Rewriting the Rules: Raising Dogs with Heart, Science and Soul

In this episode of Rewriting the Rules, we explore what it really means to build a meaningful relationship with a dog, and why obedience is not the same as understanding. Rather than focusing on commands like sit, stay, or down, this conversation looks at life skills that help dogs live safely and confidently in the real world. We explore the difference between training behaviours and teaching concepts, and why blind obedience can limit a dog’s ability to think, adapt, and make safe decisions on their own. Using real-life examples such as waiting at doors, loose lead walking, and everyday boundaries, this episode shows how dogs can learn safety and self-regulation without rigid positions, constant management, or repetitive training routines. We discuss why teaching concepts like waiting, pacing, and awareness creates more reliable behaviour than obedience alone, and how this approach supports emotional wellbeing and trust. This episode is for anyone who wants to move beyond control-based thinking and build a deeper, more ethical, and more effective way of living with dogs. If you care about safety, behaviour, and genuine connection, this episode will help you rethink what dogs really need to learn.   Further resources  Free Learning: Patreon Page  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Patreon Page Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.

Dog Play: What’s Healthy, What Isn’t, and Why It Matters More Than You Think   Dog play is one of the most misunderstood topics in the dog world. In this episode, we explore what healthy dog play actually looks like, what is commonly mistaken for play, and why getting this wrong can quietly contribute to stress, over-arousal, and behaviour struggles. We talk about the emotional state behind play, the importance of consent, pauses, self-limiting behaviour, and choice, and why intensity does not automatically mean enjoyment. You’ll learn how to recognise when play is genuinely regulating, and when it is driven by over-arousal, frustration, social pressure, or stress release.   This episode also explores the difference between dog-to-dog play and human-led games such as fetch or tug, why not all dogs enjoy play, and why forcing play or using it as an “outlet” can backfire for sensitive or reactive dogs. Rather than focusing on rules or management, this conversation invites you to slow down, observe more closely, and rethink play through a relationship-led, emotionally informed lens. If you want to support calmer behaviour, emotional regulation, and genuine wellbeing, this episode will change how you see play forever.   Further resources  Free Learning: Patreon Page  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Patreon Page Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.

In this episode, we explore diet and nutrition through a much wider lens than calories, protein percentages, or trends.   Food does not just affect the body. It affects the gut. The nervous system. Emotional regulation. And ultimately, behaviour.   We talk about why dogs are facultative carnivores, what that actually means in real life, and why carbohydrates have been so heavily misunderstood and demonised. We explore the importance of balance, individual dogs, and the type and quality of ingredients, rather than extreme or one-size-fits-all feeding rules.   This episode also looks at the gut–brain connection, why feeding the same food every day can negatively affect the microbiome, and how dietary variety supports resilience, emotional steadiness, and long-term wellbeing.   We unpack common pet food marketing tactics, including misleading buzzwords, ingredient list tricks, and the reality behind claims like “no artificial additives” and long lists of added vitamins and minerals.   This episode is not about doing things perfectly. It is about understanding how deeply food and behaviour are linked, and how thoughtful, pressure-free choices can make a meaningful difference to a dog’s physical and emotional health.     If you enjoy these conversations and want to go deeper, there are two additional podcasts each month exclusively inside my Patreon   The Patreon episodes explore the deeper emotional, relational, and philosophical layers of living with dogs through the CDD lens. We slow things down, challenge common assumptions, and talk honestly about behaviour, pressure, and what dogs actually need to feel safe and settled.   If you would like to support the podcast and access those additional episodes, you can join via the link below.   If you want practical guidance alongside the theory, all of my main courses include a comprehensive canine nutrition course, which is currently being fully updated and will be complete by the 1st of February.   The updated nutrition course covers: • How diet affects behaviour and emotional regulation • The gut–brain connection explained clearly and accessibly • Understanding carbohydrates, protein, and balance properly • Reading ingredient lists with confidence • Avoiding common marketing traps • Feeding variety safely and thoughtfully • Home cooking options, from partial to fully prepared diets • Supporting individual dogs rather than feeding by rule   The nutrition course is included as part of all of my main courses, so there is no need to purchase it separately.   It is designed to remove fear, confusion, and pressure around feeding, and replace it with clarity, confidence, and calm decision-making.   Further resources  Free Learning: Patreon Page  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Patreon Page Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.

