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A smiling white-haired woman in a green vest holds a vanilla ice cream cone as a blue merle Australian Shepherd licks it. 4 / 30

Grandma June Only Bought One Ice Cream Cone. Blue Thought That Was Plenty.

AI imageaustralian shepherdice creamsummer

It is a hot day, and the ice cream is melting fast, so someone has stepped in to help. June sits in her sunny living room in a green quilted vest and gray tee, holding a vanilla cone out with a tender smile. Blue leans in with his tongue stretched out, taking a long, careful lick off the top. His blue merle coat is dappled with silver and black, his copper cheeks glow in the light, and one blue eye is half-closed in pure bliss. Around them, a basket of knitting, a plaid blanket, a bowl of fruit, and a pair of slippers by the door make the room feel cozy.

Ice cream is a summertime classic, but it is not ideal for dogs. Many adult dogs have trouble digesting lactose, so dairy can cause upset stomachs. Ice cream is also high in sugar and fat. Some flavors are especially dangerous: chocolate is toxic to dogs, and some sugar-free products contain xylitol, which can be life-threatening even in small amounts. A tiny lick of plain vanilla is unlikely to harm a healthy dog, but there are better ways to cool off. Many pet stores sell frozen treats made for dogs, or you can freeze plain, unsweetened yogurt or pureed dog-safe fruit in an ice cube tray.

June may lose half her cone to her eager helper, but the joy on both of their faces makes it worth it. Some treats are just more fun when shared, even if only a lick.

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A white-haired woman hand-sews a patchwork quilt while a blue merle Australian Shepherd sleeps on a pile of folded quilts.Grandma June Was Finishing Her Patchwork Quilt. Blue Was Testing the Others.A white-haired woman in a green vest sits in a porch chair as rain falls, with a blue merle Australian Shepherd beside her.The Storm Rolled In Fast. Grandma June and Blue Went Out to the Porch to Watch.
An older woman in glasses and a green vest flips a pancake on a gas stove while a blue merle Australian Shepherd watches.Grandma June Started Flipping Pancakes. Blue Put on His Best Behavior.A white-haired woman in a cream vest naps in a brown recliner while a blue merle Australian Shepherd leans on the armrest.Grandma June Fell Asleep in Her Recliner. Blue Decided Someone Had to Keep Watch.A white-haired woman pours water from a metal can onto flowers while a blue merle Australian Shepherd stands beside her.Grandma June Went Out to Water Her Flowers. Blue Wanted to Supervise Up Close.A laughing white-haired woman in a navy vest rakes leaves as a blue merle Australian Shepherd bounds through the leaf pile.Grandma June Spent an Hour Raking the Perfect Leaf Pile. Blue Saw It Too.