What is wrong with these pictures

[Joel Eade]

I would agree with jrw. It would benefit you to become comfortable using manual mode. That way you can expose correctly for your subject and the background will not fool the in-camera metering system, which is what you are experiencing to some degree. As for focusing, with animals I would suggest you use a single focus point and make sure you are in AI servo mode. You were shooting in the toughest of circumstances too with high sun with harsh contrast.