Goofy and Pluto are both dogs. Yet Pluto walks on all fours, runs around naked and can only bark at the world. Goofy walks on two feet, wears clothing and has the power of speech — albeit, mostly to say “goofy” things.
Now that we can finally sleep better at night with some clarity on the Goofy/Pluto dilemma, we can allow ourselves to shift our attention onto the bigger mysteries of the universe…such as what on earth are these things?
A more reasonable one is that this universe is populated by funny animals and animal animals. Funny animal is a term used for an anthropomorphic animal who represents (or stands in the place of) humans, whereas animals are…well, animals.
Where would that fit compared to Snoopy, who doesn’t talk but walks on two legs? For a better understanding, we must consult The Official Overthinking it Chart of Dogness (aren’t you glad the Internet exists?). 
At the end of the day, Disney executives may have created Goofy and Pluto separately and among many others, without expecting them to ultimately become members of the sensational six (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto & Goofy).
We don’t have an answer for the first three questions, but we dug up some explanations for the Goofy/Pluto dilemma (or at least as close to an explanation as we’re ever gonna get).
And the age-old question has been answered! I don’t know about you guys, but I always wondered why Goofy could talk and Pluto couldn’t. I mean, they’re both dogs, but Goofy can actually communicate with others and walk on his two feet whereas Pluto can only bark and make somewhat discernible noises and has to walk on all fours. It was just so strange to think that two characters, who represent the same animal, are represented in different interpretations: one as a human and another as a dog.
Disney has been the hallmark for creativity for such a long time. For as long as I could remember, I was dwelled on the magic and beauty associated with Disney and everything that it offered, from princesses, to boys that grew long noses when they lied, to the elephants with giant ears that enabled them to fly, Disney never failed to bring about the creativity and innocence that comes with being a child. I still remember the first time that I watched The Lion King. I cannot begin to tell you all how much I love that movie, even as a college student, I would gladly drop whatever it is that I was doing, and just sit down and watch The Lion King. A tale of a young lion cub who, after losing his father to a stampede, was raised by a meerkat and warthog to eventually become the next king, gives us all a sense of hope that no matter what circumstance come in our way, no matter what trials and tribulations we face, we must persist in our efforts to be who we were meant to be. Using animals to portray these messages appeals to children because it is anything unlike reality. Sure, a movie with people talking can be exciting, but to reach out to our inner child, using talking animals gives the audience greater motivation to watch the film for its comedic aspects, as well as learn a few lessons along the way.
Creativity is an attribute that should never be undermined. It is with creativity that we came to have the bicycle, the microwave, and every college student’s “must have:” the iPhone/Android/Smartphone. Thinking outside of the box is what we need to do to deliver messages of great worth and importance and what is needed to do to grab the attention of others.
Why can Goofy talk but Pluto can t?
In the Disney cartoon universe, Goofy is not a dog. He is a person who resembles a dog, just as Mickey Mouse is a person who resembles a mouse and Donald Duck is a person who resembles a duck. Pluto, however, is an actual dog, which is why he can’t talk.
FAQ
Does Pluto speak?
Why is Pluto treated like a dog?