I've had 2 instances of photographing neighbourhood dogs out on walks and I seem to be struggling to get proper focus on their faces.

I am shooting with a A7IV and only after the first shoot where I missed focus a fair amount did I find the subject selector where I can select "Animal".

The first shoot I used Sigma glass that does have relatively quick focussing.

The second shoot where I used the "Animal" subject, I was using the 70-200 GM II which should has unconstrained focussing speed etc. This was also in the snow, so shutter speeds weren't going to be an issue to confuse blur with missed focus. I had the camera in continuous AF along with the 70-200 in SteadyShot Mode 2 rather than 3.

I'm just wondering if there are any tips/tricks I can take forward for shooting dogs doing zoomies? In particularly, when they're running towards me? I was focussing and spraying with at high speed, assuming the continuous focus would do the work for me as he zoomed about

https://preview.redd.it/kgti511gn7be1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b71e15d7f642c6a8f48f3f16c7cdf105b9e373b

Noteable focus menu settings:

Focus mode: Continuous

Priority in AF-S/C: Balanced emphasis

AF tracking sensitivity: 3(standard) - Goes up to 5

Aperture drive in AF: Standard

Pre-AF: off

Focus area: Spot (small)

Face/eye priority in AF: ON

Face/eye subject: Animal - Found this out only after first shoot

Right/Left eye select: auto

Face/Eye frame disp: ON