Behind the Curtain: Toto’s True Story
In The Wizard of Oz, Toto is the small, silent anchor amid Technicolour chaos—loyal, sharp-eyed, and always a step ahead. Behind the character was Terry, a Cairn Terrier with a real Hollywood career and a surprisingly hefty pay packet.
Dorothy holding Toto in The Wizard of Oz, 1939, played by Judy Garland and Terry. Public Domain
Breed: Cairn Terrier | Country of Origin: Great Britain | First Use: Hunting foxes and rats | Origins: 1500s
The Dog Beneath the Rainbow
In the kaleidoscopic dreamscape of The Wizard of Oz, where winged monkeys shriek and witches melt, there’s one furry constant who keeps his paws firmly on the ground. He neither sings nor dances, yet he is always present, always alert, often the first to notice what others miss. His name is Toto, and he is, by all accounts, the film’s most quietly indispensable star.
He may have been small, but the role he played - both on-screen and off - was anything but. A steadying presence at Dorothy’s side, Toto embodied the very spirit of loyalty and curiosity. Yet behind this beloved canine character was a real dog with a story as surprising as the world over the rainbow.
The Making of Toto
Toto was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry. Born in 1933, she was a scrappy little dog with a shaggy coat and a bright, intelligent expression. A perfect embodiment of the breed’s hardy Scottish origins. Cairn Terriers, traditionally used to hunt vermin among the rocks (cairns) of the Highlands. They are spirited, fearless, and endlessly inquisitive dogs. All qualities Terry would display in front of the camera.
Her life changed when she was adopted by Hollywood dog trainer Carl Spitz. Known for his work with animal actors and his innovative training techniques, including hand signals for silent cues, Spitz saw in Terry the potential for a film career. She had a natural charisma and seemed to understand what was expected of her in ways that often astonished cast and crew alike.
Carl Spitz training Toto (aka. Terry). Public Domain
Buck, Toto, Prince, Mr Binkie and Musty pose with Carl Spitz, 1939. Public Domain
Terry’s debut was modest. She appeared in Ready for Love (1934) and had a supporting role in Bright Eyes (1934), a Shirley Temple vehicle. But it was in 1939, with her casting in The Wizard of Oz, that she would step out of the background and into legend.
Ready For Love with actor Ida Lupino holding Terry, 1934. Public Domain
Bright Eyes with actor Shirley Temple looking at Terry, 1934. Public Domain. Watch the film
The Yellow Brick Road to Stardom
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was meticulous in its casting for The Wizard of Oz, and the search for Dorothy’s dog was no exception. The role called for a dog that was expressive, obedient, and, above all, able to convey emotion without words. Terry, by then a seasoned performer, proved ideal. So, even though Toto the character was male, and Terry was female, she got the role.
Filming began in October 1938, and Terry performed in nearly every major scene. Whether scampering after Dorothy as the house landed in Munchkinland or braving the Wicked Witch’s castle, her timing and responsiveness were remarkably consistent. Director Victor Fleming praised her professionalism, and Judy Garland, who was just 16 at the time, formed a special bond with her.
Dorothy with Toto singing Over The Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz, 1939. Public Domain
Toto by Dorothy’s feet in The Wizard of Oz, 1939. Public Domain
So close was this connection that Garland reportedly asked to adopt Terry once filming wrapped. Spitz declined, but the affection between girl and dog remained one of the film’s warmest off-camera subplots.
Terry was paid $125 per week for her work on Oz, more than some of the human actors portraying the Munchkins. In a Hollywood where animal actors were often overlooked, Terry’s presence was undeniably vital.
A Star Among Giants
Terry’s work in The Wizard of Oz was no fluke. Before and after Oz, she appeared in over 20 films (see list below), all uncredited accept for The Wizard of Oz.
Fury with actor Spencer Tracy in car with Terry, 1936. Public Domain
Bad Little Angel with actors Virginia Weidler and Gene Reynolds and Toto in the middle, 1939. Public Domain
It’s worth noting that her work ethic was no less demanding than that of any human actor. Scenes were rehearsed tirelessly, and Spitz maintained rigorous standards. Terry reportedly performed many of her own stunts, at one point during The Wizard of Oz, she was accidentally stepped on by one of the Wicked Witch’s guards and had to take a two-week hiatus to recover from a sprained paw.
Despite her injuries, she returned to complete filming, and no one on screen would ever suspect the ordeal.
Cultural Footprints in Technicolour
Toto’s cultural impact extends far beyond the confines of the Emerald City. The phrase “and Toto, too?” became shorthand for inclusion and surprise. Toto was a dog, yes, but also a character of agency. He revealed the Wizard’s trickery, exposed the Scarecrow’s vulnerability, and remained unwavering in his devotion to Dorothy.
