Woof, Mr. DeMille. She’s ready for her close-up.

Little Miss, a 9-year-old miniature American Eskimo dog, took the folding seat of honor in the balcony Saturday after being selected from among 116 entries to become The Clyde Theatre’s 2009 Top Dog.

“We had a heck of a time choosing,” said Lynn Willeford, owner of the Langley movie house with her husband, Blake. “With the help of staff, we were able to get it down to a dozen or so finalists, but then someone would point out yet another cool dog, and the list would grow again.”

“We finally just chose the dog who seemed to indicate the most Clyde-like attitude,” Willeford said.

Little Miss, all goggles and smiles, belongs to Susan and Dale Hanzelka of Freeland. At 5 p.m. Saturday, Susan Hanzelka and her four-legged theater companion settled into their seats in the balcony of The Clyde to watch the first showing of the movie “Hotel for Dogs.”

“It was amazing,” Hanzelka said. “She got her own seat, and was even heavy enough to hold it down. I gave her some pieces of popcorn, and she sat there the whole time.”

“She was very well-behaved,” Hanzelka added. “When there were dog sounds from the movie, she would sit up and listen.”

Willeford said she got the idea for the contest after noticing the number of new movies featuring dogs or with the word dog in the title.

Participants were asked to drop off flattering photos of their dogs to The Clyde or Myken’s Pet Boutique on First Street in downtown Langley.

More than 100 people responded. The entry photos remain on display in the lobby of The Clyde.

Hanzelka received a $25 gift certificate for toys and treats from Myken’s, five passes to The Clyde and a signed copy of Jeanie Schick-Jacobowitz’s comic little gift book, ‘You’re My Friend … Be Paws.”

The photo of Little Miss submitted for the contest shows her lounging in a swimming pool and wearing nothing but a pair of swim goggles.

“She looked so stylish,” Hanzelka said. “Whenever she would see the pool, she would just jump right in. She doesn’t swim much, but she really likes to float.”

Little Miss shares her Freeland household with Hanzelka daughters Christy, Cady and Lizzy, and a golden retriever named Ted. Ted has to watch his dog movies on television.

“I thought it was great, a fun thing for them to do,” Hanzelka said of the contest. “I bet they had a tough time picking. What a job.”

It was so difficult, in fact, that Willeford came up with additional categories, to spread around the kudos.

The Top Puppy award went to Bing, who lives with Marty and Peggy Fernandez-Moe of Langley. The Most Inspirational Award went to Diego, who hangs out with Helma Lucker and her family in Clinton, and who gets around with the aid of a two-wheeled cart supporting his hind quarters.

And the prize for Best Reason to Rescue a Dog went to Quigley, adopted from the pound by Diana Putney of Langley.

“I think everyone’s had a great time with it,” Willeford said of the contest.

“I don’t know what I was thinking when I came up with the idea. Who can choose the greatest dog without meeting them all personally?”

It is yet to be determined if there will be a 2010 Top Dog Contest.

“As Blake said, why would I want 115 people mad at me?” Willeford said. “But it’s been a hoot nonetheless, and a great testament to dog love.”