Dog Names Meaning Shiny

Skippy was born in 1931 and would appear in dozens of movies throughout the 1930s. This dog made his movie debut when he was only six months old in one of the Three Stooges movies. After the first initial film, the small dog was in high demand for countless movies. Skippy attained star status for his role as the pet dog named "Asta" in the wildly popular 1934 detective comedy called, "The Thin Man."  The film starred William Powel and Myrna Loy. The film's popularity made the pooch instantly recognizable, and many people started to call the dog Asta after his movie character. 

Skippy was owned and trained by Henry and Gale East. Frank Weatherwax and assistant trainers Rudd Weatherwax and Frank Inn also participated in the dog's training. In 1936, Skippy was featured in a book called, "Dog Stars of Hollywood." The book was written by Gertrude Orr. In her novel, she called the dog one of the most intelligent of all the animal stars in Hollywood. She stated that he could follow not only verbal commands but also hand cues. Her book contained a series of photographs of the canine. 

The American Magazine also wrote up a feature article on Skippy. The report was titled, "A Dog's Life in Hollywood." It showcased the life of luxury that the pooch movie star enjoyed. He was the darling of fellow actors and starlets who enjoyed petting and loving on the cute canine. Skippy was one of the highest paid animal actors of the period. He made $250 per week, and his owner made $60. Other canine actors of the time produced only $3.50 per day. 

There was just something special about the charismatic pooch that enabled everyone to fall in love with the dog. Unlike many animals, Skippy did not work for treats. Instead, he was enamored by a small squeaky mouse. He would perk up every time he heard the squeak of the mouse. Over the course of a 10-year career, Skippy starred in dozens of films. The pooch would eventually retire with his owners/trainers. His son, called "Asta II" would also go on to achieve modest fame as a Hollywood dog star.