What would you do with this picture?

I'm thinking of printing and framing this. But I am kinda terrible at retouching right now and I don't want to destroy the picture. Any help?

RAW: http://www.speedyshare​.com/yxUa5/DSC00226.AR​W

First things first, you've posted a photo that's wayyy too big for this forum.

Second, a lot is going on around your subject. Cropping helps a bit, but it's not really enough. Here's the best I could do, for my tastes.

Contrasty curves adjustments, dodging and burning masks to help tone down the background a bit.

Some semi opaque overlays to change up the color. Looking back at it now, I may have overdone it...

Updated first post.

Don't bash me. i'm not a pro
but here's my try

PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i192.photobucke​t.com …/DSC00226_zps58​63a16a.jpg

ekfaysal wrote in post #15739786
Don't bash me. i'm not a pro
but here's my try

Except for the stick across its body you did well I think..

Here's my attempt:

Here's an other one:

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chris_holtmeier wrote in post #15739845
Here's my attempt:

Great job on the sharpening!

I'll play:

IMAGE LINK: https://picasaweb.goog​le.com …C-o1UR4?feat=embedwebsit​e

Interesting that most of you cropped to place the dog on the right third of the image and I chose to place him on the left side. Not that there's a correct way to do it, I just find the different choices interesting.

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I thought the same thing. I tried it on the left but I didn't liked it too much.

I like the dog better on the left because it leaves some color on the right.

Superdog!

navydoc wrote in post #15740805
Interesting that most of you cropped to place the dog on the right third of the image and I chose to place him on the left side. Not that there's a correct way to do it, I just find the different choices interesting.

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Wow now that looks great!

Here's my try subtle changes, easy one to overcook.

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