Posted by Dave Nelson on August 12, the video amassed more than 60,000 views on Instagram and Facebook as it shows Nelson’s chocolate labrador Moe (short for Mokuleia), jumping and swimming in the surf with a sea lion known to them as “Sammy.”
“They started playing and even played fetch together,” Nelson’s caption read. “To say it was beautiful would be an understatement.”
According to the American Kennel Club, labrador retrievers are a popular breed known for their outgoing nature.
“Labs are famously friendly,” the organization said. “They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike.”
Labs are energetic, and they enjoy swimming and running.
In his caption, Nelson said he takes Moe to the beach every morning, and they recently started seeing Sammy swimming after them along the beach.
“Anyways Sammy finally introduced himself a couple days ago and swam all the way in,” the caption read. “Moe dropped her ball (she never ever does that) and she waded out a few feet. They ended up smelling each other and went nose to nose for a second.”
He said Sammy barked hello to Moe before they started playing together.
Sammy was spotted close to the shoreline at the start of the video as Nelson said he was “very curious.” The sea lion swam closer to shore before Nelson threw a ball into the water.
Sammy and Moe raced after the ball, Sammy swimming while Moe ran along the beach before bounding into the water.
Moe made it back to shore with the ball as Sammy swam right behind her.
“Wow,” Nelson said with a laugh as the video ended.
He told Newsweek that Moe is a typical friendly labrador. Since that interaction, the duo spotted Sammy, but Moe hasn’t had an opportunity to play with her new friend because there have been too many waves.
Nelson said Moe’s safety is a priority for him when they are out, but he could tell this interaction was amiable.
“I could tell they were super friendly with one another,” he said. “There were no threatening mannerisms, just curiosity.”
Viewers were just as excited to see the two animals interact.
“What a joy to see in the animal kingdom,” a Facebook user wrote.
“So very cool,” another commenter wrote. “What an awesome relationship!”
“A gift to experience for both [Moe] and you,” one viewer wrote.
Another viral video showed a sea lion and a dog getting to know each other on the beach.
A video captured the moment that a sea lion hopped into a small fishing boat to get away from a group of orcas.
One viral video showed two sea lions who appeared to chase away beachgoers.
Updated 10/03/2022, 4:52 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from Dave Nelson.
