Gabe Parker’s dog, Teddy, provides a symbolic link throughout the novel between the two romantic leads. When he first gets her as a puppy, Teddy symbolizes Gabe’s wish to give and receive love. He’s alone in Los Angeles and wants a companion, something to take care of. The puppy’s instant affection for Chani Horowitz mirrors Gabe’s attraction and signals that Chani is a fit partner for him. When Chani curls up in the dog bed at Gabe’s house party, it indicates her wish to be close to him and loved by him in his private life, similar to the way he loves the puppy.

In the present-day storyline, when Chani initially doesn’t see signs of the dog in Gabe’s house, she thinks the puppy might be dead, which makes her want to cry with disappointment, underscoring Teddy as a symbol of her previous—and possibly current—hopes for a relationship with Gabe. The puppy represented her chance with him, and when Chani flies to Montana with Gabe and sees the dog at his apartment above the bookstore, she feels that her chance is alive and well. The puppy greets her with affection, signaling Chani’s reignited affection for both of them.