I like this. The dog's face makes it looks as if it's smiling. That plus its eyes in a white face gives it a human look. I think that cropping the out of focus back end might have concentrated attention on its face.
Somehow its out of focus back end on what I think is a cushion reminded me of the top of a person's head resting on an arm. I may be in a minority of one here but I found that distracting at first glance.
i think keeping the image a square was the right call (im assuming the negative was 2 1/4, rather then 645), in my opinion it lends to the "abstract" feel. Good work.