Could I of cropped this better?

I took this today with my 70-200mm 2.8 IS, the resulting image was the spaniel dead centre of the image with just as much grass either side of him, in fact double the amount you can see here.

I was stuck as to where it should of been cropped, I took into account the thirds rule and also gave it some space in the direction the dog is focusing it's attention (loosely).

I'm still not comfortable with the crop as picture, but I just can't see why but I'm having a day like that, maybe it's because the slope of the hill is leading in an opposite direction to the dogs line of sight?

Any input welcomed:

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Maybe posting the original would help.

Cute dog BTW...

I love the dog. The rule of thirds is nothing more than a guide line and in this case there is 1/3 dog and 2/3 nothing..... May be a portrait crop of the dog...?

I was thinking something like this.

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Yeah that would work, I like the portrait style but usually only apply it to people

Here's the original:

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Personally just a slight crop does it for me, just to move the dog off center, the nothingness around the dog is very nice and the colors seem to contrast quite well.

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