There is a reason why some photographers make animal photography the main focus of their careers – it is really, really hard to take good photographs of animals! They are especially unpredictable subjects, moving when you don’t expect them to and not looking in the direction of the camera. With some practise though, you can get better at capturing animal images.
When you are photographing a moving animal, have your camera on some kind of motion mode. This will ensure the photo you take isn’t blurry, and will show the animal in its full beauty. If you are trying to photograph an animal sitting still, it may take a little more patience, but you could try using a portrait mode to blur out the background and make the animal the real focus.
It’s important to remember that patience is the key here. If you are patient, you will eventually capture an image you are happy with.