As our dogs grow older, so do we — not just in years, but in depth, awareness, and presence. In this reflective episode, Bethany shares the emotional landscape of ageing dogs: the quiet grief that begins long before goodbye, the slowing rhythms of daily life, and the sacred shift that happens when we stop rushing and start noticing.   With deeply personal stories of her own dogs — Steve, Dave, and Hank — this episode holds space for the beauty and heartbreak of growing old together. You’ll also hear gentle insights into the physical changes that accompany ageing, and how to support your dog with love, patience, and practical care.   This is an episode for anyone walking beside a grey muzzle… or bracing for the day they will.   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.  

What if the calmest dogs aren’t truly calm — just quietly overwhelmed? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, canine behaviourist and CDD Method creator Bethany Bell explores the widely accepted, yet deeply misleading, idea of the “neutral” dog. You’ll learn why neutrality is often confused with emotional maturity, how stillness can signal shutdown, and why aiming for a dog who ignores the world may do more harm than good. Bethany unpacks the hidden costs of flooding and avoidance, reframes reactivity through the lens of emotional safety, and offers gentle, relationship-based alternatives rooted in dialogue, choice, and trust. Whether you’re a dog guardian or a professional, this episode will challenge everything you’ve been told about calmness, socialisation, and control — and help you build a more ethical, emotionally intelligent bond with your dog.

Have we mistaken obedience for understanding? In this episode of Rewriting the Rules, I’m exploring what I call “The Obedience Hangover” - that quiet, uneasy space we find ourselves in after years of teaching our dogs to behave, only to realise that something still feels disconnected. We’ll talk about what really happens when dogs are praised for being calm, quiet, and compliant - and why that calmness can sometimes be a mask for emotional suppression and confusion. Together, we’ll look at how obedience culture shaped so many of us - even the most ethical of trainers - and how to begin recovering from it with compassion, curiosity, and dialogue. This isn’t about throwing away everything you’ve learned. It’s about rediscovering the “why” behind it - rebuilding trust, confidence, and communication so your dog feels seen, not just well-behaved.   ✨ In this episode: • What the “obedience hangover” really means • How good intentions can still lead to emotional suppression • The difference between calmness and safety • How to begin recovery through observation, empathy, and dialogue • Replacing control with connection in everyday life   If you’ve ever felt that quiet voice inside saying “something about this doesn’t feel right”, this episode will help you listen to it - and to your dog - with a new kind of understanding. 💭 Because love isn’t about control. It’s about relationship.   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.    

  Once upon a time, I thought there was such a thing as the perfect dog. The one who walked calmly on the lead, ignored every distraction, greeted other dogs politely, never barked, never chewed, and somehow understood every word I said. I thought if I just worked hard enough — read enough, learned enough, and did everything “right” — we’d get there. That mythical point where everything fell neatly into place, where my dog would finally behave the way all those glossy photos and polished videos promised me he could. But what I didn’t realise back then was that the “perfect dog” doesn’t exist. Because perfection isn’t real. It’s a performance. What does exist is the dog in front of you — the living, breathing, emotional being who’s doing their absolute best to make sense of a human world. And when you stop chasing perfection, you start seeing them. Their individuality. Their sensitivity. Their courage. Their quirks that make them who they are. In this episode, I talk about how my perspective completely changed — from striving for control and compliance, to building connection and understanding. We’ll explore where the idea of the “perfect dog” even came from, why it’s so damaging, and what happens when we replace perfectionism with compassion. You’ll hear about the quiet power of letting go, of recognising that progress looks different for every dog, and that your dog doesn’t need to be perfect to be incredible. Because when we stop trying to fix our dogs, and start learning from them, we find something far more meaningful than perfection — we find relationship. Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.  

