Ep 45. Episode 45 - Walk Your Dog at an Appropriate Speed

In Gintama season 1 episode 45, titled "Walk Your Dog at an Appropriate Speed," we see our protagonist, Gintoki, dealing with the ups and downs of pet ownership. The story begins with Gintoki walking his dog, Sadaharu, through the streets of Edo. While Sadaharu seems to be enjoying himself, Gintoki is growing increasingly frustrated at the slow pace of their walk. This leads him to seek advice from his friends at the Odd Jobs office, who provide him with a series of bizarre and unhelpful suggestions.

As the episode progresses, we see Gintoki struggling to keep up with Sadaharu's energetic pace. He tries running alongside the dog, but quickly gets winded. He then attempts to use a skateboard to keep up, but this ends in disaster when he crashes into a wall. Eventually, Gintoki decides to try a more practical approach, and enlists the help of a professional dog trainer. Together, they work on teaching Sadaharu to walk at a more reasonable speed, using a variety of training techniques.

Along the way, we also get to see a bit more about Sadaharu's backstory. We learn that he was once a guard dog at a local temple, but was abandoned by his owners when they could no longer afford to feed him. This experience has left him with a strong desire for food, and a tendency to chew on anything he can find. Despite these quirks, however, Sadaharu proves to be a loyal and affectionate pet, who is devoted to his owner.

In addition to the main plotline, this episode also contains several humorous subplots. One involves Gintoki and his friends attempting to make a living by selling bottled air to people in the polluted city. Another involves a group of rival pet owners, who are determined to prove that their pets are superior to Sadaharu in every way. These subplots help to break up the action and provide some lighthearted moments in an otherwise serious episode.

Overall, "Walk Your Dog at an Appropriate Speed" is a heartwarming and humorous episode that provides some insight into the joys and challenges of pet ownership. It's a great showcase for both the main character, Gintoki, and his loyal canine companion, Sadaharu. Whether you're a fan of the show or just looking for a fun and engaging anime to watch, this episode is definitely worth checking out.