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

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.