Video- Lassie and Ace Collins at BEA New York

http://www.nytimes.com/video/business/media/100000003042384/plotting-lassies-future.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=video-player-region&region=video-player-region&WT.nav=video-player-region

Lassie News Week of 5/26-6/1

Another busy week for Lassie!   Lassie traveled to New York this week.  Lassie stopped by US Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Parents, Family Circle, People, Perez Hilton, Oprah's O Magazine and more!

Lassie was reunited with author Ace Collin's at Book America Expo to roll out Ace's new book "Man's Best Hero" in NYC. 

The highlight of the week was when Lassie appeared on The Today Show as the mystery guest!   Watch the video here-

http://m.today.com/pets/todays-surprise-celeb-pooch-inspires-anchors-share-pet-pics-2D79730851

Lassie is now a fully registered AKC dog!

Lassie now has full AKC registration!

There hasn't been a formal announcement on the Lassie, the World's Most Famous Dog Facebook page, (the only Facebook page actually associated with Lassie), but here's the scoop on all the AKC registrations.

In the fall of 2013 it was announced that documentation was presented to the AKC through the ARR program to obtain registration for the litter that Bob's current collie Hammer is from and their father.  The ARR program allows any owner of any unregistered dog to obtain full registration if it can be traced back to AKC registered stock.   It is not required that every single dog be registered.  You can skip individual dogs or entire generations but you must account for all the dogs in the pedigree as having the ABILITY to be registered.    You can fully register dogs that are alive or dead.  The dogs that are not registered are assigned a QR prefix to designate they are part of the verified trace but they are not fully registered.   

It has been claimed on another Facebook page, not associated with Lassie now or in the past, that all of the previous Lassie's are now AKC registered dogs.  This same Facebook page claims Lassie ended with Bob Weatherwax's retirement.  While we try to ignore this page, these things are simply not true.  Bob Weatherwax did not register all the previous Lassie's.   In Hammer's pedigree there are four Lassie's, all with the QR prefix, which according to the AKC are for internal purposes of tracing only and are not registrations.    Had the applications and fees been paid to register them, they no doubt would have gained full registration, but they were not.   Here is a link for a copy of Hammer's AKC pedigree obtained from the AKC- http://www.lassie.net/hammer.pdf    

The only dogs fully registered by Bob Weatherwax's documentation are Hammer, his littermates, and his father, none of which have ever been Lassie, had any association with Lassie, or who have worked professionally in the entertainment business to our knowledge.  All were born years after Bob Weatherwax retired from Lassie.  Bob was allowed to use the prefix of Weatherwax in their name as Bob & his daughter secured the kennel name 5 years earlier and had never registered any foundation dogs.   Weatherwax Collies, like Weatherwax Trained Dogs, are not names that go back to Rudd Weatherwax, but are specific to Bob Weatherwax only.    There is no Weatherwax Lassie kennel name.  

The registration of Hammer is wonderful news for Bob and his daughter, and it clearly defines the branch off of Bob after his retirement from Lassie into new ventures, which could include anything since there is no longer a need to produce collies with the genetic colors and markings of Lassie.   It will be interesting to watch and see what Bob's colors in the line will look like in a few generations and if they begin to acheive championships in the conformation ring.

Bob's securing of registration for his living dogs opened the door for any dog in the line that links to the same descendants, living or dead, to gain full registration, providing they can also provide the documentation required by the AKC and held to the same standards Bob had to meet.    

In April, 2014, the one and only Lassie, the World's Most Famous Dog, became fully registered with the AKC by linking to his grandfather, Lassie VIII (aka Howard), who was part of the trace Bob provided to the AKC.  Without the groundwork that had already been laid by Bob Weatherwax this would not have been possible as it was always thought the older records no longer existed and were destroyed in a fire on Rudd's ranch years ago.   Still, it took months of work by a number of people both in and outside of the AKC, and lots of documentation, to prove that Lassie is indeed part of the same exact genetic line and linked to this long line of collies that have been Lassie through his father and grandfather.   The one and only Lassie follows the same breeding protocol of Rudd Weatherwax.   His father was Lassie, his grandfather was Lassie, his great grandfather was Lassie....all the way back.   While Bob Weaeatherwax did register his new "Weatherwax Collies", the ONLY Lassie that was registered is the one that was done separately for the reigning 10th generation Lassie.   

For years AKC registration of Lassie was thought to be impossible, even though breeding had always been done with AKC females, but thanks to the AKC ARR program, which started in 2008, it became more than possible, it became a reality.    

For the first time in over 6 decades, Lassie, the World's Most Famous Dog, is again a fully AKC registered dog!

 

Lassie meets Lisa on Yahoo TV (video)

Lassie meets Lisa on Yahoo TV (video)

https://celebrity.yahoo.com/video/lassie-meets-lisa-015020154.html

Look for Lassie in New York City next week!! More info to come but we know for sure Lassie will be appearing with Ace Collins at Book Expo America at the Javitz Center on Friday 5/30/2014!! This is THE premiere event for authors and publishing of all kinds in the US with over 750 authors signing. Join Ace and Lassie on Friday! 
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/

Lassie visits children in Moore OK

http://m.newsok.com/lassie-visits-children-in-moore/article/4826734

Lassie greets children at Save The Children groundbreaking

Lassie greets children at groundbreaking of new daycare facility in Moore, OK, one year after Moore was devastated by tornadoes.   Lassie is acting in the official capacity of the first Canine Ambassador for Save the Children and will be visiting day care centers and schools to help teach kids about disaster preparedness.
Famous Dog Lassie greets children at groundbreaking/ 

Lassie joins forces with Rin Tin Tin at ARFKIDS

Did you know? RIN TIN TIN Line Dogs and LASSIE Line Dogs have joined the efforts of A Rinty For Kids Foundation to provide Service Dogs to Special Needs Children ages 8-18 and Visiting Therapy Dogs to various venues including Hospitals and Nursing Homes.

