I feel like calling him a dog is actually insulting to his character! ‘Good boy,’ is not so bad. It’s just a form of modern language these days that they even use it on humans, monsters, etc type characters.
He’s himself and not what anyone thinks him as. It actually upsets me greatly when people do call him a ‘dog’ or ‘just a dog.’ He’s so much more than that. It’s disrespecting what he sees himself as, and while Yuri says he can’t fully understand what Repede’s saying, he’s known him for so long, that he’s picked up on how he feels and what he’s thinking. There’s even at one point where Judith thinks Yuri doesn’t need to know ‘exactly’ what he’s saying, because he already does, even without the translation of barks. With her bond with Ba’ul, I believe she’s the right person that would know best to see how close they are.
But even Yuri mentions that Repede doesn’t think himself as a dog, but that doesn’t mean he thinks himself as a human either. Repede is Repede.
I know Yuri calls him a dog sometimes, but it’s when others treat him like a dog that’s more disrespectful. First encounter with Estelle, she asks Yuri “Is this dog your’s?” It dismisses the idea that he’s his own being too. With thoughts, personality, feelings, etc. like everyone else. She’s already downgrading him as ‘a pet’ or ‘someone’s belonging.’ And with Karol, he attacked him out of nowhere thinking he was a monster. Repede didn’t take too kindly to that and doesn’t like to be treated as a monster. In fact, one of his titles says “Don’t treat him like a monster!” Karol also thinks of him as a dog, tries to pet him at times, and doesn’t quite understand why he uses a dagger instead of his claws and teeth. Estelle is very much the same. She tries to ‘get him to like her.’ Sometimes even trying to pet him as well, or asking if she can ‘scratch behind his ears’ and she even tried to force herself on him when she saw Judith get along with him right off the bat.
Now with Judith, she approached Repede the right way. “Is he part of the group too?” She acknowledges him. And treats him with respect. She sees Repede as Repede, and she knows better because of her bond with Ba’ul!
Ba’ul’s not a monster, and neither are any of the other Entelexia. It’s why Judith and Duke get angry/upset when others refer to them as a monster. And in Duke’s words “It’s a disservice to them.” Because people automatically jump and think they’re some kind of terrifying beast that’s going to kill them. It’s pretty much the same case with Repede.
The Entelexeia and Repede are being labeled as something they are not before others get to know them first and see them for who they are.