Personally I feel expression is the most important aspect to creating an image. It does not always mean them looking straight at the camera. I do like your moms dogs expression a great deal.
The first thing I saw was the technique you used in the blur. To me it is like getting a compliment on a frame before they comment on the image. I would like to see the original an understand why you picked what you did to the image.

I think PS and any program is like this saying = It takes two people to paint a watercolor, one to paint it and one to shoot them before they over work it. I have to always keep myself in check on these tools.

I know this is not in the critique section - but you have asked for input. Hope our ideas help you create the kind of images you know are what you want.