Dimitry Dmitrich Gurov is Anna's lapdog. He treats his women like they are pieces of meat. He lures them with his good looks, flatters them with his charming words, has sex with them (probably only once), and forgets about them. Dogs have no feelings, and they are automatically attracted to the opposite sex when they go into heat. Similarly, Gurov is constantly in heat, and he does what is needed to get sex. Anna is oblivious to Gurov's intentions when they become acquainted in Yalta. Gurov uses Anna's dog as a way to draw attention to himself so that she will approach him. The only time the dog is seen in this story is when Gurov first meets Anna, because Gurov himself becomes her lapdog.

Gurov, like a dog, wants to be pet and cared for, and he especially wants his needs to be fulfilled without any hassles. Because Gurov is Anna's dog, he plays her like all of the other women he has taken advantage of. For example, when they start to have a relationship, Gurov immediately lures her into bed. After they have sex, Gurov proves that he does not care about Anna because he gets bored when she talks to him about her feelings. Not only does Gurov act like a dog by ignoring Anna's emotions, he does not feel anything except physical attractiono for her. Gurov is Anna's dog because he plays with her emotions like they were tennis balls and insinuates himself into her life--much like a puppy.

Much like a dog, Gurov relies on his senses rather than his emotions throughout the story. For example, when Gurov goes to find Anna in the theatre, he notices the "odour of cigarette-ends." Also like most dogs, Gurov appears to be color blind, seeing most colors as gray. Not only is he color blind, he is blind to the way he treats women. Gurov only thinks that he has feelings for Anna because he realizes that he is getting old and unattractive. Gurov will remain Anna's lapdog until she dies because she needs Gurov to provide her comfort and excitement.

I think that Gurov disrespects women who think about things because it makes it harder for him to flatter them with his dog-like ways. Once the women find out that he is not what he appears (like his wife), they despise him for taking advantage of them. Unlike other women, Anna does not become aware of Gurov's ways. She needs the attention of someone because her life is unexciting, so she accepts Gurov into her lap.