Add thread painting details . It will improve it a lot in your eyes I think
I think one of the things that is throwing you off is the eyes. I did one of my cat that I had to put down and had to redo one eye twice.
The other may be the change in color from the original.
But after all it is not a photo it is a interpretation of the photo.
Specific. As looking at the picture: the left one needs more black under the left eye and the dog on the right needs black under the eyes. You can add those with thread painting.
Other than that they are great I can't wait to see the final product. .