Welcome to our "Answers Page" . Well, it's titled the
"Frequently Asked Questions Page", but we know you came here for
the "Answers"! If you don't see your question answered, check
Bob's Blog page, or use our Contact page to ask. Either Bob or one
of his assistants will do their best to respond.
Why isn't Bob Weatherwax with Lassie?
For the past four years, Classic Media, a subsidiary of Entertainment Rights, which owns the rights to the character and name of Lassie, has chosen not
to use a Weatherwax Lassie dog for its corporate ventures, despite the fact
that Bob is the exclusive legal owner of the Lassie dogs and their bloodline.
Who is Carol Riggins and why is she with the dog
Classic Media calls Lassie?
Carol Riggins worked both for Bob's father, Rudd Weatherwax, and also for
Bob as a part-time bookkeeper. After Rudd's death, she asked Bob to teach
her about dog training. He gave her some instruction and eventually hired her
as one of his assistants. The dog that Bob placed in her care was of pet
quality only. He had neither the temperament nor came close to the breed standard to be considered a Weatherwax Lassie dog. At most, Bob only intended Hey Hey to be used in distance shots as a Lassie double because
of his physical defects. This is the dog that Riggins and Classic Media are
now representing as Lassie. Hey Hey did substitute for Lassie VIII during a
short contract dispute during the filming of the Cinar Productions Lassie television series. Carol Riggins was later fired by Bob for insubordination after she took her pet to a commercial shoot for a dog food company,
misrepresenting him as Lassie. She was well aware of Weatherwax policy regarding Lassie puppy purchases and adoptions. Every new owner signs
an agreement that stipulates the puppy may not be bred and may never be
used for commercial purposes. Only Rudd or Bob could amend the criteria.
Bob made the one-time exception when he allowed Carol and Hey Hey to
work those few television episodes in Canada.
Why does the "lassie.net" site present itself
as the official site for Lassie?
We do not know why Classic Media/Entertainment Rights, which owns the
rights to the name and character of Lassie, allows this site to make these claims. CM/ER has its own Lassie website at "lassie.com", which is the official corporate licensor's website. Bob's attorneys have sent cease and
desist letters to the lassie.net owners, demanding that they remove any and
all material and inaccurate information pertaining to Rudd and Bob Weatherwax from their site. While it is true that Bob originally agreed to let the lassie.net owners post information about him and his Lassie dogs and to print a fan club newsletter, he formally rescinded that permission years ago. Any mention or misleading information about his father, himself or his dogs on lassie.net is
done against his express wishes and the demands of his attorneys.
Where will Bob and Laddie be appearing next?
Place a bookmark for our News page. All upcoming appearances will be
noted there. And be sure to check out archived pages of past appearances.
Why isn't Bob working with Classic Media now?
In our opinion, Classic Media/Entertainment Rights has focused its
ownership and use of the name and character of Lassie on a direction not necessarily consistent with Weatherwax traditions, practices, and quality.
For the past few years, this licensor has shown no interest in affiliating with
Bob Weatherwax, who has owned, bred, selected, and trained the actual
Lassie dogs, consistent with his father's methods, nor with the Lassie dog genetic bloodline to which Bob Weatherwax maintains exclusive rights.
Why doesn’t Classic Media use the real Lassie
instead of a fake one?
That is a question for Classic Media. From our viewpoint, not just any dog
can portray Lassie, not even any Lassie puppy. It takes more than physical features to embody Lassie. Rudd understood the charisma, work ethic, and trainability necessary to become a Lassie collie. He passed that knowledge
onto his son, Bob. Selecting the next generation Lassie is a skill only
practiced artfully by Rudd, his successor Bob, and Bob's successor. Bob's daughter, Mary, played an instrumental role in breeding for, whelping, and selecting the ninth generation Weatherwax Lassie puppy.
Why did the dogs in the latest Lassie movie not really
look like the Lassies most American kids grew up with
and loved? Were they Weatherwax Lassies?
No. The dogs used in the remake of Lassie-Come-Home had no blood relationship with the Weatherwax Lassie dogs. They were obtained by
the trainer who was hired by the production company and the licensor.
