Great lighting can take a ho hum shot and make it sparkle.
Do you have an external flash? If so...take a look at the strobist site; It's dedicated to getting great light without a lot of expense. Check out the "lighting 101"
Golden Retrievers seem very well behaved. I've got a 29 month old grandson with energy you wouldn't believe in the midst of the terrible twos. Not as easy to photograph!!
My buddy is 9 years old and named Eli. Although I am a Giants fan, he was named after Eli Whitney by my then 5 year daughter a couple years before Mr. Manning was drafted.