Talk:Spike/@comment-12166929-20130903001411/@comment-4963938-20130910232642

The reason why, is mainly that: Twilight needed something as proof that she was from another world. If spike was a boy, no one would believe a freshman boy (or sophmore). But once spike the dog talks, it's enough to get everyone to believe her.

He could've been human. His outsider status still would've been easy to see, since he would still be younger than the other main characters, is male, and isn't an element of harmony. Him not being a pony is just a cheap technicality to make him not human (plus it means that just because he isn't a pony, he should be deprived of being equal, and deserves the amazing title of "pet" even though it's been established that he is clearly her friend and not her pet).