Glenn Close's Adorable Dog Steals the Show at the Independent Spirit Awards: 'He's My Date'

Glenn Close let her dog Pip join her onstage as she accepted the award for Best Female Lead

Glenn Close brought the most adorable date with her to the Independent Spirit Awards this year: her dog!

Following the actress’ win for Best Female Lead, which she was awarded for her role in The Wife, Close initially made her way to the stage by herself, before giving her pooch Pip — whom she brought along as her date — the signal to join her.

Completely on his own, the obedient dog joined Close near the stairs and proceeded to follow her onstage, waiting by the podium as she gave her speech.

“Hope you don’t mind that Pippy came up with me, he’s my date,” Close, 71, told the crowd with a big smile on her face.

Glenn Close and her dog Pip. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Beginning her speech, Close remarked, “I am so honored to be here,” before glancing down at the adoring pup, who proceeded to cross behind the actress to stand by her on the other side of the podium.

“What’s better than that?” the actress added with a laugh before continuing on with her speech.

Although Close’s dog was mostly on his best behavior, he did show off his rolling skills at one point, as the actress joked, “I brought him up for this very reason.”

Glenn Close and her dog Pip. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

Glenn Close’s dog Pip. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

In addition to stealing the spotlight onstage, Pip also made quite an impression on the red carpet, as the unleashed canine posed for photos with the actress.

Opening up about her companion, Close told PEOPLE that she had given some thought to bringing the Havanese pup, “better known as Sir Pippin of Beanfield,” as her date.

“It’s a long day away from him and I’m not from here,” she said of the show, which is held in Santa Monica, California. “I wasn’t too sure what the deal would be where I’m saying. So I said, ‘Well, he’ll just come with me.’ ”

George Pimentel/Getty Images

Glenn Close and her dog Pip. Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock

Praising her almost 4-year-old pup, whom she’s had “since he was seven weeks old,” Close called Pip “the most intelligent dog I’ve ever had.”

“I’ve had dogs my whole life. This dog, I know his language, he’s the most intelligent dog I’ve ever had. He’s funny and he’s comforting,” she shared, adding that Pip “goes with me pretty much everywhere.”

Asked whether the dog would also be joining her for the 2019 Academy Awards on Sunday, the actress replied, “He doesn’t know. He doesn’t have anything to wear.”

“He came with his usual bodysuit [today] but he doesn’t have anything for, you know, black tie,” she joked.

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Earlier that day, Close shared a sweet video on her Instagram account that showed the pooch riding in the car alongside the actress and her daughter Annie Starke, who also attended the awards show.

“Here’s Annie and Pip right next to me. We’re going to the Independent Spirit Awards,” she said, before telling Pip, “We don’t know whether they’ll let you on the red carpet yet.”

“Outrage,” her daughter replied.

Ever the doting parent, Close made Pip his own Instagram account!

“Only son of @glennclose Excellent nose. International traveler. Student of the human condition. Fetch artist and mini-ball catcher extraordinaire!” the dog’s bio reads.

The Instagram account is filled with adorable videos and pictures of Close’s canine companion — including their recent trips to The View and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Alongside one sweet selfie of the pair, Pip “wrote,” “On our way to COLBERT. Both of us did a pre-interview, but, between us, I’d MUCH rather hang out backstage, have a few treats and be stroked.”

Meanwhile, another sweet post of the duo reads, “Selfie with mom at the airport.”