Uggie Crowned Top Dog at Golden Collar Awards

Golden Collar Awards was one awards show that went completely to the dogs.

ByABC News
February 14, 2012, 3:44 PM

Feb. 14, 2012— -- intro: Much to no one's surprise, Uggie, the beloved Jack Russell terrier that starred in the Oscar-nominated film "The Artist," won best dog at the first ever Golden Collar awards, which were held in Los Angeles Monday night.

Dog News Daily, a website that covers famous dogs in Hollywood, organized the awards show to honor the canines' performances in film and television.

Celebrity humans and canines alike attended the red-carpet event, which included director Martin Scorsese via video, despite having a previous despute with the awards show over its omission of Blackie, the Doberman from "Hugo."

But in a year in which a host of four-legged actors starred in Oscar-nominated films, this was one awards show that went completely to the dogs. Here is a list of the Golden Collar Awards winners.

ABC News' Luchina Fisher contributed to this report.

quicklist: 1category: Best Dog in a Theatrical Film title: Winner: Uggie as the Dog in 'The Artist'url: media: 15600628text: As expected, Uggie, who starred with actor Jean Dujardin in "The Artist," was awarded the crystal encrusted collar for best dog in a film.

Uggie became a darling of the big screen with his role in the silent film, and there are plenty of folks --more than 11,000 on Movieline.com's Facebook page at last count -- who thought he ought to be considered for an Oscar.

The proud pooch, who sported a mock tuxedo for the Golden Collar awards, was also nominated for his work as Queenie in "Water for Elephants."

His trainer Omar Von Mueller told the Associated Press that he is a "great performer, but he's also a family member." The 10-year-old canine has "mystery shaking syndrome" and will retire after this year.

Shown here are Uggie's "Artist" co-stars James Cromwell, Missi Pyle and Beth Grant, who were also at the event.

"I'm delighted to be here, because I owe my career to a pig," Cromwell said, referring to the 1995 film "Babe" in which he played a farmer.

quicklist: 2category:Best Dog in a Foreign Filmtitle: Winner: Koko as Red Dog in 'Red Dog' (Australia)url: media:15600447text: Best dog in a foreign film went to Koko for portraying the star of "Red Dog," an Australian film based on a true story about a dog wandering the outback in search of his lost master.

Old Yeller, eat your heart out.

Koko beat out Laika, who starred as herself in the French film "Le Havre," and Biina as Alf and Ichico as Toa in the Japanese film "The Day the Dogs Disappeared."

Shown here is the Swarovsky crystal encrusted Golden Collar award.

quicklist: 3category: Best Dog in a Television Seriestitle: Winner: Brigitte as Stella in 'Modern Family'url: media:15600674text: The adorable, bat-earred Brigitte won the award for best dog in a television series that has grown accustomed to getting awards, ABC's "Modern Family" -- the show recently took home the Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy.

Since her debut this past season, the French bulldog, who plays Stella, captured the heart of the cynical Jay Pritchett, played by Ed O'Neil, and millions of viewers at home.

Her acting chops beat out other prized pooches, including Rocky as Arnold on "Entourage," Chuck as himself in "Chelsea Lately," Dart as Chance in "Hot In Cleveland," Jason Gann as Wilfred in "Wilfred" and Lambchop as Yakult in "Suburgatory."

quicklist: 4category: Best Dog in a Reality TV Series title: Winner: Giggy and Herculesurl: media:15600721text: A princess and a pit bull shared the Golden Collar award for best dog in a reality TV series.

Giggy, the Pocket Pomeranian from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," and Hercules, a trained service animal from "Pit Boss," tied for first in this category, beating out Jackpot from "Beverly Hills," Millou from "The Real Housewives of New York," and Spartacus from "Ice Loves Coco."

quicklist: 5category: Best Dog in a Direct-to-DVD Filmtitle: Winner: Rody as Marley in 'Marley & Me: The Puppy Years'url: media:text: Although "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2" had two dogs in the running for the award of best dog in a direct-to-DVD film, they didn't stand a chance against a floppy yellow lab puppy.

Rody took the Golden Collar for his portrayal as a young Marley, dubbed "the world's worst dog," in "Marley & Me: The Puppy Years," the sequal to the comedic tear-jerker, "Marley & Me."

This pup also beat out Fred as B Dawg in "Spooy Buddies" and Gaston as Beethoven in "Beethoven's Christmas Adventure."