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A smiling grandpa crouches in his living room holding a vanilla ice cream cone as a blue merle Border Collie licks it. 20 / 22

Grandpa Earl Held Out His Ice Cream Cone for Just One Second

AI imageborder collieice creamsummer

It is a scorcher outside, and the living room is the only place cool enough to enjoy a treat. Earl crouches on the rug in his khaki vest, holding a small vanilla cone out with an expression of pure mischief, eyes squinting with laughter. Skye has stretched her neck forward and is giving the scoop a long, careful lick with her bright pink tongue, one pale blue eye peeking sideways as if to make sure this is really allowed. Behind them, a basket of dog toys spills onto the floor, a pair of slippers sits by the couch, and the window glows white with summer glare. It is a small, silly, perfect moment.

Sharing a lick of ice cream is tempting, but regular ice cream is not an ideal treat for dogs. Many adult dogs have trouble digesting lactose, which can cause gas, diarrhea, or an upset stomach, and the sugar and fat are not good for them either. Certain flavors can be truly dangerous, including chocolate, coffee, and anything containing xylitol, macadamia nuts, or raisins. For a safe summer treat, try freezing plain yogurt, unsweetened pumpkin, or mashed banana in an ice cube tray, or look for frozen treats made specifically for dogs. A few ice cubes also work well for dogs that love to crunch.

Earl probably knows all of this, and the cone will likely be his after this one sneaky lick. But try telling that to Skye, who seems to believe she has just discovered the greatest invention in human history.

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