Hey Hey, Classic Media's corporate Lassie, who is a son of Lassie VIII
but was never Bob's pick to be Lassie IX, was given a cameo nod in the
final scene of the movie, just so it could be said that a dog from Pal's
lineage appeared in the movie. (Pal was the original Lassie)
Why hasn't Bob been seen with Lassie for the past
few years?
Bob is still here, as is his ninth generation Lassie dog, known as Laddie,
who was recognized as Lassie IX by the whole world, including the
corporate licensor, until 2003. Since that time, Bob, Laddie, and their team
have not been associated with Classic Media or its corporate version of
Lassie.
If it is true that only Rudd or Bob Weatherwax could
anoint the next Lassie, did Bob actually anoint the
current dog being promoted by Classic Media as Lassie?
No. For 62 years, either Rudd Weatherwax or Bob Weatherwax were
the only Weatherwaxes and only dog trainers to determine the criteria
and select the one Lassie son to be the next generation Lassie. From
Pal's chosen son to Bob's ninth generation
Weatherwax Lassie dog - Laddie - the line has been unbroken, with the exception of two Lassie sons who substituted for a short period of time
when an early Lassie became ill and more recently when Lassie VIII was
involved in a contract dispute. When Laddie's son is chosen to represent
the tenth generation Weatherwax Lassie dog, the announcement will be
made on this website. The current corporate Lassie is a son of Lassie VIII,
but it was clear from his birth on that he would never be anything more than
a pet. Had he remained with Bob, The dog, Hey Hey might have been used a
s a distance double if a film shoot required one. Otherwise, his physicality, temperament, and other key traits prevented him from ever being considered Lassie-quality by Bob. He did receive some training though and, because
he belonged to Bob's then assistant trainer, Bob allowed him to film six
episodes of the Cinar Production television series while
Bob and Lassie VIII resolved a contract dispute.
What other dogs are the Weatherwax family of dog
trainers known for?
It has been widely stated that "most of the dogs in Hollywood" for many
years were Weatherwax trained. Well known dogs such as Corky, Asta,
Petey, Cyclone, Daisy, Chief, Toto, Rommy, Rip and many others achieved
Hollywood stardom as Weatherwax trained dogs. Check the Credits page
on this web site, also Rudd's page, Bob's page, and the Family page for
more details.
Why isn't Laddie called Lassie?
Until recently, "Lassie" is the name of the character that the Weatherwax
collies have, always portrayed. All the Weatherwax Lassie dogs have had
their own individual names that they are called at home. Pal was the name
of the first Lassie. Laddie is the name of the ninth generation
Weatherwax collie to assume that role. With the disassociation between
Classic Media and its Lassie character from the Weatherwax Lassie dogs, Laddie is legally prohibited from being called "Lassie". We refer to him by his legal heritage: he is "Laddie, Son Of Lassie". We have no control over what friends, fans, and the media might call him. When most people think of
Lassie, they think of the collie owned and trained
by Rudd or Bob Weatherwax.
What is “The Weatherwax Way”?
The Weatherwax Way is a system of dog training, applicable to all breeds, devised by Rudd Weatherwax and handed down to his son,
Bob Weatherwax. It differs from other dog training methods in that the goal
is to create a fluid flow of movement that creates the suggestion of acting
and emoting. Still based in a step-by-step approach to behavior, it goes
beyond obedience standards and incorporates voice inflection,
hand signals, eye contact, and a unique kind of choreography between
trainer and dog.
I know at one time, Lassie had a friend named Mel.
Does Laddie have a special friend too?
Correct on both counts! Lassie VIII's best friend was a Jack Russell terrier named Mel. Laddie has a special pal too. He is a Cairn terrier (maybe with a
bit of Silky mixed in) named Throttle. You can see him on Laddie's Page on
this web site. Both Rudd and Bob always liked to have a big dog/little dog
team. Just about every Lassie dog has had a small dog to pal around with.
When Bob went to Sacramento, protesting the legislation termed California AB 1634, why did he call his collie Laddie instead of Lassie?
All of the Weatherwax Lassie dogs have had their own individual call names starting with the original dog, Pal. Only the second Lassie dog, known as
Lassie Junior, was called Lassie at home and on the set. Since
Classic Media currently owns the rights to the name and character of Lassie, Laddie is referred to publicly and privately by his call name..
