The dog in the boy rears its head at the call, the urge to drive and snap, to protect what was his, roiled in his chest. Sure, the moose was colossal, but he was descended from dogs that took on far bigger opponents and didn't back down.
The moose dropped its head at his approach and he was quick to deliver a nip to its nose, darting back just in time to avoid the hoof thrown his way. He snarled, a not quite bark pulled from his chest in response. The moose would have to do better than that.
Going for the ankles he moves to drive the behemoth off. It was time to move along.