- White Fang, the novel's protagonist; a wolfdog who was born wild but becomes more dog-like after Gray Beaver domesticates him. He gets bullied by Lip-lip and was forced to become a fighting dog when he was bought by Beauty Smith. However, his life changed when a loving master named Weedon Scott buys him and takes him to his home in Santa Clara Valley in California. He eventually becomes a part of the family after saving Judge Scott from Jim Hall.
- Kiche, White Fang's mother, a sled dog formerly owned by Gray Beaver's now-dead brother, known at the beginning of the novel as the "she-wolf". Possibly named for the Algonquian deity Gitche Manitou.
- Lip-Lip, a canine pup who also lives in the Native American village and bullies White Fang until White Fang kills him in a fight.
- One-Eye, White Fang's father, a true wolf, who was killed by the lynx.
- Cherokee, a bulldog who was the only dog to defeat White Fang until Weedon Scott saved White Fang.
- Collie, a sheepdog, mother of White Fang's whelps.
- The Lynx, an aggressive Canada lynx who was responsible for killing One-Eye, but later gets killed by Kiche in retaliation.
Major human characters:
- Gray Beaver, a Native American chief who is White Fang's first master. He is a neutral master, neither as cruel as Beauty Smith, nor as kind as Weedon Scott.
- Beauty Smith, the main antagonist of the novel and White Fang's second master; a dogfighter.
- Weedon Scott, a wealthy gold hunter who is White Fang's third master and the first one to truly show affection towards him.
- Matt, Weedon Scott's assistant who helps tame White Fang.
- Judge Scott, Weedon Scott's father who accepts White Fang as a member of the family after he saves him from Jim Hall.
- Jim Hall, a violent fugitive who tries to get revenge on Judge Scott but gets killed by White Fang.
- Henry, a character appearing in the introduction of the novel, carrying the coffin of Lord Alfred with Bill.
- Bill, a character appearing in the introduction of the novel alongside Henry and was killed by the wolves led by Kiche.
- Three Eagles, a Native American who buys Kiche from Gray Beaver.