# Spitz — The Call of the Wild character guide

> Spitz in The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dat Spitz

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-the-law-of-club-and-fang

## Snapshot

A cunning lead dog whose snarling claim to the team's front position forces Buck into a fight for dominance.

## Who they are

Spitz is the trail-wise leader of François and Perrault's team, a fighter who laughs at hell and tolerates no rival near his place at the front. He and Buck circle each other from the first days in harness, their rivalry sharpened by stolen food, snapped warnings, and the unspoken knowledge that only one of them can lead. When the showdown finally comes, François's verdict—'Dat Spitz fight lak hell, an' dat Buck fight lak two hells'—marks the moment Buck seizes the leadership he believes is his by right.

## Relationships

### [Buck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/characters/buck)

_rivalry_

Buck and Spitz are fierce rivals competing for dominance as lead dog of the sled team, culminating in a deadly fight.

## In the story

### [The Call of the Wild](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/the-call-of-the-wild)

Rival lead dog; Buck kills him to become leader of the sled team.

### [Into the Primitive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/i-into-the-primitive)

A big, snow-white dog from Spitzbergen who is friendly in a treacherous way and attempts to steal Buck's food, but is disciplined by François's whip.

### [II: The Law of Club and Fang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/ii-the-law-of-club-and-fang)

Acts as lead dog and antagonist; laughs at Curly's death and bullies other dogs.

### [III: The Dominant Primordial Beast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/chapters/iii-the-dominant-primordial-beast)

Bully and rival who provokes Buck; loses the final fight and is killed by Buck.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/characters/spitz
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_call_of_the_wild_se/characters