Hierarchy of Foreignness
The concepts here are taken from a book series by Orson Scott Card.
Although entirely fictional in their application they are mostly based from real words in the Swedish language.
As to why I am bringing it up, it is to point out that whilst the majority of people consider dogs to be either Ramen or Varelse, having worked with them for a while I would say that they are definitely Främling possibly even Utlänning.
With the use of buttons to bridge the communication gap you can start to see this quite quickly.
Utlänning
Främling
An utlänning was defined as a stranger recognized as human from the same planet as a subject, but of a different nation or city.
Utlänning means "foreigner" in Swedish.
A främling was defined as a stranger recognized as human, but from a different planet than a subject.
Främling means "stranger" in Swedish.
Ramen
Varelse
Ramen were defined as strangers recognized as "human", but of another sentient species entirely. The term was only ever used to refer to the entire species as a whole rather than an individual member.
Although not a common word, Ramen may be constructed in Swedish from rå + män, where rå indicates "coarse (not refined); brutal (crude or unfeeling in manner or speech)" and män = "man" or "person" (e.g. råmän).
Varelse were defined as true aliens; they may or may not be sentient beings, but are so foreign that no meaningful communication is possible with the subject.
Varelse means "creature" in Swedish.