way. Instead of expecting perfection straight away in the middle of a field that’s littered with wildlife and scents, build up their ability to work around distractions by:

↟ Starting in low-distraction areas and reinforcing where appropriate.

↟ Gradually moving to more stimulating environment (fields, woods, open spaces)

↟ Using ‘rest’ exercises like heel work, place training or engagement drills

Spring training is about patience, proofing and progress, it’s totally normal for your dog to struggle at first (but neither should you set them up to fail) but consistency will help them succeed! 🙌🏼

What’s the biggest springtime distraction for your dog? Let’s hear it👇🏼🌸

01/04/2025

Got a working breed that keeps you on your toes? You’re not alone! Our free Facebook group is a friendly space for owners of high-energy breeds to share wins, get training tips, and chat with people who just get it.

Come join used we’d love to have you! Link to join is on our page 🫶🏼🐻🌲

26/03/2025

Quick fixes may give temporary results, but they don’t create lasting change 👎🏼

At Bear Basics, we believe in training that’s rooted in a holistic approach that looks at the whole picture of your dogs life, not just the unwanted behaviours they’re showing.

In doing so we create long-lasting training and lifelong partnerships 🫶🏼

If you’re feeling stuck and need support tailored to your dog, send us a message and let’s chat about how we can help! 🐻🌲

23/03/2025

My journey with Sid 🌊

It all started with my own dog, Seidon, a Springer Spaniel. Seven years ago, I was like many new dog owners, excited to have a dog, inspired by the world of gundogs, and eager to experience all those thrilling activities I had seen. I thought owning a Spaniel would be the perfect way to dive in. But I quickly realised how wrong I was.

Seidon’s high energy, strong instincts, and reactivity made everyday life feel like a battle. Walks were exhausting. All he wanted to do was chase, hunt, and sniff, not to mention his constant barking at everything. I felt completely out of control.

I knew I had to do something different. I wanted to help Seidon get the fulfilment he needed while building a balanced, cooperative relationship. But finding the right training for such a driven, working breed was a real challenge.

That’s when I started to truly understand and work with Seidon’s genetic instincts. I learned how to manage his energy, redirect his focus, and channel his drive into positive outlets. Over time, everything changed. His behaviour improved, and I finally started enjoying fulfilling walks with a happy, balanced dog.

If you’re struggling with your own high-drive dog, know that it can get better. It takes understanding, patience, and the right training to work with your dog’s instincts and turn challenges into strengths. Trust me, it’s worth it 🪶🫶🏼🌲

19/03/2025

High-energy dog? Don’t skip the rest! 💤

It’s easy to focus on keeping your dog busy, but downtime is just as important as activity, especially for working breeds. Proper rest helps them reset, stay focused, and avoid constant over-arousal.

Think about your dog’s rest/sleep schedule, are they getting enough quality rest? Let us know in the comments! 👇🏼🪶🌲

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14/03/2025

Building a strong bond with your working dog isn’t just about obedience, it’s about trust, connection, and shared experiences 🐻

Whether it’s through training, play, or quality moments together, there are so many ways to strengthen your relationship and become the team your dog needs.

These 5 tips will help you build a better bond with your dog, from giving them purpose to creating clear boundaries, it all counts.

Drop a comment below and let us know what your favourite way to bond with your dog is?👇🏼

11/03/2025

Sid loving his gundog training lately! 🪶 Watching him nail those retrieves is always a joy.

💨

21/02/2025

Providing only fulfilment will stop all behavioural issues. True or False?🤔

12/02/2025

Can a working dog be a pet? 🤔

It’s a common question, and the answer depends on understanding the breed’s needs. Working dogs are bred for tasks like herding, guarding, retrieving, and tracking. They often have high energy, intense drives, and thrive on both physical and mental challenges.

Yes, they can make wonderful pets, but only if their unique needs are met. Here’s how:

↟ Structure & Boundaries: Working dogs thrive with structure and clear, consistent boundaries. Knowing what’s expected of them helps build confidence and reduces unwanted behaviours.

↟ Mental & Physical Fulfilment: Walks alone won’t cut it. These dogs need a combination of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Activities like scent work, agility, retrieving, or protection sports are essential to keep their bodies and minds engaged.

↟ Channel Their Drives: Honouring their instincts is critical. Let herding breeds practice controlled herding, retrievers retrieve, and tracking dogs engage in scent work. Redirecting natural behaviours into appropriate outlets prevents frustration.

↟ Rest & Relaxation: High-drive dogs often struggle with “switching off.” Teaching them how to relax with a solid “settle” cue and promoting calm behaviours in the home is key to helping them adapt to family life.

With the right environment, training, and dedication, working dogs can transition beautifully into pet life.

Do you own a working breed? What’s been your biggest challenge or success?

