The cropping won't help with the sharpness, do you have the exif data / equipment you used?
With the dog, I am not sure wether the focus is on the dog, or the twigs to the right?
Exif for #1
EXIF IFD0
Camera Make = Canon
Camera Model = Canon EOS 7D
Picture Orientation = normal (1)
X-Resolution = 72/1 ===> 72
Y-Resolution = 72/1 ===> 72
X/Y-Resolution Unit = inch (2)
Last Modified Date/Time = 2011:12:06 15:25:54
Artist = Elise McColll
Y/Cb/Cr Positioning (Subsampling) = co-sited / datum point (2)
Copyright Owner = 2011
Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/80 second ===> 0.0125 second
Lens F-Number / F-Stop = 56/10 ===> /5.6
Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
EXIF Version = 0221
Original Date/Time = 2011:12:06 13:01:11
Digitization Date/Time = 2011:12:06 13:01:11
Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
Shutter Speed Value (APEX) = 417792/65536
Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/83 second
Aperture Value (APEX) = 327680/65536
Aperture = /5.66
Exposure Bias (EV) = -1/3 ===> -0.33
Metering Mode = center weighted average (2)
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 135/1 mm ===> 135 mm
Maker Note =
User Comment Character Code = not defined
Last Modified Subsecond Time = 00
Original Subsecond Time = 00
Digitized Subsecond Time = 00
FlashPix Version = 0100
Colour Space = sRGB (1)
Image Width = 1035 pixels
Image Height = 911 pixels
Focal Plane X-Resolution = 5184000/907 ===> 5715.55
Focal Plane Y-Resolution = 3456000/595 ===> 5808.4
Focal Plane X/Y-Resolution Unit = inch (2)
Custom Rendered = normal process (0)
Exposure Mode = auto exposure (0)
White Balance = auto (0)
Scene Capture Type = standard (0)
Microsoft.Padding =
Unknown tag, Tagnum 0xea1d = data ===> 0