I found out most of my issues. Thanks to all. The ambient shadow setting has to be turned up or there is no shadows hardly at all. Something I didn't understand from the above, until I separated the figure and a light source by itself and wondered why there was no shadow. I wrongfully thought if there was no ambient lighting via the sun (the sun turned off), that the ambient shadows should be turned off as well. As to the dog, it was a placement issue. He was twisted a little bit in his pose and light from the fireplace was getting in underneath him. So that is why he seems to have no shadow. He probably does, but it's off screen. I appreciate your suggestions and I need to spend more time with the lighting options I guess. :)