Share below!👇🏼

24/01/2025

True or False: Obedience alone will solve your dog’s reactivity🤔

What do you think? Share your thoughts below, let’s hear your experiences and opinions! 👇🏼🐻🌲

10/01/2025

You may be helping someone else out by sharing!👇🏼

22/12/2024

2024…Wow what a year!

We’d be lying if we said it hasn’t come with its ups and downs and it truly has been an emotional rollercoaster for a number of reasons which we don’t need to go into detail about! As business owners, this year has taught us a lot.

We will say one thing though, and that’s make sure no matter what you do in life, give it your all, you show up, you work hard and if you fail that’s okay, you get up and you try even harder! Trust the process and you will prevail!

We have met some incredible people this year and people we’re so grateful for them being in our life. But, unfortunately on the flip side, please do be careful with who you trust and who you think has your back as they will drop you in a second.

We’re so very thankful for all the owners and dogs we have helped this year, all the projects and transformations we have accomplished along the way! Watching owners love their dogs to the fullest is what makes this job special.

If 2024 was a difficult one for you and you felt like you haven’t done all you can don’t worry you aren’t alone! We have a whole new year to start over from scratch if you need to. We are thankful for so much in our lives and we sure as hell wanna smash this out the park going into next year.

Thank you guys for supporting our small business and making our job one that we can love and enjoy, despite its flaws.

Here’s to a new year with new goals, new friends, new adventures🌲

Much love from all at Bear Basics!🫶🏼🐻

Can we also just appreciate this amazing piece of work by - she’s definitely one of the best things to happen in our small world in 2024 and we can’t wait to work with her in the near future😊

27/11/2024

Decompression walks 🥾🌲

Taking your dog on regular decompression walks are amazing, not just for them, but for you as well.

They’re especially great for reactive dogs too and if your dog has to be on a longline or flexi, they can still receive the same benefits🙌🏼

But what are the benefits of decompression walks?

↟ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳: Just like us, dogs can feel stress from daily life, training and even urban environments. Decompression walks give them a chance to relax, explore and reset, which can lead to improved behaviour and reduced anxiety.

↟ 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Dogs love sniffing, exploring, and observing the environment, and decompression walks allow them to do so freely. This stimulates their minds, gives them natural outlets and leaves them more satisfied after a walk.

↟ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱: Spending time in nature without pressure can enhance the bond between you and your dog. You’re both on the same pace, exploring together, which helps build trust and connection.

↟ 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝘄-𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Decompression walks aren’t about structured exercise. They give dogs a chance to move at their own pace, making the walk about freedom rather than following commands.

↟ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆: Dogs who tend to be reactive can benefit greatly from decompression walks, as these walks allow them to be in less stimulating environments and give them more time to process their surroundings in a relaxed way.

↟ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿: Decompression walks encourage natural dog behaviours like sniffing, sitting and exploring, which is highly rewarding for them and allows them to tap into their instincts.

↟ 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: These walks can be perfect for practising loose-lead walking in a low-pressure setting. It’s a gentle way to reinforce positive walking behaviour without added stress.

If you value your dog’s well-being and want a deeper, calmer connection with your dog, decompression walks are definitely worth a try!🏔️🌲

17/11/2024

A tool is just a tool 🤠

You can put whatever piece of equipment you want on your dog, it won’t make much difference if you don’t have the necessary skills and knowledge to use that tool effectively.

Take photography for example-buying a camera or lens with better specs won’t automatically make you take better photos, it’s the person behind the camera that needs to have a certain amount of knowledge and skillset in order to create a good final photo.

Same goes for dog training.

You may think an e-collar will give your dog better recall, a prong collar will give you better reactivity results, a harness will stop your dog from pulling, so on and so forth…but without knowing why you’re using that tool and how to effectively use it on your dog and in your training sessions, it’s useless and in some cases, you’ll find it makes things worse which is how tools get bad reps.

Let’s stop slapping tools on our dogs and hoping for an outcome.

Let’s start learning about our dogs behaviour and how to change it without tools being the forefront🐻🌲 via .app

09/11/2024

A very common problem a lot of dog owners encounter🐻🌲

05/11/2024

We like to keep it positive here, but sometimes it’s important to share the less visible side of being a dog trainer, beyond what you might see on Instagram.

What’s shared online is only the tip of the iceberg. Being a dog trainer can look like a dream job—working with dogs all day, helping clients achieve amazing results, and sharing all those wins. But behind the scenes, it’s much more complex. We handle difficult cases, work through behavioral setbacks, and spend hours on planning, admin, and continued education. Some days are incredibly rewarding, but others test our patience and resilience in ways you might not expect.

For anyone else out there—trainers or dog owners—dealing with the struggles that can come with training, remember: you’re not alone. Every small step forward is a huge achievement, and we’re here to support each other through both the high points and the challenges. Here’s to embracing the full journey, with all its ups and downs🐻🌲

31/10/2024

𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗼🎈

Happy Halloween from the Bear Basics Gang! Had so much fun shooting this years photos🤡🐻

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