From the moment that Francois whips the dog that attempts to steal Buck's bone, Buck feels that they are fair and so he respects them. Some of the things they do are difficult for him to understand, such as when he tries to enter the tent at night to sleep. Francois and Perrault immediately drive him out and he has to learn how to sleep outside.
When learning how to pull, Francois and Perrault place Buck between two dogs who will teach him how to do it right, but not attack him unfairly. They see Buck as a useful asset and want to treat him well enough so he will give them a return on their investment. They let the dogs fight sometimes if they felt it would be good for the dynamics of the group, but they were also protective against outside threats because they knew the dogs were the only way they could get where they needed to go.
In The Call of the Wild, what do Francois and Perrault expect from their dogs?
Francois and Perrault expect their sled dogs to be disciplined and hard-working so that the team runs smoothly and efficiently. They expect each dog on the team to literally pull his or her own weight.They are experienced dog-handlers, and treat the dogs well without ever indulging them.
Generally, Francois and Perrault's methods have excellent results. However, for a time the stability of the team is threatened when Spitz, the leader, and Buck, his great challenger and rival, fight for supremacy. This has a negative effect on most of the other dogs who likewise fall to bickering and squabbling. This state of affairs vexes the men but they can really do nothing about it until the final great clash between Buck and Spitz in which Buck emerges victorious. Rather than mourning Spitz, Francois expresses relief that the divisions in the team have finally been settled, and they can return to business:
"An' now we make good time. No more Spitz, no more trouble, sure." (chapter 4)
In this harsh environment, the death of one dog is not a matter for sentiment. Francois and Perrault merely realise that the strongest dog has won out and will now take his rightful place at the head of the team.
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