Ein is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi who joined the crew of the Bebop after Spike failed to capture a bounty. Ein is referred to as a "data dog," which implies his brain has been significantly enhanced, though this is only briefly hinted at in the anime series. The manga, however, shows Ed accessing data stored in Ein's brain through a virtual reality interface, where she engages in a conversation with what appears to be a human proprietor. It's clear that Ein possesses extraordinary intelligence; he can answer the phone, steer a car, use the SSW, play shogi, and perform various other tasks that an ordinary dog wouldn't be capable of. Despite his intelligence, Ein never speaks human language during the show, except for a brief moment after the credits in Session 18, "Speak Like A Child," where he tells Spike, "Next Episode: Wild Horses."
Ein also demonstrates the ability to communicate with other species, as seen in Session 17, "Mushroom Samba," where he converses with a cow using subtitled barks. While it seems that Ed is the only crew member aware of Ein's capabilities, the others tend to dismiss him as just a pet. Initially, Ein forms a bond with Jet, but once Ed joins the crew, he becomes close to her as well. Often, their roles seem to switch, with Ein expressing human-like emotions through facial expressions while Ed reverts to a more feral state. When Ed eventually leaves the Bebop, Ein goes with her, likely due to his strong attachment. His name is a play on the Japanese word for "dog" (犬 inu) and also means "one" in German. It could also be short for "Einstein," reflecting his remarkable intellect.
