Top Dogs Win Big at Golden Collar Awards

While New York City played host to some of the world’s most accomplished dogs at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, 3,000 miles west, Los Angeles rolled out the red carpet for their canine celebrities.

The inaugural Golden Collar Awards were held on Monday, February 13 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel with all the glitz and glamour of any Hollywood Award show.  Human and canine celebrities alike came out to celebrate the event with actors like Pauley Perrette from “NCIS” and Wendy Malick from “Hot in Cleveland” presenting the awards to our favorite furry faces from the big screen and the small screen.

Top prize at the show went to none other than the pooch who garnered so much puppy love from audiences across the nation—Uggie.  The ten-year-old Jack Russell terrier scored two nominations for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film for his performances as Queenie in “Water for Elephants” and for his most famous role as the Dog in “The Artist.” It was Uggie’s performance in “The Artist” that of course secured him the award.

Uggie beat out another notable dog actor, Blackie from “Hugo,” who made headlines when his director, Martin Scorsese wrote an Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times asking for dognewsdaily.com –the website that began the Golden Collar Awards—to place Blackie’s name on the ballot as a write in candidate.  Scorsese appeared at the ceremony via video to support his nominated star.

Other winners included Koko from the Australian film “Red Dog” who won Best Dog in a Foreign Film; Brigitte who plays Stella on “Modern Family” won Best Dog in a Television Series; Hercules from “Pit Boss” and Giggy from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” who, through a tie, both won Best Dog in a Reality Television Series; and Rody from “Marley & Me: The Puppy Years” who won Best Dog in Direct-to-DVD Film.

The ceremony was not only to honor the famous fidos, but also to honors the famous actors with close ties to the animal community as well as to raise money for rescue shelters. Actress Charlize Theron was awarded the Golden Collar Humanitarian Award and director/producer Michael Vance was awarded the Golden Collar Legends Award.

Alan Siskind, the man with the idea for the Golden Collar Awards, told Entertainment Weekly that while this year’s first award ceremony was broadcast online, he hopes that next year the event will be televised. 

Maybe Westminster won’t be the only prestigious dog show televised next winter!

What do you think about the Golden Collar Award winners? Any dogs you wish would have won an award? Share your thoughts in a comment below!

While New York City played host to some of the world’s most accomplished dogs at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, 3,000 miles west, Los Angeles rolled out the red carpet for their canine celebrities.

The inaugural Golden Collar Awards were held on Monday at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, with all the glitz and glamour of any Hollywood Award show.  Human and canine celebrities alike came out to celebrate the event with actors like Pauley Perrette from “NCIS” and Wendy Malick from “Hot in Cleveland” presenting the awards to our favorite furry faces from the big screen and the small screen.

Top prize at the show went to none other than the pooch who garnered so much puppy love from audiences across the nation—Uggie.  The ten-year-old Jack Russell terrier scored two nominations for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film for his performances as Queenie in “Water for Elephants” and for his most famous role as the Dog in “The Artist.” It was Uggie’s performance in “The Artist” that of course secured him the award.

Uggie beat out another notable dog actor, Blackie from “Hugo,” who made headlines when his director, Martin Scorsese wrote an Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times asking for dognewsdaily.com –the website that began the Golden Collar Awards—to place Blackie’s name on the ballot as a write in candidate.  Scorsese appeared at the ceremony via video to support his nominated star.

Other winners included Koko from the Australian film “Red Dog” who won Best Dog in a Foreign Film; Brigitte who plays Stella on “Modern Family” won Best Dog in a Television Series; Hercules from “Pit Boss” and Giggy from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” who, through a tie, both won Best Dog in a Reality Television Series; and Rody from “Marley & Me: The Puppy Years” who won Best Dog in Direct-to-DVD Film.

The ceremony was not only to honor the famous fidos, but also to honors the famous actors with close ties to the animal community as well as to raise money for rescue shelters. Actress Charlize Theron was awarded the Golden Collar Humanitarian Award and director/producer Michael Vance was awarded the Golden Collar Legends Award.

Alan Siskind, the man with the idea for the Golden Collar Awards, told Entertainment Weekly that while this year’s first award ceremony was broadcast online, he hopes that next year the event will be televised. 

Maybe Westminster won’t be the only prestigious dog show televised next winter!

What do you think about the Golden Collar Award winners? Any dogs you wish would have won an award? Share your thoughts in a comment below!