Hi! I'm curious to know what you would have done different. I'm very new to photography and I've started to read a lot on it (and wow is there a lot to digest!) there was no post processing to this, what would you have done differently

I like the colors and composition.

A smaller aperture would give you some more depth of field and allow you to get the nose and eyes in focus. A little sharpening would help too.

HiMadeline,
Cute doggie!
I think you have to decide how much head, how much body you want. In the image above, a smaller aperture, some sharpening, focus on the eyes, and post-processing with contrast bump would help. I'd crop down to a portrait mode, featuring the head. If you intend to include the body, it can be out of focus, as long as you have sharpness around the eyes. But pay attention to the position of the body. From the angle this one is taken, there is a confusing jumble of limbs on the right.

Below is a re-post with some vignetting, to illustrate processing and heightening attention to the head.
Let me know if you want it removed and welcome to the Critique Forum.

Scott