Although seals are not directly classified within the canine family, they are more closely related to dogs and other caniforms than they are to felines (cats) and other feliforms.
Are seals in the canine family?
Seals and dogs belong to the order Carnivora, which includes carnivorous mammals such as dogs, cats, bears, and seals. Within this order, seals belong to the suborder Caniformia, which also includes dogs, wolves, bears, raccoons, and mustelids (such as weasels, otters, and skunks). Caniformia is further divided into two infraorders: Arctoidea, which includes dogs, bears, and raccoons, and Cynoidea, which includes seals and mustelids.