Uggie The Dog Retires After Leaving Paw-mark On Hollywood

Uggie the Dog - the Jack Russell who played Jean Dujardin's faithful friend in Oscar winning movie 'The Artist', has officially retired from show business. The 10-year-old pooch did not attend the Oscars in February owing to an Academy rule, though he stole the show in Michel Hazanavicius' French film, and scooped the 'Palm Dog' at the Cannes Film Festival.

Uggie's delightful performance in 'The Artist' prompted some bookmakers to offer odds on whether there would be an Oscar for 'Best Animal' within the next five years. Before leaving Hollywood for good, Uggie was immortalized alongside stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Brad Pitt and Daniel Radcliffe outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, leaving his paw-prints. Speaking at the ceremony, his trainer Omar von Muller said, "Everybody thinks I am a great trainer.I don't think so. I think he is just a great dog". As well as his star turn in 'The Artist', Uggie also appeared with Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in the romantic drama 'Water for Elephants' and the comedy 'Mr Fix it' in 2006.

Though he's already said goodbye to the movie business, 'Uggie' has teamed up with Nintendo to become their first ever "spokesdog". He'll be sinking his teeth into the memorable new role, which will see him appear in advertising campaigns for the 'Nintendogs and Cats' game, for the 3DS hand-held system.