Laddie Son Of Lassie

Since Rudd Weatherwax trained the well known collie Pal to play the role of Lassie in the 1943 movie, Lassie Come Home, the generational line of dogs has continued thru nine dogs, father to son (as all of the Lassie dogs have been male) and two breeder / owner / trainers, father to son, as well. Bob Weatherwax took over the reins of the Lassie dog legacy with the seventh generation dog, fondly known off screen as The Old Man. That dog was just a youngster when Rudd Weatherwax died, leaving his teaching, his example, and his bequeathment to his son Bob. Bob trained the young dog and brought him to television in The New Lassie, a series that ran for three years. Later Bob bred this dog to produce Howard, and brought him, as the eighth generation Lassie, to the movie screen in Lassie, Best Friends Are Forever. The Howard son that Bob bred and selected to play the role of Lassie is Laddie.

Laddie is the ninth generation Weatherwax Lassie dog. He was originally used by the corporation that holds the license and trademark to the name and character of Lassie to represent the icon, as well. That corporation, however, has recently chosen to part with the over sixty year tradition of using only a Weatherwax Lassie dog to portray the character, and that is why you will find a different dog and trainer currently representing the corporate Lassie. Laddie is still making appearances with his breeder / owner / and trainer, Bob Weatherwax, and Bob fully intends to carry on his line of Lassie dogs. When the time comes for Bob to retire, his daughter Mary is next in line to carry on the Weatherwax Lassie dog tradition.As it says on Bob Weatherwax'x web site; "For true fans who respect and admire the incredible work and dedication of Rudd and Bob Weatherwax, the popular culture icon will always be identified with a Weatherwax Lassie dog"