The Dogs: Beginnings Summary and Analysis

Gary uproots his family and drains their financial accounts to start dog sledding. He starts with four dogs and a broken sled given to him. The team first serves as a means of transportation, then income and finally fun. The family lives simply, working to provide what they need through gardening, hunting, trapping, and farming.

One night Gary camps in a stand of Northern pines. The eight dogs are tied to individual trees and Gary beds down for the night in his sled bag. In the middle of the night he awakens and realizes that a wolf has joined the team but the dogs appear excited and not threatened. The wolf stays with Gary for three more days then quietly takes her leave. .

The time spent on this run alters Gary. When he returns home he does...