Gin, a male Akita Inu, possesses a silver brindle coat often rendered with bluish tones in later art. Three distinctive scars mark his forehead from an early bear encounter. His eyes shift from greenish-brown in initial portrayals to blue in later series, eventually developing age-related cataracts. He typically wears a collar varying between brown, red, yellow, or blue across depictions.

Born to Riki and Fuji, bear hunter Gohē Takeda selected one-month-old Gin for training as a bear hound after witnessing Riki's apparent death confronting the demonic bear Akakabuto. This event forged a vow of revenge between Gin and Takeda's nephew Daisuke. Rigorous training included underwater swimming and consuming bear meat to build endurance and acclimatize him to bears. During an early hunt with Daisuke, Gin sustained his forehead scars battling a bear, prompting Daisuke's intervention and the bear's defeat.

Gin united dogs across Japan to challenge Akakabuto. He encountered a wild pack led by his amnesiac father, Riki, and recruited allies like the Kai Brothers and Iga dog Akame. He assumed leadership of a platoon after the poisoning-induced blindness of Great Dane Ben. In the final battle against Akakabuto, Riki trained Gin in the Zetsu Tenrō Battōga, a spinning decapitation technique. Though initially ineffective, the technique combined with human intervention defeated Akakabuto. Riki formally passed leadership of the Ōu army to Gin before succumbing to his wounds.

Post-Akakabuto, Gin faced threats from wolves seeking a Battōga user. He suffered successive defeats against wolf warriors Hyouma, Suiga, and Mukonga yet persisted in rescuing the kidnapped Cross and her pups. These events culminated in confronting wolf lord Reima and the revelation of a greater enemy, Gaia.

Later, Gin mated with Sakura, producing sons Joe, Yukimura, and Weed. After Sakura's death, he remained Ōu's supreme commander. Captured and tortured by usurper Great Dane Hōgen, he escaped and rallied forces to support son Weed's efforts to reclaim Ōu. Following Weed's victory over Hōgen, Gin relinquished leadership to him.

Subsequent conflicts saw Gin aid repelling an invasion of Hokkaidō by Russian war dogs led by Viktor; strategic traps necessitated rescue by Weed's forces. He reconciled with estranged son Joe, who harbored resentment over Sakura's death – unaware she left Ōu believing Gin was dead. Gin provided tactical support against hybrid bears, though advancing age limited his physical capabilities.

As an elder with cataracts and near-blindness, Gin retained advisory authority in Ōu. He temporarily resumed leadership during Weed's incapacitation and maintained a stern yet affectionate role with grandchildren, particularly disciplining Orion while acknowledging his inherited potential from Riki. His bond with owner Daisuke endured, marked by mutual trust during medical interventions and the naming of Gin's grandchildren.

Personality-wise, Gin evolved from a serious, justice-driven youth prone to emotional recklessness into a calmer, more reserved leader burdened by loss and responsibility. He consistently demonstrated loyalty, strategic acumen, and willingness to learn from mentors like Ben and Riki. Despite age-related decline, his commitment to protecting comrades and family remained unwavering.