In reply to balmybaldwin:
Dogs are great portrait subjects, if you can get them to stay still.....like the photos, you have a cute pooch!
You could also look at this website, which is a great resource for learning how to use flash...
https://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html
As was mentioned the light seems a little harsh on some; so you could use a modifier or bounce off a wall/ceiling to help with that. I also perhaps think that on some of the photos the flash would have been better positioned on the opposite side of the pooches face e.g. photo 4 & 7. For me the flash should light up the same side of the face as the camera is postitioned. A good suggestion is try and get a catch light from the flash in the eyes of the subject.
Enjoy though, it is one of my favourite things to do. Dogs are always happy to pose, for a treat!!!!!