What was taco bell dogs name

Uttering the words "Yo Quiero Taco Bell," Gidget, a female dog, played a male dog in the commercials. She was cast as the girlfriend of the Taco Bell Chihuahua, but the director changed his mind at the last minute and made Gidget the lead dog, Chipperton said.

Chipperton worked with Gidget since she was an 8-week old pup and traveled everywhere with the dog. Gidget even opened the New York Stock Exchange. Roles were hard to come by for the pooch after her popularity soared from the Taco Bell ads, according to her trainer. However, she did need training to be certain she was prepared for where she was to be and what was to happen to her.

Chipperton relates that in one case she was to be riding in the rear of a taxi. One of the shots was done with the taxi in motion on a street. Gidget was harnessed at the right height in the back of the taxi; one animal trainer was lying on the floor of the backseat to be with her for the shoot; Chipperton was on the sidewalk where Gidget had a clear view of her.

The other scenes were filmed with the taxi on a gimbal—a big ball that moves the car up and down without it actually being driven. Helping Gidget become accustomed to being on a platform in the cab while the cab moves on the gimbal was an important part of her training. When dog trainer and animal are at work, the animal trainer is responsible for helping the animal perform as requested, but he or she must take equally seriously protecting the animal while on set.

Chipperton held Gidget above her head as the dogs cornered her with their barking. The dog walker rescued them eventually. Many animals are sensitive to noises or chaos, none of which particularly bothered Gidget.

However, on the Taco Bell set, the client, agency, and crew took to quieting down the moment Gidget came on set. They were very protective of her.

If a director wanted to make a correction and the action was stopped, Chipperton would return Gidget to her crate and then work out the new instructions with the director in order that Gidget not be stressed. When a take was completed, Sue Chipperton would toss Mrs. During the height of her fame as the Taco Bell dog, Gidget flew first class, was invited to open the New York Stock Exchange, and she made an appearance at Madison Square Garden and on numerous talk shows.

Chipperton said she was expected to follow commands and was never carried when she could walk on her own. While the commercials were hugely popular, they eventually nabbed the ire of Hispanic watchdog groups which claimed Taco Bell was promoting stereotypes and demanded the commercials be taken off the air.

The commercials ended so abruptly, Internet rumors that Gidget had met an untimely demise abounded leading to her very own entry on the myth-busting Web site Snopes. Her owner, McElhatton, who owns Studio Animal Services which trains animals for film, television and adverstising, said Gidget -- unique for her "really huge ears" -- just knew when the camera was on her.

And she was very particular about who got her attention. Taco Bell issued a statement today saying, "We enjoyed working with Gidget and she will be missed by many. She was the pet of Karen McElhatton. In July , Gidget suffered a stroke in her trainer Sue Chipperton 's home and was euthanized at the age of She was cremated and her ashes were retained by Chipperton. Gidget was born in Los Angeles, California on February 7, Following her retirement, she remained the object of affection, often going on hikes and beach visits with her trainer Sue Chipperton.

She aged gracefully and enjoyed nothing more than to sleep in the sunlight. McElhatton also said, "She was like a little old lady. She'd kind of gotten smaller.