Buck is a better lead dog because he displayed good judgment, intelligence, the ability to keep order, and the skill to make the team work as hard as possible. Spitz was a great dog and leader; Buck was superior even to him.
Buck's leadership skills are very strong. He has a knack for making the other dogs do their share of the work, and he is also a good teacher for the new dogs added to the team.
“Winter Dreams” main conflict was that Dexter dreams about joining the ranks of the rich. But he sees Judy Jones and realizes he’s been going wrong about it.
After she ends up losing her looks and falls into marriage with a alcoholic cheater Dexter loses his romantic love illusions with his upper class. He then realized that his struggles for those illusions were for nothing.