Simon Cowell is known for his scathing comments on "American Idol," but he had nothing but smiles for the contestants at a recent dog show in England.

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The 46-year-old "Idol" judge showed his rare soft side at a Dog of the Year ceremony in Brighton for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Hellomagazine.com reported.

Cowell cuddled and kissed contestants during the event -- and one dog even got a hug from the usually aloof star.

Before the show, organizer Gilly Lloyd had said the sharp-tongued TV personality brought glamour to the event and likely would not scare away contestants -- as he regularly does for a living on American TV.

"Fortunately the dogs don't watch television so they don't know what they're in for," she told the Web site.