Are we really in control - or just afraid of what happens if we’re not? In this powerful episode of Rewriting the Rules, Bethany Bell explores our deep-rooted fear of letting go of control when living and working with dogs. Modern dog culture often tells us that structure, rules, and constant supervision equal safety and success. But what if those same habits are quietly exhausting us - and disconnecting us from the very dogs we love? Bethany unpacks why so many of us struggle to relax, how micromanagement limits both dogs’ autonomy and our own peace of mind, and how to build the courage to trust, observe, and guide instead of control. ✨ You’ll learn: Why control feels safe but slowly erodes connection The difference between healthy boundaries and micromanagement How to recognise when fear - not love - is driving your decisions Practical ways to begin trusting your dog and yourself again This isn’t about losing structure. It’s about finding balance - a way of living with dogs that feels calmer, freer, and more real for everyone involved. 🎧 Listen now and start rewriting the rules - not through control, but through connection.   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.  

We’ve all heard of “impulse control training” - teaching dogs to wait, leave food, or stay calm when excited. But are these exercises truly helping dogs develop emotional regulation… or just teaching them to perform calmness on cue? In this episode of Rewriting the Rules, Bethany Bell (founder of the Canine Dialogue Dynamics Method) explores the crucial difference between trained impulse control and true impulse control. You’ll learn: – Why reward-based exercises aren’t wrong - but not the whole story. – What happens in the brain when real impulse control develops. – Why suppression and calm performance can backfire long term. – How safety, trust, and dialogue nurture genuine self-restraint. This episode invites you to see impulse control not as a behaviour to train, but as an emotional skill that grows through safety, communication, and understanding. Join Bethany as she redefines what calmness really means - and why helping dogs feel safe enough to choose calm is far more powerful than asking them to perform it.   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different - something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful - you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.  

We’re told enrichment is essential for our dogs -  puzzle feeders, lick mats, Kongs, scatter feeding, and endless “mental stimulation.” But is it really enriching our dogs’ lives… or adding more pressure?   In this episode of Rewriting the Rules, Bethany Bell (founder of the Canine Dialogue Dynamics Method) explores the shadow side of food enrichment: how making dogs “work for their food” puts them into survival mode, why frustration and food scarcity can create bigger problems, and why food should never be used as a tool of control.   You’ll learn: – What food enrichment is and how it’s marketed. – The negative effects of forcing dogs to earn their meals. – Why scatter feeding isn’t natural canine behaviour. – The real cost of Kongs, puzzles, and lick mats. – What true enrichment looks like -  and how diet itself can be enriching.   Most importantly, we’ll shift the focus from gimmicks to what dogs genuinely need: freedom, exploration, dialogue, play, security, and nourishing food. If you’ve ever felt guilty for not doing enough “enrichment,” this episode will help you breathe easier - but and see enrichment through a whole new lens.   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.  

Collies told not to herd. Huskies told not to run. Guarding breeds told not to guard. In today’s world, we often expect dogs to suppress the very instincts they were bred for — all to fit into human lifestyles. And when they can’t, we turn to training, conditioning, and behaviour management to “fix” the mismatch. In this episode of Rewriting the Rules, Bethany Bell (founder of the Canine Dialogue Dynamics Method) explores what happens when dogs and lifestyles clash — and why the answer isn’t more control, but more understanding. You’ll discover: – Why lifestyle matters more than space or climate. – How over-conditioning and suppression are used to “force the fit.” – The emotional cost for dogs when their instincts are constantly restrained. – Real alternatives: adapting our lives to meet dogs’ needs, instead of the other way around. This isn’t about blame — it’s about rethinking the way we live with dogs, opening up conversations, and creating more sustainable, compassionate matches between humans and their canine companions. Next week’s episode: Enrichment vs. Pressure. Are Kongs, puzzle toys, and scatter feeding really enriching our dogs’ lives — or are they sometimes adding stress instead? Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.    

