After a sunny, summer day of boating and playing in the sand dunes at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, our family and dog would stop at a small ice cream shop in Miller Beach. Jack Spratt had the best selection of exotic favors not commonly found elsewhere fifty years ago.

Holly our black lab would sit in back of the station wagon, anxiously awaiting our return. Persuading a hungry, boy to surrender part of his pistachio cone wasn’t an easy task. But, she knew I’d cave into her big beautiful brown eyes and get a lick or two of my ice cream cone.

At some point, my parents caught on to it, and reminded me dogs lick more than one side of my cone.  Still I couldn’t resist sharing with my best friend. I rationalized whatever didn’t kill me would make me stronger, but I did give up sharing my cone with future dogs to come and bought them their own instead as I got older.

Today, when one the dogs earns a qualifying hunt test score, we make it a practice to stop for an ice cone to take a moment to CELEBRATE. Just like my childhood days in Hobart, Indiana. Win a little League baseball game and it was off to the local DQ we went. Fortunately, mobile phones today make it easy to capture the moment and MEMORIES.

Perhaps, I’m not a good loser. I’ve seldom practiced the habit of stopping at the DQ after losing a ball game or failing a hunt test.  However, I’ve have to admit when you really get your butt kicked in a game or failed miserably in a hunt test, a DQ cone helps to remind you of better days.

Now some internet experts may claim, ice cream isn’t good dogs! Well my initial response is it not like I’m feeding them a half-gallon of Blue Bell.  Everything in moderation, including the germs dogs share with kids.

Over the decades, I’ve never had a Lab or Chessie that was lactose intolerant.  Witnessed them eat items far worse than ice cream! At home, it’s routine for us to share a little ice cream remaining at bottom of the bowl.  I view it as “breaking bread” together.  Strengthening the bond between man and canine. A common practice that has existed for zillions of centuries.

However, if you find your dog is fumigating the house or making multiple trips to the outside door after consuming dairy products like cheese, milk or ice cream lactose intolerance might be the problem. Consider an alternative treat. Now, if you never give treats, I feel sorry for your retriever.  They give us their heart and soul on the line. Give back, break bread together, take some pictures together. Life is too short, especially for good dogs!