The man became the master of the dog at the end of the story.

The story revolves around a man who is traveling in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon during the gold rush. He is accompanied by a team of sled dogs, and one of the dogs is particularly loyal to him. However, the man does not treat the dog well and often abuses him. The man is overconfident and ignores the advice of the old-timers about the dangers of traveling alone in such harsh conditions.

The dog's loyalty and instincts
Throughout the story, the dog shows remarkable loyalty and survival instincts. Despite the man's mistreatment, the dog stays by his side, sensing that it is his best chance of survival. The dog is in tune with nature and understands the dangers of the frozen wilderness. It knows that the man is making a grave mistake by traveling alone and is aware of the risks involved.

The turning point
The turning point in the story comes when the man falls through a thin layer of ice and gets wet up to his knees. He realizes the severity of the situation and tries to build a fire to dry himself. However, his frozen hands are unable to perform the task, and he starts to panic. It is at this moment that the dog takes charge.

The dog takes control
The dog understands the urgency of the situation and the need for a fire to save their lives. It takes the initiative and starts digging a hole in the snow, uncovering dry twigs and branches that the man had failed to see. The dog's instinctual knowledge of survival helps it locate the necessary materials to start a fire.

The man's realization
As the fire starts to burn, the man realizes the extent of his dependence on the dog. He sees the dog in a new light and recognizes its intelligence and loyalty. The man's arrogance and mistreatment of the dog fade away as he acknowledges the dog's superiority in survival skills.

The man becomes the master
At this point, the man becomes the master of the dog. He acknowledges the dog's intelligence and survival skills and realizes that he must rely on the dog's instincts to survive in the harsh wilderness. The man's perspective changes, and he understands the importance of working together with the dog rather than mistreating it.

In conclusion, the man becomes the master of the dog at the end of the story because he recognizes the dog's loyalty, instincts, and survival skills. He becomes humbled by the dog's actions and realizes that he must rely on the dog's knowledge to survive in the frozen wilderness.

The man