Certainly it could be, but it's not a rough approximation of deep thought currently. It's a rough approximation of surface-level brain activity.
Are we even comparing the same idea?

You're reading some deep, deep complicated claims into their proposal, that I just can't see anywhere, and then (by that standard) quite rightly throwing those claims out of the window because they don't stand up to modern evidence/reality right now. What I see, is them saying over and over again that it's not a finished product, they're testing, they need resources and their plan is to increase it once they have more research and funding under their belt. Even with a banner along the bottom, "THIS IS NOT A FINISHED PRODUCT," then they say by helping out with the
first edition, the main point is not that you get a product that does all this magical stuff, but rather you're allowing them to further the research.
I really think that the whole idea of what they're aiming for in their proposal video has been completely blown out of proportion here. Nowhere do they even get anywhere close to saying anything about translating deep thought. The closest thing is the opening line, which anyone in the real world knows is always a bit of an exaggeration to keep the interest of the viewer. It's their end goal.
is this really a first step toward deeper understanding of the (human/canine) mind if it's just surface-level to start?
Absolutely! Why would it not be? How often is it that new research instantly is at advanced stages? Isn't it the most natural thing from a scientific viewpoint to start off at a basic level like this?
I have my own doubts about this being possible, and I'm not saying I believe they will ever get anywhere close to achieving it but based on the current proposal, from a clean academic perspective, it looks like how a lot of scientific research goes on. Basic test, demonstrate end desire, basic product, get more funding, develop and hone technology/research towards end goal. They might not ever make the breakthrough but I don't believe anyone should be slamming them down for not delivering something they never implied they could deliver right now.
Besides, I think it'd be really creepy to know what my pets were thinking.
