You'd need differentiation between coherently patterned noises and a mechanism to pass them between generations. We've been watching dogs for more than 50,000 y

You'd need differentiation between coherently patterned noises and a mechanism to pass them between generations. We've been watching dogs for more than 50,000 years, and nobody has ever been able to identify words, or even word-like meanings in the noises dogs make. Dogs don't have language - coherent patterned noises - or culture, outside of what humans carry forward through generations on dogs' behalf. This isn't to say their vocalizations and body language don't have meaning - they have rich and varied meanings, and that's how experienced trainers and dog owners can observe and interpret dog behavior at a high level of competence. They're just not using language - meaningfully coherent words and grammars. That's the whole point of the buttons - you can teach them to use words and simple rules of grammar, and get amazing interactions like Bunny talking about "night talk" dreams, or laughing at "play poop" fart situations, dogs planning their eat, walk, settle schedules, and so on. Buttons elevate the level of communication and relationship with the animal, and grants them agency that they otherwise wouldn't have. As far as non-human language goes, there may be languages developed and learned by pods of whales, orcas, and dolphins. There could even be really old languages, passed down through oral traditions, and scientists are currently researching with AI to see if we can crack cetacean or delphinidae communication. It could also be they have sophisticated "vibes" based communication without highly specific assigned meanings to every vocalization like humans, or some mysterious mixture of unexpected features that's a little alien to the way we think. We know they have culture, and appear to have discrete words and grammar, so this research is really exciting.