Animation Source Forums

I've read before that certain hybrid animals have what is called "growth dysplasia". That is, they have altered growth patterns from their parents.

For example, a tigon, which is the offspring if a female tiger and a male lion, only grows about as big as a female lion even if it's a male.

A liger, which is the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion, can get to be over half a ton.

Someone on another message board once mentioned that they had a husky/wolf hybrid, and it was actually smaller than their neighbor's purebred husky.

Could Balto being smaller than Steele be a result of growth dysplasia?

Quite possibly. You do put forth some very valid and reasonable arguments, but I highly doubt the production team was taking that into account. Maybe Steele was ust bigger so he could look more intimidating...

He isn't actually that small if you compare him to likes of Jenna, he just looks small compared to Steele because as Sloth said, he is meant to be intimidating as an enemy and a well built dog with muscles.

Maybe. But it could be because either parent was built rather small XD

Yes, but people insist on looking at things like this from a realistic standpoint. Looking at it realistically, there is justification towards it... even if it is just coincidence.