Steve,
If this dog is what you want for an avatar, you will need an animation program to make it look ok when you downsize it. I am assuming that you meant it looked bad when you tried to put it in as your avatar. If that is what you meant, send it to me and I will see what I can do to make it look better as an avatar. I am sure that you know you have to do the custom avatar thing. As for adding any wording, Earl can explain that as I haven't did it and he has, so he already knows the steps.
Ron