The narrator of the poem is a contemplative and humorous individual who experiences the unpredictable nature of romance. They reflect on the complexities of commitment and balance the anxieties of caring for another living thing with the deep comforts it brings. The speaker acts as a philosophical guide who shares practical advice on how to nurture a reciprocal bond.

Personified throughout the poem as a dog, Love acts as a living, breathing entity with distinct needs and behaviors. It provides warmth, comfort, and security, but it also makes messes, wakes people up in the night, and occasionally misbehaves. It requires constant nourishment, patience, and exercise to thrive, and it ultimately rewards its caretakers with unconditional devotion.

The implied other half of the romantic relationship described in the poem. The partner shares the daily responsibilities of tending to the personified Love. They experience the same late-night wake-ups, unexpected messes, and moments of profound security. They represent the absolute necessity of mutual effort to maintain a lasting connection.