Oz Dog Names

Terry was believed to have been born in Pasadena, California. She was adopted as a puppy by a family but they had a difficult time housebreaking her. She refused to stop wetting on their carpet so they contacted Spitz who was running a dog obedience school in the area. Spitz took Terry in and quickly housebroke her. Unfortunately, Terry's family refused to pay the obedience bill for training the small dog so Spitz kept Terry and started to train her for the movies. 

The small, brave dog did all of her own stunts during all of her films. In her role as Toto, she almost died when a guard stepped on her paw and broke it. The little dog needed two weeks to recuperate. She was allowed to stay at Judy Garland's home. Judy bonded closely with the scruffy little dog during the time they shared together. The bond was so close that Judy asked Charles Spitz to please sell her but he refused. No doubt, Terry's weekly salary of $125 was the main deciding factor in why Spitz held onto the small dog. Her salary was more than most actors of the time or average Americans earned. 

Terry starred in numerous Hollywood films such, 'Bright Eyes' where she played Shirley Temple's dog  Bow-wow Rags. The small dog also starred in, 'The Women' and 'Tortilla Flat'. After the rise of the Wizard of Oz film's popularity, Terry's name was officially changed to Toto. Terry, or Toto as she started to be called, was the mother of another famous Hollywood pooch named Rommy. Rommy would later star in the movies, 'Air Force' and 'Reap the Wild Wind'. 

Terry retired after filming her final film in 1945. She lived peacefully as part of the Spitz household until her death later that year. Tiny Terry died at age 11. She was buried on Spitz's ranch but her grave was destroyed during the construction of the Ventura highway. On June 18, 2011, a marker was erected at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery located in Los Angeles to commemorate the small Cairn Terrier star.