I know this might be a question for a fully Disney site but...

 

If goofy and pluto are both dogs, then why can't pluto talk? It just seems unfair to me. I mean Goofy is King Mickey's General and Pluto is his mangy mut. And if goofy's not a dog what is he?

Because Disney wanted them to be that way when they both were created at different times.

 

Goofy is created to serve as more of a human-like creature in Walt's Mickey Mouse univierse while Pluto serves as an actual dog, or Mickey's loyal companion. So basically it's because of their purposes for being created is the only thing that sets them apart from one another. They are both dogs, or I have seen people sometimes call them "dawgs."

 

Goofy is a Human-Dog/Dawg while Pluto is just a dog dog or "dawg dawg."

 

Goofy has had an identity crisis for years.

Goofy is Goofy and Pluto is Pluto. Thats the way it should be.

Pluto is technically the only cartooned animal without human qualities or personification, he acts and behaves like a dog would. Goofy on the other hand, is a freakin WEREWOLF!

It's like monkeys and humans