Researchers at a university in Hungary say there is truth to what many dog owners always believed. Dogs do understand what humans say. The researchers made images of the brains of 13 dogs using a machine that records brain activity. The dogs were trained to lie down in the machine for seven minutes. During that time, they listened through headphones to their trainers’ voices. Dog owners may think the news is not surprising. But scientists are impressed. Brian Hare is a professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. He called one of the findings a “shocker.” The brain imaging showed dogs processed words using the left side of their brains, just as humans do. They use the right side of their brains to understand tone and pitch. The study showed dogs understand words and how they are said.