Over the decades, Toto has been referenced in literature, television, and even politics. Few animal characters achieve that level of cultural shorthand.
Toto also helped redefine how dogs were portrayed in cinema. He was not just a pet or comic relief; he was a companion, a witness to magic, and a kind of moral compass. The film’s final message - that the answers we seek are often in our own backyard - is carried most faithfully in Toto’s small, silent steps.
Dorothy with Toto walking along the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz, 1939. Public Domain
Dorothy with Toto on the yellow brick road deciding which way to go in The Wizard of Oz, 1939. Public Domain
Beyond the Rainbow: A Lasting Legacy
Terry died in 1945 at the age of 11, after a career that most actors, of any species, would envy. She was buried at Spitz’s ranch in Studio City, Los Angeles. Sadly, her grave was destroyed during the construction of the Ventura Freeway in the 1950s.
In 2011, following a campaign by fans and historians, a memorial for Terry was erected at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It features a bronze statue and plaque, a fitting tribute to a dog who had helped define one of cinema’s most enduring classics.
Toto has since been played by other dogs in remakes and spin-offs, from Return to Oz (1985) to Emerald City (2017), but none have captured the magic in quite the same way. Terry remains the gold standard, not only for Toto, but for the countless animal actors who followed.
Statue of Toto at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Public Domain
A 25-cent commemorative stamp resembling a movie poster of The Wizard of Oz featuring Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto, issued 1990. Public Domain
The Dog Who Kept Dorothy Grounded
There is something deeply human about Toto, for all his canine traits. He is a reminder of loyalty amidst chaos, of faithfulness during flights of fancy. As the tornado whirls and Oz unfolds in garish technicolour, Toto remains the bridge between dreams and reality. He grounds Dorothy—and us—when everything else seems to spiral.
It’s easy to forget that for all the witches and wizards, it is Toto who sets the story in motion by running away and pulling Dorothy into the world she needs to navigate to understand her own heart.
In a film that has delighted audiences for generations, the smallest actor may also have been the biggest hero.
Dorothy with Toto in The Wizard of Oz, 1939. Public Domain
Dorothy holding Toto with the Wicked Witch of the East (left), and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (right) in The Wizard of Oz, 1939. Public Domain
Other movies staring Toto:
Here is a list of the films Toto (aka. Terry) appeared in:
Ready for Love (1934) with Ida Lupino
Bright Eyes (1934) as Rags with Shirley Temple
The Dark Angel (1935)
Fury (1936) as Rainbow with Spencer Tracy
The Buccaneer (1938) as Landlubber
Barefoot Boy (1938) as herself
Stablemates (1938) as Pet Dog with Mickey Rooney
The Wizard of Oz (1939) as Toto (credited as "Toto") with Judy Garland
The Women (1939) as Fighting Dog at Beauty Shop
Bad Little Angel (1939) as Rex
Calling Philo Vance (1940) as McTavish
The Ghost Comes Home (1940) as Dog in Pet Shop
Son of the Navy (1940) as Terry
Cinderella's Feller (1940, short) as Rex the Dog
The Old Swimmin' Hole (1940) as Toto
The Chocolate Soldier (1941) as Dog
Rings on Her Fingers (1942) as Dog
Twin Beds (1942) as Dog
Tortilla Flat (1942) as Little Paelito, reunited with Oz director Victor Fleming, and Frank Morgan who played Professor Marvel
George Washington Slept Here (1942) as Dog
The Heavenly Body (1944) as Dog in Groomer's Tub
Adventures of Rusty (1945) as Skipper
Easy to Look At (1945) as Toto, her final film role
Did You Know?
Judy Garland and Toto taking a break during filming The Wizard of Oz, 1939. Public Domain
Terry’s name was officially changed to “Toto” after the success of The Wizard of Oz.
She performed all her own stunts, including the basket scenes and the witch’s castle escape.
Toto’s breed, the Cairn Terrier, saw a surge in popularity after the film’s release.
Toto was trained using hand signals, a method still used in film dog training today.
Judy Garland reportedly wept when filming wrapped and she had to say goodbye to Toto.
Toto, was the mother of another movie Cairn Terrier named Rommy, who also appeared in several films, including Reap the Wild Wind (1942) and Air Force (1943).
Despite being one of the most famous dogs in history Toto does not have an official star on the Walk of Fame, though fans have lobbied for one for years. Only three dogs have ever been honored with a star - Strongheart, Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.
Toto’s memorial was crowd-funded by fans over 60 years after her grave was destroyed.
