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Well, all stories have to have some sort of conflict. In this case, there were two: one being between Balto and Steele to get the medicine back to Nome, and the other being more of an internal conflict between Balto's wolf side and his dog side. Honestly, the latter adds a lot more depth to the story, if you think about it. Otherwise it would have just been a movie of "Balto vs. Steele fight for Jenna's heart!" or something really stupid, and it wouldn't have been that good.

You forgot the conflict between Balto and the town itself.

Agh, there's that too... Sorry! Thanks for reminding me, Beta.

I personally didn't see much conflict occur between Balto and the townspeople enough for it to be a big problem. 1.) Jenna's dad pulled her away from him on the IMPULSE that he might hurt her. It happens everywhere, and to everyone. 2.) Balto being FRAMED for breaking into the butcher's meat locker was more of the final straw. Aside from that, people generally just didn't care for him...

It was one of the major aspects of the movie. There's also the part where the musher says, "He might turn on me." Boris also says, "What is he doing? He's bringing going to find a dog he doesn't like, so he can bring medicine back to a town that doesn't like him." Balto also acts surprised when the townspeople accept him in the end.

(at least) 6 references to it in a 73 minute movie makes it a major part of the movie.

Balto is a rather tourtured soul. It's not just a hate for his wolf side, the character hates himself as a whole. Neither one thing or the other, someone who can only look into both worlds but never be a part of either. It's what makes the character so interesting.

I HAVE to agree with you on that one. Having seen only B1 and B2, I say he doesn't interact much with his wolf side after the diptheria epic. Maybe he didn't want any more trouble, which could be why he adressed his mother as 'the Wolf'. Either that or he forgot her name.

WQ shouldn't be counted. Universal wasn't very consistent with character personalities.

Neither sequel should be counted in my opinion. At the end of the first film, he helps save the children with his wolf side, and is proud to be who he is.
In WQ, for some reason - he hates it again! And Aleu follows his example. Balto only shows his true colours towards the end of the film.
In WoC, Balto is no longer part wolf. He's just referred to as a dog. He even looks like a husky now, since his legs are shorter and he's more well-groomed. His depth and personality are taken away.