One of the dogs we used to dog sit for (a collie) would 'speak' to you from time to time. He was, otherwise, a completely silent dog, not one to bark at all unlike his sister. But on the first occasion it happened, my husband and I were standing holding each other after some bad family news. I was upset and both dogs knew it. Tom (the name of the dog) came up to us and sat down alongside me and literally said the word 'woof'. We both looked at each and after asking my husband if Tom had just said woof rather than barked, burst out laughing (I had been crying). At this point, Tom very quietly got up and returned to his sister and his bed and lay down as though his job was done. He is a dog of few words literally, but he chooses his moments carefully and with almost human understanding at times.
