Good dog welfare is not just the absence of suffering — it is the presence of positive experiences. Understanding positive welfare indicators helps owners and carers actively support dog flourishing.
The welfare goal for companion dogs should be active flourishing rather than passive absence of suffering. Positive welfare science has identified measurable indicators of positive emotional states in dogs: exploration of novel stimuli, approach behaviour, play initiation, and the physiological markers of relaxation and positive engagement. Dogs that rarely play, show little interest in exploration, and spend most of their time resting without apparent contentment may be experiencing low positive welfare even without obvious signs of suffering. The welfare-conscious owner actively supports positive experiences — novel environments, meaningful social interaction, training as engagement — rather than simply meeting basic physical needs.