When I lived in Alaska I would play fetch with my black Lab off the beach in Homer. Then I saw a sea lion stalking him. That was the end of that play session. A friend later lost his Lab and did not know what happened until the remains washed up the next day with the belly ripped out. He had seen a lion in the water the day they were playing.
Wild creatures remain wild. They aren’t cute or cuddly or sweet. They are looking for a meal and a mate. That is what drives them just about every moment of the day.
Just walking on the Oregon beach we saw sea lions checking out our dog ... lucky she did not like the water much.