Buck is smarter and more determined than other dogs from the South. In chapter three, London writes about Spitz's surprise at Buck:
...for of the many Southland dogs he had known, not one had shown up worthily in camp and on trail. They were all too soft, dying under the toil, the frost, and starvation. Buck was the exception. He alone endured and prospered, matching the husky in strength, savagery, and cunning.
While in some respects Buck's background as a pet puts him at a disadvantage (for instance, his paws are not as tough as the other dogs', to the point where he must wear improvised moccasins for protection), in other respects it gives him an edge. When it comes time for the final showdown with Spitz, Buck's strength and fury are no a match for the more experienced dog. Instead, the factor that allows Buck to defeat Spitz is his "imagination"; Buck can fight with his head as well as by instinct. He is able to trick Spitz into defending against a charge when in at the last moment Buck turns and breaks his foreleg. It's clear that Buck is the superior dog.
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