Kansas Nixes Cairn Terrier As State Dog: 5 Facts About the 'Toto' Breed

A bid to make the Cairn terrier, the breed made famous by Toto in The Wizard of Oz, the official dog of Kansas was shot down in the Kansas legislature Tuesday.

The Kansas House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources declined to hear House Bill 251, effectively killing the bill for the current session, reported the Wichita Eagle.

The legislator behind the bill, Ed Trimmer, plans to re-introduce the bill next year, the paper said.

The most famous Cairn terrier is Toto from The Wizard of Oz, the iconic film set in Kansas where the dog is best friend to Dorothy.

You may know about Toto, but here are five other facts about the Cairn terrier.

1. Origin

The cairn terrier is a native of Scotland and is the oldest of the terrier breeds.

2. Lifespan

The cairn terrier has a life expectancy of about 12 to 14 years.

3. Environment

The cairn terrier loves the outdoors, although the breed is also content inside, if it has enough space to be active.

4. Skills

The cairn terrier excels at obedience and agility, according to the American Kennel Club.

5. Name

The name Cairn refers to the rock dens that foxes and badgers lived in throughout the countryside, the AKC says. The dog would squirm down into these cairns and bark to hold the predator until the farmer killed it.