More Than a Pet?

Dogs aren’t just living in our homes; they’re sharing our lives. They feel, think, choose, connect and suffer. In other words, they’re sentient beings, with their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences that matter just as much to them as ours do to us.

But what does that really mean for us as dog guardians?

Beyond “Good Care”

Most of us already try to give our dogs the best: good food, regular walks, a warm bed, and lots of love. And that’s wonderful, it’s the foundation of responsible guardianship.

But animal welfare scientists now talk about something beyond basic care. They call it positive welfare, not just preventing suffering, but creating the conditions for happiness, curiosity, and comfort.

In the past, welfare was defined by what an animal should be free from: hunger, pain, fear, and so on. These “Five Freedoms,” created in the 1960s, shaped the Animal Welfare Act 2006 that still protects UK animals today.

The Five Freedoms are important, but they focus on avoiding harm, not on nurturing joy. A life without suffering is good. But a life with play, purpose, and connection is better.

That’s where newer welfare science comes in. The Five Domains model, developed in the 1990s, added something crucial: the animal’s mental state. It recognises that physical wellbeing (food, health, environment) is deeply linked to emotional wellbeing (contentment, play, curiosity). So when we talk about our dogs’ welfare, we’re not just talking about keeping them safe, we’re talking about helping them thrive.

The Law Agrees: Dogs Are Sentient

In 2022, the UK passed the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, which legally recognises animals, including dogs, as sentient beings. That means they are officially acknowledged as capable of feeling pain, pleasure, fear, and happiness.

It might sound obvious to any dog lover, but this is a huge step forward.

The Act also created the Animal Sentience Committee (ASC), a group that reviews whether animals’ emotional and mental wellbeing are being taken into account. In 2025, the ASC reported that many existing welfare codes are outdated, and that guardians often aren’t given clear guidance on how to recognise overall welfare, not just physical health.

In other words, the law has caught up with what many of us already know in our hearts: dogs are not possessions. They’re individuals who experience life in rich and complex ways.

Seeing the World Through Your Dog’s Eyes

Recognising your dog as sentient means seeing the world from their point of view.

It means noticing that when your dog refuses to walk down a certain street, they might be afraid, not stubborn. When they chew the corner of the sofa, they might be bored or anxious, not naughty.

It means understanding that emotions drive behaviour. Just like us, dogs react to how they feel and how we respond to those feelings can build trust or fear.

When we treat our dogs as sentient beings, we stop asking, “How do I control this behaviour?” and start asking, “What is my dog feeling, and how can I help?”

From Meeting Needs to Nurturing Joy

The Animal Welfare Act sets out five basic needs: a suitable environment, a suitable diet, exhibiting normal behaviours, companionship (or not), and protection from pain, suffering, injury or disease.

But dogs need more than suitable. They need fulfilling. Think about your dog’s day.

• Do they get the chance to explore and sniff freely, rather than just walk at heel?

• Do they have the freedom to choose; which toy to play with, where to nap, when to cuddle?

• Do they get time with other dogs (if they enjoy that), or time with their favourite human if they prefer people?

Even simple things, like letting your dog take their time sniffing a lamppost, can be a powerful welfare boost. After all, it is their way of engaging with the world.

The Power of Choice

Choice is a cornerstone of sentient life. Just like us, dogs feel better when they have some control over their lives.

That might mean:

• Letting your dog decide which direction to go on a walk.

• Offering two toys and letting them pick.

• Allowing them to choose whether to greet a stranger or stay close to you.

When we give dogs small, safe choices, we’re telling them: your feelings matter. And that’s one of the most respectful, compassionate things we can do for another being.

A Life Worth Living

The idea of a “life worth living” is now at the heart of modern welfare thinking. For our dogs, that means more than safety and health, it means love, play, rest, connection, autonomy and respect.

When we recognise our dogs as sentient beings, we naturally start to make better choices. We become more patient, more observant, more attuned to what they’re really communicating.

And in return, we build a deeper, richer bond; one based not on control, but on trust.

Your dog doesn’t just live in your home... they share your world. They have thoughts, feelings, and preferences, just like you do.

When you start to see them not as a pet to manage but as a being to understand, everything changes. Walks become conversations. Training becomes teamwork.

Recognising your dog’s sentience isn’t just good welfare, it’s the greatest act of kindness we can offer.