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Training Dogs The Weatherwax Way
Let’s face it. There are probably as many dog
training/obedience/behavior methods and teachers in the
marketplace as there are dog breeds. Anybody with any kind
of experience and certificate can gather dogs and people
together, put them through their paces, and be labeled a
master trainer. But who was the first all-round master dog
trainer, at least in the entertainment industry?
Rudd Weatherwax of course. What remains so special,
so different, so inspiring about the way he worked with dogs?
Rudd was responsible for handling many of Hollywood’s most
beloved canine stars, frequently advising other trainers
– including his brothers – on the fine art of canine acting, and
training most of the next generation of Hollywood dog trainers.
He knew that dogs could perform more than mere tricks.
Not only were they capable of learning a string of behaviors,
but they understood and responded to a constant flow of
communication. The music of Rudd’s voice, along with his
hand signals and body language, set the smooth tempo that
allowed his canine actors to perform so naturally.
His unique methods utilized the way dogs think so that their
intelligence was fully developed.
If you look at some of the great old movies that featured
Weatherwax-trained and/or handled dogs – Asta, Daisy,
Cyclone, Chief, Toto, Lassie, Old Yeller, and Sam (to name
a few) – you’ll see dogs who were seamless in their screen
presence. They were never caught looking at bait being held
to entice them to do a trick. They never stared off camera at
their trainer who barked a single worded command at them.
They did not respond mechanically to the sound of a clicker.
They glided easily and effortlessly through whatever action
was required. They interacted naturally with others in their
scenes. They acted and sounded like real animals rather
than rote-trained robots.
Rudd also had the genius to break up real behavior into its component
parts. Using a step-by-step approach, he was able to guide a dog through
the most complicated maneuvers because the dog could comprehend and
master each small part of the whole behavior. Rudd taught what could be
called The Weatherwax Way to his son, Bob, who continues these
innovative traditions developed by his father.
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This page was last updated: September 27, 2007
