Bob, the lovable protagonist of The One and Only Bob, is a dynamic character who undergoes significant change and development through the course of the novel: He develops courage, becomes more selfless, learns to forgive, and redeems a sense of identity.

Bob loves his life with Julia, especially visiting his friends at the park and receiving cuddles and belly scratches. He does, though, struggle with a loss of identity in this domestication. He prided himself on his self-sufficiency, his confidence, and his roguish charm as a stray dog who slipped in and out of the animal enclosures at the mall, sourcing his own food and company. It is a point of pride for him that he used to be a stray, and equally it becomes a point of contention when he feels that he has become coddled and “soft” in the year living with Julia. It turns out that Bob’s main source of self-consciousness and insecurity is his secret suspicion that he is actually a coward.

He is tested physically, mentally, and emotionally by the terrifying storm, where his intervention saves many animals’ lives. In particular, he leaves the park alone to struggle through destruction and flood water to find his long-lost sister, Boss.