This is worse than your puppy shot, there was not enough light to make a good photo, it may look like there is enough light to you eye but you camera does not see it as light as your eye
Too soft, too dark. I think you will find that portraits really need the eyes visible and sharp, everything after that is secondary. Occasionally even that rule can be broken, but it is million year old instinct to make eye contact. If that's not there then the connection won't work.