A couple of things I noticed after looking at the photo.
1. There is some overexposure in the white fur, particularly on the back.
2. The ears are cut off a bit
3. He really is smiling :)
I think #1 could be fixed with some light diffusion, or, a faster shutter speed, or more even light. #2 is to recompose a bit better, I like the way it is with the exception of the dog ears.
Overall a good photo but needs some tweaking. And it definitely meets the challenge.
I don't see it in the body, but his tongue says chow somewhere in his ancestry. Any special reason for cropping off the top of his ears.. Is his fur at the ear red or is he bleeding for some reason? Good color and nice sharp focus. Good photo.