Since the passing of renowned animal behaviourist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall on October 1, 2025, there has been one recurring theme in the news coverage surrounding her death: her legacy for how we view animals today—animals as sentient beings who matter..

In the West, we often care for our dogs in a similar way: we crate them, reward them with treats when they do something well, and make it clear who's in charge. But do these methods actually lead to a happy dog? Welfare expert Judith Versluis sees room for improvement and shares her insights.