Hmmmm.

Why can't dogs talk? I know they can vocalise. When I leave the house the unholy trio howl in wonderful tune.

I understand Nook. God bless him, he was born with diminished brain power. His thoughts run to Huh?...Huh... No do that!...Huh...Huh? Food!...Nook strongly reminds me of some students I have taught.They mean well, are very big but unlike him, they chase balls.

My poor Mick is a classic neurotic. He worries all the time. He thinks "Pet me, please pet me, pet me some more...Ohh! strange noise, hid in dog house, awful, awful, awful, pet me, please pet me, treat?"

Winnie is another kettle of fish. She has an obvious sense of humour and she directs the other dogs in her endless campaign to train me according to her version of proper. To that end she's observant and disciplined.
She controls the in-out movement of the dogs, manages the eating times and the disposal of space on the couches and chairs. (Each dog fancies his own furniture. Naturally their tastes overlap. Winnie doles out space according to her own whim.) Winnie always follows Nook into the kitchen. She's long ago noted that he can knock food to the floor all unwitting-exp. with his tail. She scoops it up.

She's a mutt and thus no one has bred certain strategies out of her tool kit. So why can't she speak?

She was raised in a language rich environment, exposed to books,  reading , music and intelligent conversation.  She listens well. She rarely wanders off in the middle of my disquisitions on life. I swear she understands a great deal of what I say.

The damndog even understands gestures, not that she obeys them,  unless I come after her with newspaper, knife or stick. Then she runs.

There's much we can learn from a dog. I think Winnie figures life is complicated enough without talking about it.