what details does the author include to help you better understand the personality differences between big dan and little ann?

Old Dan is Billy's "boy dog," the larger and stronger of the two, and more aggressive but less intelligent than Little Ann. Old Dan might be said to reflect Billy's masculine side while Little Anne represents Billy's more feminine "sensitive" side. In many ways Dan behaves like a human male, demonstrating perfect loyalty to both Ann and Billy, taking the lead, especially in threatening situations, and refusing to back down in the face of danger. His impetuousness sometimes causes him to blunder, but his tenacity often wins him the prize.

Like a human female, Little Ann ministers to Old Dan when he is hurt and falls in at his side when he is hunting. We know that Little Ann is attractive in appearance because she wins the "Best Looking Dog" award at the hunting competition.