Bob Weatherwax, Hollywood’s Iconic Canine Trainer, Dies at 83

Bob Weatherwax, a legend in Hollywood’s canine world, passed away on Thursday at the age of 83. As the son of Rudd Weatherwax, the original owner and trainer of Lassie, Bob spent his entire life surrounded by the entertainment dog training business.

From a young age, Bob assisted his father at Rudd’s kennels and was often called upon to help train Lassie or other Hollywood dogs. In fact, Bob and his sister JoAnne were the only children who could claim that their family pet was the real Lassie. Pal, the dog who made movie history by portraying Lassie in seven MGM films and starring in the pilot of the Lassie TV series, was born just a year before Bob’s birth.

After serving in the United States Army, Bob decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Hollywood dog trainer. He established Weatherwax Trained Dogs as his brand and went on to work with several famous dogs, including Asta, Toto, and Old Yeller.

Bob’s unique ability to form an authentic relationship with the dogs he worked with made him an exceptional trainer. He used a reward-based training method, which earned him rave reviews from dog owners who worked with him.

Before his passing, Bob enjoyed spending time with his last collie, a grandson of the last Weatherwax-trained Lassie. According to those closest to Bob, his magic lay in his ability to connect with dogs through voice, eye, gesture, and a simple nudge, allowing him to capture the immense potential of a species similar to humans but different enough to be special.