Is it historically correct that Lassie never got involved in politics? Why is Laddie getting involved now?
Neither Rudd nor Bob involved themselves or their dogs in politics. But times have changed, and dogs and cats are now being used as political tools by people who have the extreme belief that we should have no pets. They decry
the human/animal bond, at least in the way that so many people cherish and practice it. California AB 1634, (mislabeled the "Healthy Pets Act"), was really
a direct threat to the survival of domestic dogs and cats in this state. Under
the terms of AB 1634, which both Bob Weatherwax and Jon Provost read and studied very carefully, Laddie, who resides in California, would have to be surgically sterilized as a consequence of the passage of this law, thus ending the Weatherwax Lassie dog bloodline. Laddie's presence in Sacramento represented the targeted victims of this bill, of which he was unquestionably
one. Just as Lassie got involved in the "clean up the environment" campaign
in the 1960's and went to Washington DC to have his picture taken with then First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, Laddie went to Sacramento to fight this
anti-pet extermination campaign.
When searching for Bob, his father Rudd, and Lassie, why do I find them on other websites which are not authorized
by Bob Weatherwax?
With some legal exceptions, just about anybody can purchase a domain
name, create a website, and include all sorts of information - occasionally
true, occasionally done with permission, but just as often built on lies, exaggerations, half-truths, revisioned history, and pure fiction. This website
is the only site authorized by Bob Weatherwax for the purpose of setting the record straight on his family's professional dog training history, credits, and accomplishments, as well as providing him a forum for his present and future goals.
Why is Bob's website not called
www.bobweatherwax.com?
It would be wonderful and so simple to have Bob's website identified with
his name. However, one of the owners of lassie.net purchased this domain
name two years ago and holds it for another year before it becomes available again (unless it is renewed and held by the current owner). While this tactic
is questionable from an ethical point of view, it is not currently illegal.
Surely, Bob should be able to make full use of his own name.
What's wrong with the information I read on such sites
as Wikipedia, Answer.com, Cool Dogs Hall of Fame?
The information on those sites typically comes from press releases and revisioned history that attempts to draw a direct relationship between
Rudd Weatherwax and his Lassie dogs with Carol Riggins and the current Lassie trademark. Simply stated, there is NO such direct link in terms of dog training, dog breeding, or inheriting anything. Rudd started working with Pal,
the first Lassie, when he acquired the collie in 1941. He worked with the first
six Lassies professionally, taking on apprentices in entertainment dog training, many of whom became famous trainers later in their careers. One such young assistant was his own son, Bob Weatherwax. At Rudd's death, he had not completed the training of Lassie VII. He bequeathed Lassie VI to his daughter, JoAnn, so that the elder dog might go into immediate retirement.
He bequeathed Lassie VII, the other Lassie dogs, and the rest of his
working dogs to Bob. Bob completed Lassie VII's training and went on to
breed, select, and train the eighth and ninth generations of the Lassie line started by Rudd. To this day, Bob legally owns the Lassie dogs and the
Lassie dogs bloodline. He alone can legally breed for, select, and train
the tenth generation of the Weatherwax Lassie dogs. Carol Riggins'
association with Rudd was only as his part-time bookkeeper. She later
asked Bob to teach her about dog training and eventually he hired her as an assistant trainer. After working with him on the Lassie: Best Friends Forever movie and the Cinar Productions television series, he had to fire her when she took her unsuitable, pet quality Lassie VIII son to a commercial shoot and misrepresented him as Lassie, overreaching her position and in direct
conflict with the licensor at the time. The current licensor hired her and
this same dog to replace Bob and his 9th Weatherwax Lassie dog.
Among Bob's family or acquaintances, whom does he endorse to speak on his or his Lassie dogs behalf?
Only the personal and business associates you will find on the
Contact Page of this web site
Will Bob ever write a book about the incredible
years of breeding and training the Lassie dogs?
You bet'cha! It's in the works! Stay tuned to this web site!
Where does Laddie sleep? Does he have a special
room for himself?
