Attention: residents of Phoenix. It is hot, still hot. You’ve still got time this Labor Day weekend to head up to Flagstaff, which may be Arizona’s most dog-friendly town.

In fact, it may be easier to list the places that aren’t dog friendly in Flagstaff than those that area — especially in downtown, historic Flag, where there dogs in all the best places.

Shopping in Flagstaff with your dog

You know how sometimes stores say they are dog friendly but you get a way-different vibe once you and poochie get inside? In Flagstaff, they offer genuine hospitality for dogs. There’s water bowls, dog treats and even resident dogs in the stores. Check out the art galleries along San Francisco street for a lot of love for dogs as well as dog-related art.

Dining with the dog

For breakfast, hit Biff’s Bagels, which is named after a beloved pet and has photos of everyone else’s dog on the wall. For lunch, wow — so many choices. Charley’s on Aspen and Leroux has a great dog-friendly patio. Or Mix.  Or Macy’s. Or Mother Road Brewery. Or any others from our fine list.

Hiking with the dog

You don’t have to be a super wilderness person to enjoy a hike with your dog. There are a lot of mild trails out there — which is especially nice since you and the dog may not have been as active during this hot summer season. Altitude change can also affect breathing for you and the dog.

There are several dog-friendly park trails throughout Flagstaff. Just have a leash and plenty of water.

• Wilson Meadow at Hart Prairie:  A hike that can go as short as you want it to go. Wilson Meadow offers plenty of romping room and a pond to swim in (That’s for the dog; not you).
• Griffith Spring Trail: Another short hike that allows your dog to wade in a creek.

Drinking with the dog

After a hard day of shopping, dining and hiking, it’s great to kick back with an adult beverage. Your best friend can come into the bar with you as long as the fine establishment doesn’t serve food. And that’s why we can get great scenes like this one at Hops on Birch:

How hot is it going to be in Phoenix next week? 117???? Yee-ow – time for people and dogs (and people with dogs) to get out of town and go hiking in the hills in northern Arizona.

We caught up with awesome Mare Czinar, Arizona hiker extraordinaire, to ask her recommendations on hiking in northern Arizona with your dogs.

Mare, who has eight dogs at home, shared some good suggestions.

Prep before you go hiking

Make sure your dog is ready to hit the trail. Get her vaccinated and protected against ticks, fleas and other summertime dangers, says Mare.

It’s also good to have the veterinarian give your dog the once-over before doing any serious long-distance hiking just to make sure she is in good shape.

Also,know what trails require dogs to be on leashes. That’s especially handy when you share the trail with horses; a loose dog can get a horse tangled up pretty fast and that can lead to some bad complications (true story!)

Water, water, water

The biggest problem Mare sees on the trails is that people don’t bring enough water for their dogs. It’s important that people give their dogs water before, during and after the hike.

Generally speaking, larger dogs might drink 0.5 to one ounces of water per pound. Dogs 20 pounds and lighter will be closer to 1.5 ounces per pound per day. And just like with people, it always pays to have more water than you think you will use.

Water is the best insurance you can have on the trails. If you or your dog get hurt, you will be grateful for that extra water you carried.

Favorite dog-friendly hiking trails

Two of Mare’s favorite hikes to go on with her dogs are Horton’s Creek near Payson and Parson’s Trail near Sedona. She loves these spots with with running water but she also cautions that that water can be harmful to your dog. Water contaminated by animal or human waste can contain bacteria, which can cause diarrhea and worse for your dog.

Hiking with dogs, is just like hiking with humans – a little prep work goes a long way.

Happy trails everyone!

Photo by Randy Binting

Like OMG, there’s snow – and a lot of it — only two hours away from Phoenix. Flagstaff has gotten three feet of the cold, white stuff in the past six days.

Should your weekend plans include a trip to the mountains for you and the dog to play in the snow?

Absolutely! Dogs love the snow – for them, it’s just a new way to play. It’s like a gigantic cardboard box that they can  shred, only it is colder and whiter.

Fun for the dog in the snow

So romp away — just keep these tips in mind when taking your desert dog up to the High Country:

• Elevation: Just like you, your dog may need a way to adapt to the higher elevation before doing a lot of exertion.
• Temperature: Ditto for the cold weather. Again just like you, your dog is going to need a thicker coat to hang out in 20-degree daytime temps. Choose a bright colored doggie coat for easier spotting in the snow.
• Temperature (part 2): Even the coziest coat can’t prevent frostbite on ears, paws or tails. Try getting the dog out in late morning or early afternoon when temperatures are warmest. If you notice the dog is whining, shivering, appearing anxious, or looking for places to burrow, take him indoors.
• Watch out for toxins: Always keep an eye out for any antifreeze spill. Take your dog to the vet immediately if you think he has lapped up some of the sweet poisonous stuff, take him to the vet immediately.
• Paw protection: Help protect his dry and sensitive paws by coating them with a small amount of paw protectant (natural cooking spray works too!) before walkies.
• Easy clean-up: Keep containers of warm water as well as clean towels to spruce up the dog before he gets back in your vehicle.

Going up to the cold climate for outdoors romps may not be a good idea for your older or more fragile dogs –may be leave them behind on this trip.

Where to eat after you and the dog play in the snow? — We have some suggestions for dog-friendly restaurants in Flagstaff!

Road-trip tips

Also, remember there’s basically only one road from Flagstaff to Phoenix and it can get backed up. Make sure you have some extra water and snacks for dogs and humans alike in case of traffic jams and accidents. Call 511 or go to az511.com for road conditions before you head out

Stay safe! Stay warm! Go snow!