Latest Lassie news!

We are reviving The Lassie Barker!     Here's some of the latest news!

May, 2014 - Lassie, beloved American icon for generations, is taking on a new role to protect U.S. children from disaster as ambassador for Save the Children's Get Ready Get Safe initiative.

Lassie visited Moore, Oklahoma one year after the disaster and visited schools and child care centers to help kids learn about Disaster Prepardness.

"We're thrilled that Lassie is joining the team. Who better to show children that emergency preparedness can help them feel safe, not scared?" said Kathy Spangler, Save the Children's vice president for U.S. programs. "We're excited for Lassie to offer comfort when disaster strikes and to help inspire the basic protections our nation's children still desperately need."
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Lassie visited many media outlets recently including Entertainment Tonight, Yahoo TV, Hollywood Reporter, People, Entertainment Weekly, Buzz Feed, Young Hollywood and more. See pictures and video from Entertainment Tonight on our Facebook page-   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lassie-The-Worlds-Most-Famous-Dog/47713297395
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May, 2014- Lassie named Celebrity Ambassador for Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Ambassadors are entertainers and public figures here on behalf of the millions of homeless anaimals who are counting on all of us to have the love and care they deserve. By adopting from shelters and rescue groups and spaying and neutering our pets, we can ensure that every dog and cat has a loving home. At Lassie's first appearance at No Kill LA, 473 animals were adopted. See photos from around the net at our Facebook page
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May 2014- Lassie visited with Ryan Seacrest to help him select a new canine partner and talk about his new position with Save the Children
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 May 2014- Dreamworks announces a new Lassie website coming soon
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April 2014- Lassie is now an AKC Registered dog! It was long thought that the old records tracing back to the original dogs of Rudd Weatherwax were lost in a fire on Rudd's ranch, but recently those records were recreated and submitted for approval to the AKC in the fall of 2013 through the Administrative Reseach Registration process. As the 10th generation direct descendant Lassie, those records, along with other documentation submitted that proved the continuation of the same genetic line of dogs, allowed Lassie to become a fully registered AKC dog!
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March 2014- Lassie appeared at the Mr. Peabody & Sherman event at TLC Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Will Lassie be on TV anytime soon?

Yes! Lassie will be appearing on the Florence Henderson show on March 31, 2008 on the RTL network. The segment will also feature a Lassie pup that does therapy work. For times in your area, vist the RTL site at http://rl.tv/

Also stay tuned to the Lassie Network at www.lassie.net for news of another exciting TV appearance of Lassie in the near future!

I really wanted to see Lassie 10 in Maryland! Did the Lassie Network cover the event?

Yes we did! We were there when Lassie 10 made his second performance ever at the World of Pets Expo in Maryland!

For photos of the event, visit http://www.lassie.net/wopmd.htm

When is the next Lassie appearance?

The next scheduled public appearance of Lassie will be in Timonium, Maryland at the World of Pets Expo.

For more info-

http://www.worldofpets.org/MDmain.htm

What does lassie.net think of the new Jon Provost book, "Timmy's in the Well"? Thumbs up or down?

Fans of Jon and his years on Lassie will probably want to add this book to their collection. Not a "Lassie" book, this is a book focused on Jon's early life, his childhood and the challenges and sacrifices of being a child star, as well as the rewards, the effect on their families and the exploitation of child stars. Many other well known child stars contribute their memories of working and growing up with Jon, and their own experiences as child stars. The book follows Jon making his transition through the teenage years, and to adulthood outside the spotlight, a transition many child actors never survive. There are many wonderful photos throughout, some rare, but they are difficult to see with any clarity because they are so small and placed in the margins.

Welcome Lassie 10!! I was in MA this past weekend and got to see the premiere of Lassie 10! What a great dog! How old is he?

Lassie 10 (aka Rockie) is 13 months old and this past weekend's appearance was his first of what is sure to be a very long career. He is not quite as large as his famous father and grandfather, but is more like the old Lassie's of Rudd's. He still has some growing to do, and doesn't have his full adult coat yet. He will be truly blossoming in the next year! Look for him at other appearances in the near future!

It seems like everyone is writing a Lassie book these days. Which ones do you recommend?

To our knowledge there are no Lassie books currently on the shelves that are authorized or licensed. There are only three books that lassie.net recommends:

1) The Story of Lassie- Told by the master himself, Rudd Weatherwax

2) Lassie, A Dog's Life- by Ace Collins

Who else but the original owner and trainer could tell the story of how Lassie began? "The Story of Lassie" is a treasure but unfortunately out of print.

Our good friend Ace Collins painstakingly researched the history and legacy of Lassie for his book, "Lassie, A Dog's Life- the first 50 years". He spent months working with members of the Weathewax family, cast and crew and searching through archives of press clippings. It is the foremost authority on the legacy of Lassie in existence and has come to be known as the "Lassie Bible". We use it here at lassie.net as our source for the most credible information available. Also out of print, it can be found more easily online.

If you are searching for more information on the collie breed, "The Collie Concept" by Bobbee Roos is the best! Again, this is a highly sought after book that is out of print.