What is Hairless Dog

The Hairless Dog that saves Frankie from drowning in the river is a symbol of Frankie's divine protection. Wherever Frankie goes, the hairless dog follows him and protects him as a guardian angel of sorts. With the help of Josefa, the dog crosses a continent and stays with Frankie until its dying days -- where it drowns itself in a river. The dog's abnormal intelligence suggests divine work at play and that fate itself is looking out for Frankie to complete his mission on earth. The same thing can be seen with the stray dog that finds Kai in the woods, mirroring the exact circumstances of Frankie's salvation. Dogs are angels in the novel.