What does holistic dog care really mean? And how is it different from traditional behaviourism? In this in-depth conversation, I sit down with Rebecca Hanlon - also known as The Dog Witch - to explore what holistic health and behaviour truly involve. We talk about: ✨ Moving beyond behaviourism and why it matters for dogs today ✨ What “holistic” really means in practice - whole-dog wellness, emotions, health, and behaviour ✨ The challenges of running an ethical business in the dog industry ✨ Rebecca’s exciting new project, The Canine Wellness Circle - a membership bringing dog parents access to holistic advice, videos, and webinars This is a powerful, honest chat that pulls back the curtain on the dog industry and invites you to rethink what true wellness for dogs looks like. 💬 Do you think the dog world is ready to move beyond behaviourism? Share your thoughts in the comments. Rebecca's Resources Join the Canine Wellness Circle! https://www.thedogwitchwholehealthand... Website https://www.thedogwitchwholehealthand... Facebook Community 

Bringing a new puppy home is magical — and overwhelming. Everywhere you turn, there’s advice: crate train right away, enforce 18–20 hours of sleep, limit walks to 5 minutes per month of age, socialise with everyone and everything. But what if much of this advice is outdated, misunderstood, or even harmful? In this episode of Rewriting the Rules, Bethany Bell gently dismantles some of the biggest puppy myths and explores what raising a puppy naturally really looks like. You’ll learn: Why early weeks should focus on emotional grounding, not obedience drills. The truth about puppy sleep needs (and why enforced crate naps can backfire). Why over-socialisation creates overwhelm, not confidence. The myth of “5 minutes per month” and how to let your puppy guide their own exercise safely. How to use dialogue, observation, and choice to build trust and resilience. Why play, exploration, and gentle guidance shape a confident adult dog better than strict rules. This episode is for anyone who wants to go beyond training checklists and raise a dog who is secure, intelligent, and deeply connected. Bethany also shares a short poem from her book Raising Puppies Naturally, capturing the heart of puppyhood as a journey of love, trust, and dialogue. 👉 Whether you’re a first-time puppy parent or an experienced dog professional, this episode will help you see puppyhood in a whole new way. Rewriting the Rules – Raising Puppies Naturally with the CDD Method Perfect for new puppy parents who want to raise their dog without harsh commands or robotic training. Gentle, grounded, and full of heart. Grab your copy here! https://mybook.to/B9SQz   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.

We’re told that crates are a “safe space,” a necessity for toilet training, or a tool to stop chewing. We’re told dogs love their crates if we train them positively. But what if those claims don’t hold up? What if crates aren’t the kindness we’ve been led to believe? In this episode, I unpack the myths surrounding crate use — from the idea that dogs are “den animals” to the marketing that disguises cages as something comforting. We’ll explore why dogs deserve more than confinement, the rare situations where a crate might be necessary, and how we can create true safety without shutting our dogs away. This is not an easy conversation — but it’s an important one. Because rethinking the way we use (and misuse) crates means giving our dogs back their freedom, their voice, and their right to feel safe in their own home. Together, we’re rewriting the rules.      Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.

