Grandpa Otis Bought One Cone for a Hot Afternoon. Bruno Wanted a Taste.
On the front porch of an old clapboard house, Grandpa Otis holds up a waffle cone topped with a swirl of vanilla ice cream, and Bruno has already leaned in for a taste. The Frenchie's pink tongue is stretched toward the cone, his brindle face crinkled with effort and his bat ears flattened back. Otis, in a moss-green cardigan over a plaid shirt, looks down with his glasses low and a soft, amused smile above his silver beard. Potted plants, peeling paint on the door frame, and bright afternoon sun tell you it is a warm day in a quiet neighborhood.
Sharing ice cream with a dog feels harmless, but it is worth a bit of caution. Many dogs have trouble digesting dairy, and ice cream is high in sugar, so a lick should stay an occasional treat rather than a habit. Chocolate, nuts such as macadamias, and anything sweetened with xylitol are dangerous for dogs, so flavors should be chosen carefully if a dog may get a taste. Some owners prefer plain frozen treats made for dogs or a spoonful of plain, unsweetened yogurt. On hot days, French Bulldogs also need shade and water, because their short noses make them prone to overheating. If your dog seems unwell after a treat, talk to your vet.
Otis has probably heard every excuse a dog can offer. This one, delivered with a pink tongue and wide brown eyes, is hard to resist.
