how did buck demonstrate that he could take care of himself in the wild?

Buck finally has a new master. Buck's devotion to Thorton is absolute. While Thorton and his friends are looking for a lost mine Buck is drawn to the wild. He hunts bear and moose and befriends a wolf. Buck has discovered his inner wild doggy self. When Thorton is eventually killed, Buck returns to the Wild becoming the alpha to a pack of wolves. Yes, Buck’s transformation from pampered California pooch to independent wolf-dog of the wild is complete.