Roaming pets

Hi, I've seen that the idea is already here, but since the new snapshots are focusing on mobs it could be revisited. 

I love having pets but having them teleporting and jumping infront of my pickaxe is not ideal so they end up sitting somewhere forever.

I think it would be great if pets (or friendly mobs even) could freely roam in a small-ish area. Maybe some kind of block or placeable item to which you could bond them and they would roam in its vicinity?  

Would be amazing to see my pets actually be alive or not needing to fence in all friendly mobs i bring in because otherwise they disappear in a day.