What?!? You have had a couple of my favorite photos on the forum. You posted one early on with Loki and a blue ball that the lighting was just perfect.
Mostly just go without flash.
Also, if you look at this series the first one (with the tongue) is metered from where I shot the photo. So the exposure is set to compensate for everything in the frame. The next one I pulled in close to part of his fur in the sunlight then held the button halfway, which sets the exposure, then I pulled out and framed the shot then pressed all the way to shoot. Everything in shadow becomes black. It's easy once you get the hang of it.