Monterey Bay Aquarium — The dogfish days of summer are upon us. 🐶🐟

Find out which ocean animals remind us of dogs, and help us answer the age-old question, “Can I pet that dog?”

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You may hear a California sea lion before you see one! Their big bark matches their several-hundred-pound bodies. If you spot one resting, give it plenty of space. 

🐶Can I pet that dog? No, they’ve got bark, bite, and protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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Named for their pack-like feeding habits and the spines at the base of their dorsal fins, Pacific spiny dogfish have a few tricks for staying safe. Their venomous spines, along with their “ruff” skin, help protect these smaller sharks.

🐶Can I pet that dog? No, this dog has spines—and boundaries.

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Bat rays use their snouts to dig up food buried in the sandy seafloor. They can also flap their bat-like wings to uncover hidden snacks like clams and crabs.

🐶Can I pet that dog? Yes! But only at our touch pools using a gentle, flat hand.

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Despite their name, wolf-eels are neither wolves nor eels! Their powerful jaws help them crush hard-shelled prey like crabs, clams, and sea urchins, while their snake-like bodies peek out from rocky dens.

🐶Can I pet that dog? No, please enjoy its eel-egance from a distance.

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Often called the “puppies of the sea” by divers and aquarium biologists, leopard sharks are curious and active. During feeding time, they’ll come right up to the diver for an easy snack, but they’re more interested in the squid than our fingers.

🐶Can I pet that dog? No, see puppy, don’t pet puppy.

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Sharing the coast with wildlife means giving them the space to thrive. Western snowy plovers nest right on the sand, so keep your pups leashed and stick to trails and marked paths to help protect these tiny shorebirds.

🐶Can I pet that dog? It’s your dog. Why are you asking us? (But we hope so!)

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We’re committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive experience for everyone, regardless of ability. Trained service dogs that meet the ADA standard—including service dogs in training—are always welcome at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

🐶Can I pet that dog? No, they’re working. Service animals are always welcome at the Aquarium.

Whether they bark, bite, or just look the part, these wild ocean animals are best admired—not pet. 🌊🐶

This post was inspired by our recent Aquarium Updates email. For more fun content, sign up for our monthly newsletter today.