But science has had trouble determining whether dogs and other animals genuinely activate a mental image in their minds when they hear the name of an object, something that would suggest a deeper grasp of language, similar to the kind that humans have.
*****
Say the word 'bone' in a completely random sentence to that asshole dog Jack and watch him explode into the kitchen and plop his ass down right in front of the cabinet where his rawhide bones are kept.
If I say 'truck' or 'ride', he's at the back door waiting to go.
If I say 'no, not this time,' while I'm putting on my boots getting ready to go somewhere, he'll shoot me a dirty look and go lay down.
Every single dog I've ever owned was like that.