The puppy appears in Chapter Two of The Grey Gatsby and Fitzgerald has included it because it reveals a lot of important information about Myrtle. It shows, for instance, that Myrtle feels empty and dissatisfied with her personal life. By desiring a puppy "for the apartment," Myrtle is demonstrating her need for someone to love and care for at home, in the absence of existing, meaningful relationships. It is symbolic, therefore, of her marital and extramarital dissatisfaction.
In addition, that Myrtle specifically requests a "police dog" is also significant. It implies that she feels vulnerable and is looking for someone to protect her. As such, her desire for a puppy foreshadows Tom's violence towards her later in the chapter (when he breaks her nose) but the fact that the the puppy seller does not have the police dog breed sends a bleak message that Myrtle cannot be protected.
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