Dog Owners vs Dog Guardians - why does it matter?

The bond between canine and human is built on a power imbalance.   We
are in control of food, shelter and all other resources that the dog needs.  Human’s are in a unique position to define the relationship according our values and ideals.  We tell stories about dogs and interpret dog’s behaviour through the human behavioural lens.  Think of Lassie!  

This power imbalance is part of the frame of reference for how we process information relating to the capacities and motivations of the dog.   If, for example, we see our dog is a 'dumb animal' we may feel comfortable using aversives and training our dogs to follow our commands.  They exist to serve after all.  However, if we see our dog as a family member we may overfeed them to show our love.  How we relate to our dogs is largely defined by our frame of reference and not not our dogs.

Many dog owners buy or adopt a dog because (they envisage) that it meets their own needs to do so, otherwise they would not do so.  We'd get a cat or have a holiday instead.  Often though we aren't particularly aware of the needs we have that we expect our dog to meet, be it for companionable walks, sofa cuddles or as our family.  This means that our frame of reference is often more implicit than explicit.

One of the pivotal aspects of that frame of reference is that the ‘owner’ has acquired what is legally a possession with an insurable replacement value. In becoming the dog's 'owner' we take a small step towards defining a dog as lacking in sentience or their own agency.  

Some vets and trainers may refer to you as the dog's guardian as a way of acknowledging the dog's rights to choice and fulfillment.   Dog's have their own version of Adrian Maslow's (perhaps outdated) Hierarchy of Needs and these needs extend far beyond the purely physiological.     Linda Michael's has published a Dog's Heirarchy of Needs here https://www.intodogs.org/resources/hierarchy-of-needs/#page-content.  I'd also thoroughly recommend Marc Bekoff's "When Elephants Weep" for a change of frame of reference!

By having a clearer and more accurate frame of reference we are able to develop a more reciprocal relationship with our dogs in which they can actively and fully participate.