Final answer:
The dog instinctively knows it is too cold to be outdoors without a fire, contrasting with the man who relies on his own experience and knowledge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The man in the story relies on his own experiences and book knowledge for survival in the extreme cold. The dog, however, follows its instincts, knowing that it is too cold to be outdoors without a fire. The comparison of the man's reliance on his judgment and the dog's natural instincts serves as a central theme of the narrative, highlighting the limitations of human knowledge in the face of nature's raw elements.