Dog Names Meaning Very Wise

Rin-Tin-Tin was born in September of 1918 at a devastated kennel in Germany. The kennel had once supplied dogs-of-war to the German forces, but it had been severely bombed when U.S. Army Corporal Lee Duncan first set foot on the grounds. The only dogs left at the kennel was a starving female and her litter of puppies. The Corporal promptly gathered up the mom dog and her puppies to bring back to his unit. Once the puppies were grown, the Corporal gave the mother dog to his commander and four of the six puppies to fellow soldiers. He kept a male and female from the litter. He named the puppies Rin-Tin-Tin and Nannette. The unique names denoted good luck charms that French children often gave to U.S. soldiers. 

When the war ended, Corporal Duncan smuggled his dogs aboard a ship bound for the United States. During the journey, Nannette contracted pneumonia. Upon arrival, the Corporal traded her to a German Shepherd breeder for another puppy who he named Nannette II. Unfortunately, the original Nannette died from the disease. The Corporal then set out for Los Angeles with Rin-Tin-Tin and the new Nannette II. 

In Los Angeles, Duncan worked to train the dogs for movies. Eventually, Rin-Tin-Tin landed his first role in "Where the North Begins." The dog quickly went on to make even more films and rose to stardom. He played in innumerable silent films and also some films with sound. The audience adored the German Shepherd, and his star quickly rose. Actors and actresses liked working with the wise pooch who knew when it was time to get down to business and act. 

Rin-Tin-Tin is believed to have sired at least 48 puppies during his life. Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, and W.K. Kellogg all owned one of his progeny. 

The great Rin-Tin-Tin died on August 19, 1932, at Corporal Duncan's home. Duncan heard the dog bark and went outside to see what was the matter. He found Rin-Tin-Tin lying on his side moments away from death. After the dog passed away, Duncan buried him in a bronze casket in his yard with a simple wooden cross to mark the spot. 

The announcement of Rin-Tin-Tin's death touched the hearts of the nation. Regular programming was postponed, and everyone mourned the canine superstar. In 1960, the wise dog received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.