have had a few smart dogs, but smart is relative. beyond rabbits, deer, play time and dinner, am certain the smartest o' our border collies had little interest in topics which might make us curious. am satisfied our dialogues with canines will remain, for all practical purposes, monologues followed by dogie displays o' pleasure or guilt or whatever is appropriate.
the thing is, in spite o' our certainty we would be underwhelmed by whatever ideas our dogs have on a whole host o' topics, we do wish they would be better at communicating the nature and degree o' their infrequent discomfort. when our pups is feeling unwell, they may not show it in overt ways, and even when we do notice, the dogs is not forthcoming with useful details. perhaps the little black dog is noticeable less enthusiastic than normal and does not wish to play as is his normal waking state. when we ask him what is wrong, he gives nothing. unhelpful.
we would pay a fair amount for a mechanical device which would translate dog-to-english. could tell us it is his stomach which aches, or perhaps his head. feeling cold? feeling hot? any particular food would make him feel better? do we need go to the vet... well, am knowing the answer to that one would be "no," even if he had a massive wound and his intestines were literal spilling out on the faux-wood laminate we got in the hallway adjacent to the kitchen.
*shrug*
am interested not at all in the musing o' our canines, but we do wish they could talk just so they could tell us what, if anything, is wrong.
*shrug*
only bring up 'cause far too often we has wished our dogs could talk when they is not well. downside is am knowing if we could understand 'em better, we would need listen to incessant drivel 'bout snacks and itches and toys and... whatever. is why am wanting a mechanical translator-- so we could turn it off 99.99% o' the time.
HA! Good Fun!