Ya know Brian.. as I was scrolling up and your larger photo was scrolling up, it appeared to be cropped horizontally. I think that would be the most effective crop. You don't need the neck and shoulders in that shot. The **essence** of this cute little dog can be seen in the nose/whiskers/ear... and I LIKE it A LOT.
Way back in my college days, one of the things we learned was how to think 'outside of the box'. ... that sometimes, a 'study' of part of a body can say more than the standard "portrait". Don't get me wrong, I shoot animal (and family) "Portraits" most of the time. ... but I REALLY like seeing a shot like this. ... something a little more 'out of the box'. 
Heck.. if it were my dog, I'd frame that puppy and hang it on the wall!
