Cool Dog Names

If you're a Tom Hanks movie and TV fan, then you have, no doubt, either heard about or have seen the movie Turner and Hooch which was released in 1989.  The movie involved a police investigator, who was extremely studious and well-ordered (Scott Turner, played by Tom Hanks) and a large dog (Hooch, played by a Dogue de Bordeaux), and the playful and interesting antics which surrounded the forming of a new, if somewhat messy, partnership in a small town in Northern California.  It seems that Scott, bored with his small town police duties, has applied for and received a transfer to Sacramento, but before he can depart, he must train his replacement.  It is while training his replacement that a good friend is murdered and Hooch, the friend's companion dog, is the only witness.  The murder investigation includes Scott, both on a personal level as well as a professional one, and he finds himself saddled with the responsibility of Hooch's care until the killer can be identified and brought to justice.  The situations which follow Scott's reluctant acceptance of taking in Hooch are hilariously funny as Hooch, unintentionally, wrecks Scott's house as well as his tightly structured living habits and lifestyle.  Eventually, the killer is caught, identified by Hooch and Hooch becomes ensconced in Scott's life and that of the female vet between whom an attraction has developed, adding a new dimension for both of them.

Our second featured famous dog with a cool name is Nana, the Darling's nursemaid in the Disney movie, Peter Pan.   The story takes place in Edwardian London at the end of the nineteenth century.  Mr. Darling is an employee of the Bank of London, while Mrs. Darling is a stay-at-home mom who takes care of the kids, with the help of Nana, their canine nursemaid, the family Saint Bernard.  It seems that Nana is quite a bit more than a dog, demonstrating love and loyalty as she continually monitors the children's activities and cleans up their constant messes.  Having quite the imagination, Wendy Darling, the oldest of the Darling children, entertains her brothers on a nightly basis with her stories about Captain Hook and Peter Pan.  Having committed a grievous familial error which humiliated her father in the presence of his boss and coworkers, Wendy is banished from the nursery and the nightly company of the other Darling children.  But, on her last night with them, she launches her most thrilling tale yet about Captain Hook and Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up.  The fictional journey leads the children through a myriad of events, fraught with fun, suspense and danger, while Nana patiently waits at home for her beloved charges.

Both of these stories display the amazing love, loyalty and dependability of the canine species.  These attributes helped them love, care and protect their beloved human family members, even in death (as in the case of Hooch's former, though now deceased owner).  For those of us who have such a tender spot in our hearts and lives for dogs, we already know and have experienced these traits demonstrated by those beloved furry family members we call dogs.