Does This Dog Deserve an Oscar?

Can dogs act? And if so, should they be considered for an Oscar? Those are the kinds of questions moviegoers are wondering, many for the first time, after seeing Uggie the Jack Russell terrier ham it up in the much acclaimed film The Artist. Uggie fans have launched an Oscar campaign on Twitter—for "Best Pup-porting Actor" for his astute portrayal of the loyal, lovable sidekick of a fading silent film actor. He's already fetched the Palm Dog award at Cannes.

One fan who definitely believes dogs can act is Susan Orlean. She's written a book about that famous thespian Rin Tin Tin. "His performances sometimes leave you amazed. I mean how would you teach a dog to look suspicious or all of those emotional reactions that Rin Tin Tin had?" she asks. "Maybe he had a subtle kind of intelligence that allowed him to understand emotions." As for Uggie, he's not getting too wrapped up in all the hoopla. He prefers a good nap on the nearest sofa to winning the acclaim of his industry peers, reports the BBC. (More Uggie stories.)