In past Weatherwax homes, the Lassie dogs had their own bedroom. Now in cosier, more casual times, Laddie thinks of Bob's bed as his own. Laddie also has his own room that is filled with memorabilia of his family – all the past Lassie dogs. He also likes to lie down on a big, overstuffed chair that his
father, Lassie VIII, loved. You just might be seeinge Laddie's special spots
on Laddie's page on this website.
What is Laddie’s favorite treat?
Laddie adores chicken.... and anything else he can get his teeth on.
What can we expect to see on the web site
in the future?
The website will continue to grow and expand, just as the generational
line of Weatherwax collies will continue. You'll also find more than just
collie dogs. Bob has a wealth of information to share on training all breeds
of dogs and many other topics. Look for more ways to participate - webinars,
blog opportunities, contests, sharing photos and great dog stories. And
we're always interested to hear from friends and fans what they would like to
see on the website.
Is it possible to ask Bob some training questions, and
will he make more training videos?
We will be setting up personal training consultations through this website
very soon. We want to improve the lines of communication between Bob and
website guests. Keep checking back for the process, the sign up, and the number to call.
Did Bob ever have any other dogs that were special
like Lassie?
Just like Rudd, Bob has worked with a large number of dogs of a variety of
pure breeds as well as good old-fashioned mutts. Each one had special characteristics and unique talents that allowed him to show the dog off to its best potential.
Recently, a deal was made between the Weatherwax family and the corporate licensor. What was that about?
The two brothers - Rudd and Frank Weatherwax - were partners in their Hollywood dog training business. The heirs of both men held a Weatherwax Family Trust that maintained some rights to the Lassie name and character,
not already acquired by corporate licensors. A legal buyout was effected
in 2000 that exchanged a final sum of money to the members of the family for their rights. However, Bob's professional rights were negotiated in a separate amendment memorandum in which he retained all rights to the living Lassie
dogs and to the bloodline that thus would produce additional generations of Weatherwax Lassie dogs. This arrangement was respected until 2003 at which time it became clear that Bob and Classic Media had divergent visions of how
to handle the Lassie image. No further service contracts were negotiated between the licensor and the traditional Lassie and his Weatherwax trainer, a break in the 62 year legacy that began with the first MGM movie starring Pal, trained by Rudd Weatherwax.
When a Lassie puppy has been acquired from
Rudd or Bob Weatherwax, what must the
purchaser/adopter agree to?
Under the Weatherwax Trained Dogs banner, Bob historically used a
contract virtually the same as his father used. That contract states the
following:
"In consideration of my receiving the Sable and White Collie puppy
described below, I hereby agree to care for this dog humanely, including
adequate food, shelter, water and veterinary care, and to license this
dog in accordance with the laws in the jurisdiction in which I reside. I
also agree to keep the dog as a house pet, to be exercised in a fenced
yard or on leash and not to be free or roam the streets. I also agree
not to sell, trade, or dispose of this dog in any way, but to return the
dog to Weatherwax Trained Dogs, if at any time I wish to relinquish
custody. I further agree that the dog shall not be used for medical or
any other experimental purpose, shall not be chained or tied, and shall
not be used for breeding. It is also understood that this dog, being
Lassie's son/daughter shall not be used for any commercial purposes by
you or anyone else. I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand
the above and will keep the dog described herein as a part of my family."
For almost all the generations of Lassie offspring placed with families
or individuals who were well researched and interviewed, the signed
contracts were honored and respected. However, as a consequence of what
has occurred with several of Lassie VIII's offspring, whose owners have
deliberately violated the terms of the above contract, either breeding
these dogs or using them for commercial purpose and profit, the contract
will be revised for the next generation. Those owners, currently in
violation of the contract they signed, will be cited legally and
publicly. Their blatant disregard for the Lassie legacy and quality as
well as for the legal rights of both Bob Weatherwax and the Lassie
licensor should not be tolerated.
Along with the contract, every purchaser/adopter also receives a
certificate signed by Bob and autographed with Pal's stamped pawprint.
This certificate includes the following statement: "May your training of
this new puppy, with patience, firmness and love, reward you with many
years of joy and companionship." Emphasis on COMPANIONSHIP, not
COMMERCIAL USE OR PROFIT. These dogs are meant to be pets,
not parents, and not peons in service to an owner's ego or greed.
This page was last updated: September 27, 2007
