What we see here is not Ward protecting a dog. We see a dog protecting Ward.

Surviving in the wilderness is nothing new for that dog. It knows how to hunt. The rain doesn’t bother it. But surviving in the wilderness is new for Ward. He doesn’t know how to hunt. The rain does bother him. When Ward was alone and scared and hungry and cold in the woods, he leaned his head against that dog because it was the only companion he had. And for a boy who has only ever known abandonment, this dog is the first thing to stay by his side. 

Buddy the dog was a better guardian to Ward than his own parents ever were, than his older brother ever was, than Garrett ever was.

The first time Ward was ever shown unconditional love and kindness was not by a man or a woman, but by that dog.