🐾 Stonehaven • Aberdeen • Scotland  •  24hr face-to-face

Face-to-face support for Mental Health with Animal Intervention.

Yogi and Cindy Bears provide an alternative type of therapy to medications — with our specially trained Newfoundland dogs, professional handlers and mental-health practitioners. We also provide Water Safety & Drowning Prevention.

Get support → 🌊 Water safety
0hrCrisis face-to-face support
0 pathwaysVaried support for all needs
0 dog teamsRescue • Therapy • Water therapy

Registered Scottish Charity SC054134 • Verify on OSCR →

Yogi and Cindy — two black Newfoundland water-rescue dogs in red vests on a rocky Scottish shore
🆘First Responders + AAITherapists • Handlers • Dogs
🌊RLSS Drowning PreventionBeach patrols • School talks
What is Animal Assisted Intervention?

An alternative to medication — with paws, presence and professionals.

At Yogi and Cindy Bears we provide an alternative type of therapy to medications which comes under the realm of Animal Assisted Intervention.

Our trained First Responders and Mental Health practitioners, along with our community dog programme, use the AAI technique — where our specially trained dogs and professional handlers work together in conjunction with a human-services professional (e.g. therapist, social-care practitioner, teacher or healthcare provider).

To promote improvements in the physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning of a person. These interventions are designed to meet particular goals to support that individual’s needs.

💪 Physical🤝 Social💛 Emotional🧠 Cognitive
Newfoundland therapy dog surrounded by smiling school children

Therapy visits to hospitals, care homes, schools and community groups — one-to-one or small groups. Real photo © Yogi & Cindy Bears.

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Clinical + canine together

Handlers + dogs co-work with your therapist, teacher, GP or support worker — never instead of them.

🎯

Goal-led sessions

Every plan starts with your goals: confidence, routine, mobility, communication, or simply getting through the week.

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Gentle giants

Newfoundlands are calm, strong and intuitive — ideal for grounding, breathing work and non-verbal connection.

Our support is varied and can include

Seven ways we show up, face-to-face.

From workplaces to watersides — individuals and groups, in person, with dogs by our side.

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Workplaces that prevent burnout

Working with companies and staff to prevent falling into ill mental health — early, practical, human.

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1-to-1 & group support

Support to individuals and groups, including 24hr crisis face-to-face presence with Animal Intervention.

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Social confidence

Assisting individuals that struggle with social interaction — dogs make the first hello easier.

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Mobility & motor skills

Assisting with physical mobility — fine and gross motor skills through brushing, leading, walking and play.

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Bridge to treatment

Psychosocial support to help you access medical treatment — we go with you, literally.

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Assistance-dog rights

Workshops on right of access with medical support / assistance dogs — know your rights, use them calmly.

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RLSS drowning prevention

Educational talks on drowning prevention (RLSS) for schools, groups and shoreline communities.

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Need us now?

We offer 24hr face-to-face crisis support. Tap below — a human (and a Newfoundland) will help.

Get help →

Three specialist teams

Medical dogs, rescue dogs, water-therapy dogs.

All our dogs are fully trained, fully equipped, and endlessly patient. Handlers are trained water / first responders.

Therapy dog with children
Therapy & Medical Assistance

Medical Assisted Activities & Therapy Dogs

Working with adults and children across autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, rehab needs, mental-health conditions, social isolation and dementia. Positive outcomes for depression, anxiety and stress — in hospitals, care homes, schools and with other charities.

  • One-to-one + small groups
  • Hospitals • schools • care homes
  • Behavioural & wellbeing gains
Handler swimming with Newfoundland rescue dog
Water Rescue Service

Water Rescue Service Dogs

Fully trained for sea, loch and river rescue — exceptional swimmers deployable from shore, boat or helicopter. They search open and moving water, support rescue teams, and comfort the public.

  • Beach patrols through the seasons
  • Water-hazard education
  • Ongoing water + obedience training
Newfoundland in red rescue vest with goggles on beach
Water Therapy

Water Medical Assistance & Therapy Dogs

Safe, therapeutic sessions in the water — dogs wear buoyancy jackets you can hold as they swim. One session can be life-changing. Emotional + physical support, adapted to every body and every feeling.

  • All ages & abilities
  • Life-jacket swims with dogs
  • Calm, adaptive handling

Who we help

AutismLearning disabilitiesPhysical disabilitiesRehabilitationMental-health conditionsSocial isolationDementiaDepressionAnxiety & stressBehavioural needsSchools & youthHospitals & care homesWorkplacesEmergency services
Water Safety • RLSS • Drowning Prevention

Respect the water. We’ll teach you how.

Yogi and Cindy on patrol overlooking the sea

Our dogs don’t just comfort — they rescue. Alongside patrols we run educational workshops and RLSS talks on drowning prevention for schools, businesses and community groups.

  • 🎓 Educational workshops — RLSS drowning-prevention talks for all ages
  • 🏖️ Beach patrols throughout the seasons, talking water hazards with the public
  • 🚤 Water safety cover for other organisations & events
  • 🦺 Handlers = First Responders — dogs in constant water training
  • 🔎 Search support — open & moving water, including detection work
Book a school / group talk →
Meet the Bears

Not cartoon characters — Newfoundlands.

Yogi & Cindy are a remarkable team of black Newfoundlands — bred for water, built for cuddles, expertly trained in rescue, detection and therapy. The most advanced Animal Assisted Intervention team in the UK, from Aberdeenshire.

Close view of Yogi and Cindy in rescue vests
Yogi swimming

Yogi 🐾

Power swimmer. Search & rescue lead. Loves a job, lives for the water.

Cindy on beach

Cindy 🐾

Therapy star. Gentle with kids, hospitals & nervous swimmers. Professional poser.

How do sessions work?

You tell us your goal. We match you with the right dog + handler + professional (therapist, teacher, support worker). Sessions can be on land, in water, 1-to-1 or in a small group — always face-to-face in your community.

Do I need a referral?

No. Individuals, families, schools, NHS teams, employers and charities can all contact us directly at info@yogicindybears.com or 07345 447863.

Is this a replacement for medication or a GP?

No — we’re an alternative / complement under Animal Assisted Intervention, working with your healthcare providers, not instead of them. If you’re in crisis now, call Samaritans 116 123 or dial 999.

24hr • Face-to-face • With dogs

You don’t have to do this alone.

Message us for mental-health support, AAI sessions, workplace help, assistance-dog workshops, or RLSS water-safety talks. We reply as fast as humans (and Newfoundlands) can.

✉️ info@yogicindybears.com 📞 07345 447863 💬 Facebook — YOGI & CINDY BEARS

📍 Stonehaven • Aberdeen • Scotland  •  Scottish Charity SC054134
If you may act on thoughts of suicide now: call Samaritans 116 123 or 999.

Request support

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💛 Support the Bears

We’re a small Scottish charity with very large dogs. Donations fund training, vests, fuel for beach patrols, and free crisis visits.

Crowdfunder →Instagram

🏫 Schools • NHS • Employers • Charities

Invite therapy visits, water-therapy sessions, or RLSS talks. Tell us group size, ages and goals — we’ll design the session.

Book us →
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