Mouse Can Talk, Can Harry Hear?

[Bad Alias]

In Changes, and subsequent stories, we learn Mouse is capable of communicating at a human intellect level. In the subsequent stories, we see that some humans can understand Mouse or other human level intellect canines (for example, Molly and the Alphas in Bombshells). When Harry is in dog form in Changes, Harry can understand Mouse:

I eyed the dog and said, “You can talk. How come I never hear you talk?”
“Because you don’t know how to listen,” my godmother said simply.

Also in the first chapter of Changes, Harry seems to understand Mouse at that same intellectual level:

“I . . .” I paused, trying to get my head around the concept. “I . . . I might have a child.”
Mouse made an uncertain, high-pitched noise.
“Yeah. How do you think I feel?” I stared at the far wall. Then I stood up and reached for my coat. “I . . . think I need a  drink,” I said. I nodded, focusing on nothing. “Yeah. Something like this . . . yeah.”
Mouse made a distressed noise and rose.
“Sure,” I told him. “You can come. Hell, maybe you can drive me home or something.”

Harry could have been just guessing at what Mouse meant by interpreting his body language and stuff. I personally think Harry was dissociating enough that he was in a state where he could "hear" Mouse like Molly does.

Do you think Harry capable of understanding Mouse? I doubt he will ever understand Mouse in the books because, as Jim said, Mouse knows too much. My question is whether he could if he worked on it.

[Mira]

Do you think Harry capable of understanding Mouse? I doubt he will ever understand Mouse in the books because, as Jim said, Mouse knows too much. My question is whether he could if he worked on it.

I would say, yes, but then we'd know too much.  Actually, and all of you who have a close relationship with your dogs know, a dog can communicate an awful lot to us. Sometimes I do believe they are telepathic, at the very least they are good listeners.

[g33k]

In Changes, and subsequent stories, we learn Mouse is capable of communicating at a human intellect level. In the subsequent stories, we see that some humans can understand Mouse or other human level intellect canines (for example, Molly and the Alphas in Bombshells). When Harry is in dog form in Changes, Harry can understand Mouse:

Also in the first chapter of Changes, Harry seems to understand Mouse at that same intellectual level:

Harry could have been just guessing at what Mouse meant by interpreting his body language and stuff. I personally think Harry was dissociating enough that he was in a state where he could "hear" Mouse like Molly does.

Do you think Harry capable of understanding Mouse? I doubt he will ever understand Mouse in the books because, as Jim said, Mouse knows too much. My question is whether he could if he worked on it.

Harry has always talked aloud, to himself, as one of Jim's exposition techniques.

Dog-owners -- by and large -- talk to their dogs, in ways far beyond what dogs can comprehend; Jim used that as an expansion of Harry's own talk-aloud habit.

But it has been an ongoing theme of the stories that Harry has realized more and more that Mouse is far more intelligent than the average dog.  There's a scene in Turn Coat where Mouse gets shot (bullet didn't penetrate far) protecting Molly, and Harry uses it as a "teaching moment" to get Molly more aware of the potential consequences for her actions... and shortly thereafter, Harry realizes that Mouse was deliberately feigning a worse injury & more pain, playing to Harry's own lessons in perfect comprehension of what Harry was teaching, and how Harry was going about the lesson.

[Bad Alias]

Harry has always talked aloud, to himself, as one of Jim's exposition techniques.

I think with Mouse, Harry is more often actually giving Mouse the information or instructions than talking to himself.

Harry knows Mouse understands him by Changes. Harry's "conversation" with Mouse in Chapter One also feels different than his normal talking to himself or the usual descriptions of Harry interpreting Mouse's body language and expressions.

[Mira]

Dog-owners -- by and large -- talk to their dogs, in ways far beyond what dogs can comprehend; Jim used that as an expansion of Harry's own talk-aloud habit.

 Dogs comprehend a lot more than you think, or the intelligent ones do.

[g33k]

Dogs comprehend a lot more than you think, or the intelligent ones do. 

As a lifelong dog owner & sometimes trainer & avid reader about dogs, I'm aware they are smarter than most give them credit for.

For those who *don't* know -- the "average" dog seems to have a comprehension vocabulary of just under 100 words.

Working dogs usually top 200 words.

Ultra-intelligent ones have been documented to over 1000 words -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaser_(dog)

[Mira]

As a lifelong dog owner & sometimes trainer & avid reader about dogs, I'm aware they are smarter than most give them credit for.

For those who *don't* know -- the "average" dog seems to have a comprehension vocabulary of just under 100 words.

Working dogs usually top 200 words.

Ultra-intelligent ones have been documented to over 1000 words -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaser_(dog)

 It isn't just words, training dogs you learn that, when you have a real working relationship with a dog you learn that they use all their senses and can read us like a book. The trick is to learn to read them as well, a very smart dog swiftly learns how to tell us what they want.  Harry knows and understands what kind of dog Mouse is, they communicate very well, Mouse doesn't have to speak human language to make himself understood.

[g33k]

... Harry knows and understands what kind of dog Mouse is, they communicate very well, Mouse doesn't have to speak human language to make himself understood. 

Well, Harry knows now.
He surely didn't always know!

Though I think he still has some wistfully envious moments when he notices others who can actually *talk* with Mouse in casual conversation that Harry can't (yet) quite match ...

[Mira]

Well, Harry knows now.
He surely didn't always know!

Though I think he still has some wistfully envious moments when he notices others who can actually *talk* with Mouse in casual conversation that Harry can't (yet) quite match ...

How does Mouse talk though?  Telepathically very likely as in the person he is talking to hears his words in their mind and believes they hear him talking.  Dogs cannot talk like humans because their muzzels just are not built for human speech, that includes Mouse.

[g33k]

How does Mouse talk though?  Telepathically very likely as in the person he is talking to hears his words in their mind and believes they hear him talking.  Dogs cannot talk like humans because their muzzels just are not built for human speech, that includes Mouse. 

I suspect Mouse speaks Doggo; and very eloquently!
It's heavy to body language & facial expressions, with some limited vocalizations.

I expect most dogs understand Mouse almost as well as Harry does, tho likely when Mouse tries to "discuss" more complex issues, the average pupper will get very confused... "Dafuq he sayin' ??!?"
 

[Mira]

I suspect Mouse speaks Doggo; and very eloquently!
It's heavy to body language & facial expressions, with some limited vocalizations.

I expect most dogs understand Mouse almost as well as Harry does, tho likely when Mouse tries to "discuss" more complex issues, the average pupper will get very confused... "Dafuq he sayin' ??!?"

I wouldn't short change ordinary pups, I would bet the farm that they understand Mouse very well, I imagine that Mister also speaks dog and Mouse speaks cat!