Thanks for the suggestions, that is the lens I used, I redid the shoot today. Later evening in straight sunlight. Much better than the previous two, but I wasnt successful with the flash at all! The images were blown almost to pure white straight across. I practiced on my own dog before I went (black and tan) and it worked great. But when I used the flash at the shoot, it blew everything out?? I read some articles Tony sent me, the manual, etc and I used the FEL (although not each time, but none of them worked) and I increased and decreased the ETTL exposure (I am not clear though if increasing to a "+" number will make it brighter or darker, and vice versa??) Regardless I went the max in either direction and it blew it out equally badly. I also pointed it straight up to the sky, to the side, straight ahead, still blew each out. I also moved way back rather than in close, still blew it out. Thank goodness for natural light or I would have blown shoot #3 too

Here are the blow outs followed by 5 that I am sending them to choose from. I prefer the first, the others have little problems like background nuisances or dogs tail not right, or brown ear overlapping brown hair and not being distinct, etc. Would love any input though! Also I was so mad at myself I forgot to bring the reflector which I am guessing would have put some nice highlights in the shadow areas?