Dog playing Catan - really struggling and could use some outside advice

MBauer17

Hello everyone, I have been struggling with color and this drawing that I've been working on has left me frustrated. I am unable to find the solution to fix the dog. It looks very bad and I don't know how to fix it. I could use any and all advice that can be given. I looked up references of dogs heads but it just winds up looking overworked with very little character. I'm totally frustrated but I want to find out what it is I'm doing wrong.

Thank you so so much in advance.

EricElwell

@MBauer17 You might want to simplify your issue a bit by leaving color out for now. Maybe do a handful of thumbnail sketches with different lighting and different camera angles, and see if you can figure out some of your problems there.