Welcome to another episode of "Rewriting the Rules" with Bethany Bell, where we venture beyond conventional dog training methods to foster deeper connections. Today, we're exploring the often-overlooked aspect of canine behaviour: the distinction between teaching dogs to tolerate and compelling them to like certain situations. Throughout the episode, Bethany invites listeners to reconsider the traditional and conventional training techniques, questioning whether our objectives are truly about safety or simply about enforcing silence through compliance. We delve into the emotional landscape of our dogs, urging a shift from imposing our will to understanding their genuine emotions and needs. This episode challenges the norm by highlighting the dangers of pushing dogs towards a "performance" of comfort, rather than nurturing authentic emotional safety. We examine real-life scenarios and offer an alternative methodology - the Canine Dialogue Dynamics Method- that emphasises trust, choice, and relational safety over traditional desensitization strategies. We often hear advice about training dogs to “like” certain experiences — whether it’s grooming, vet visits, or meeting new people. But do they really need to like it? In this episode, we explore the difference between genuine enjoyment and simple tolerance, and why blurring that line can backfire. We’ll look at how reward-based approaches can sometimes mask a dog’s true feelings, what it means when that mask drops, and why this moment of honesty is actually a breakthrough. we’ll share how to support your dog through tolerance in a way that’s ethical, choice-led, and built on trust — and why not every situation needs to be “trained” at all. Join us as we reimagine a more empathetic and effective approach to dog training, one that respects their autonomy and emotional signals. Tune in to discover how true progress arises when we stop fixing our dogs, and start understanding them instead. Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different- something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful- you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.  

🎙️ Episode 3: The Nervous System – What’s Really Happening Beneath the Behaviour In this episode of Rewriting The Rules, we explore what’s really going on under the surface when our dogs seem anxious, overwhelmed, excited, or "reactive." We take a deep dive into the nervous system- fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and shutdown- and how understanding these states helps us support dogs more compassionately. I’ll guide you through how these survival responses are not behavioural problems, but biological reactions - and what we can do instead of rushing to fix or suppress them. We’ll also explore emotional dysregulation, why some dogs escalate faster than others, and how trauma and chronic stress shape the nervous system over time. You’ll come away with a richer understanding of your dog’s internal world, and a new lens to view their behaviour through: not as disobedience, but as communication.   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.

Welcome to this episode of Rewriting the Rules, where we shift the focus from control to understanding in our relationship with dogs. Host Bethany Bell, creator of the Canine Dialogue Dynamics Method, challenges the conventional approach of labelling dogs based on behaviour, advocating for a deeper connection through empathy and curiosity. In this thought-provoking discussion, Bethany invites listeners to view dog behaviour as a form of communication rather than a problem to be fixed. She encourages a pause for reflection on what emotions and needs might be driving the behaviour, promoting a relationship built on trust and emotional connection. By exploring the limitations of traditional behaviour labels and their impact on our dogs’ lives, the episode inspires dog lovers to replace quick judgments with questions and open-mindedness. Tune in to transform your approach, discover how emotional awareness can lead to natural behaviour shifts, and learn why true understanding begins when labels end.   Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.

Welcome to the first episode of "Rewriting the Rules," where we introduce the transformative Canine Dialogue Dynamics (CDD) Method. This innovative approach moves beyond traditional & conventional training, focusing instead on building genuine communication and trust with your dog. By prioritising emotional understanding, safety, and relationship-building, the CDD Method encourages a deep, two-way dialogue, helping dogs become confident and emotionally secure. In this episode, learn how the CDD Method respects your dog's emotions and intelligence, offering a revolutionary way to foster a meaningful bond without relying on treats, commands, or conditioning. Discover how communication, not compliance, can reshape your relationship, and explore resources for adopting this compassionate mindset to enhance both you and your dog's life.    Further resources  Free Learning:  What is the CDD method? Our Free Facebook Group Our YouTube Channel Facebook Page Bethany’s Facebook Page  Our Blog Website Free Rescue Course Take The Next Step Our Programmes  –  Work With Bethany One To One  Our Online Courses Bethany’s Books  Rewriting the Rules: The CDD Mentorship Online Programmes Surrey & Surrounding Areas- Programmes Student Group If you’re ready to step into something different—something kinder, wiser, and more meaningful—you’re in the right place. Let’s raise dogs with dignity. Let’s teach through connection. Let’s begin the conversation.