On the tech side:
For that overexposure problem I would just turn down the exposure compensation of your Cam by one or two steps - a good side-effect is that this allows you to chose a higher F/Number and therefore more DOF, that could be used here to bring out the structure of her fur. Save the result as a RAW and you have even more color values you can correct back to your right white to bring out the tones perfect

On the picture itself:
I think it's too close. An attemp of taking the full head (maybe from below the dog to make them look more majestic) would do her more justice.
And she looks too... well, clean. She's a dog and for me, dogs play outside and get dirty. Well, maybe this little one is really sitting the whole day inside, then it's just okay but if this is not the case, let her play in the dirt outside, remove the dirt that's too much for you but let some in the fur. Especially around the nose, a little bit of dirt really adds character to those little ones
The parts next to her eyes look red, I know, in most cases this is natural but it's even more intensive on a photo - I for my part think this would just make an excellect b/w photo without those distracting red eyes. You showed perfectly in the portrait of your wife how to do it
And, last thing, I think a more centered composition could be good here.

As always, that is everything that's floating around in my mind when looking at this picture, you may agree or disagree, I hope you find some things useful

Hm.. seems there's a 1-voter who thinks he's funny... sorry if this is harsh, politically incorrect or anything but it's my opinion: FUCK UP! Make your critic and show who you are or go hang yourself!

Thank Phryneas for your comments. As far as focus goes, the original photo is tack sharp. I was actually amazed at how sharp it was. But since I wanted her face to fillthe frame, the sharpness made it look too sterile and, well, phtographic. I wanted a soft focus to give the impression of how touchable this dog is.

Dirt? I don't think the owners would want a picture of their baby all dirty.

The red parts around the eyes? Well, I toyed with the ideo of removing them, but this is her. If I changed her, she'd be a different dog. I thought about black and white, but I like this better for her.

The 1-voter has been hanging around my gallery lately. Occasionally I'll get 2 point (don't know if it's the same person). I don't really mind about that. I'd rather get a critique, though. Good or bad. Oh well.

HA! I get 2's or 1's every 2nd vote

too close for me tho.. but you gets a +5 and I agree with the above..

if its this close make a macabre texture pic out of it.. IMHO.. or bring the focus to the nose and eyes,, and make a tighter shot... then you get the ridges of the nose and the deep eyes... btw I love small dogs

btw I have been trying to get the swan pics for like a month now... white is a hard color to get detail its been driving me nuts.. I cant imagine a clean white fur of a dog..

I love animals! This photo this very very pretty!!
+ 9

I like this too~
but i think the soften part is a little too much..... should bring the sharpness back a little more.
I like animals~

E-marts. I love this. I personally like the slight high exposure in areas. It makes the dog's fur glimmer. I like the glimmer on his nose too! There is a tiny speck below and to the left of the the right eye (left from our perspective)
Very well done! 7/8

To me this is excellent....beautiful details in the whites.....very dificult to achieve....You captured the expression very well.....Congratulations emarts +9/10

Looks like snow!!
Details are perfect! Nicely done!
+9

+8!

for the record +1 is still +1, it only adds to your score, just not very much.
We have no average based system so no vote can negatively influence your rank.

nice little puppy

emarts hey you know what me too!!
I didn't say anything cause I thought it would bring more 2's to my posts but every time I post bam someone tosses me a 2
ok except for today's who knows maybe now I am doomed
ok enough about that silly stuff
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ok now about the puppy!
I love the hair your cam got a good clear shot of the hair....
looks very very soft..............hmmm now about that right eye
lol
ok enough here is your points
9+ for soft hair

Sorry Im late! Great Shot great and clear shot!

 kittyKat: "hmmm now about that right eye "

Yeah, my wife says she'd walleyed!

Very Good work! +8

Hey, this is great........I love it, she's so cute....I love how you managed to capture the soft details in the fur....it's so hard. . . +8/8
Only opinion i have is about the composition......I'm not sure what, but something seems odd to me.........probably just me

What a fine animal! Me love dogs.
Nice, shiny fur.
+6

cute! ^_^

DOF is nice, although maybe a bit too shallow? wonder how her eyes would look one stop higher? they seem to be softening up which is possible with the lense closer to the subject (both aperature and distance from subject effect DOF). lighting is awesome. it's hard with a silky white dog, they usually get lost in all the hair and just look like another cousin It. nice composition. good job

This dog is absolutely lovely Sam!
I love dogs' noses! I like the contrast between the white fur and the eyes/nose!
Sweet portrait!

when i look at this photo... i remember the dog from the never ending story! hehe i dinno Nice shot!

when i look at this photo... i remember the dog from the never ending story! hehe i dinno Nice shot!

when i look at this photo... i remember the dog from the never ending story! hehe i dinno Nice shot!