Phoenix is blessed with some great in-town hiking areas that you can share with your dog. A class being offered at North Mountain Visitor Center gives you and your canine buddy some great advice and training in a beautiful desert setting.

Classes are taught by Leslie Spencer-Snider and cost $15 each or four sessions for $40. They are held every Saturday morning through the end of June. Look for Leslie and the dogs near the picnic tables behind the center.

Topics include:

• Conditioning your dog and yourself for the trail
• Proper etiquette on the trail with your dog and you!
• Emergency first aid and how to handle an emergency
• Hiking with a backpack on your dog
• Proper care for your dog’s paws
• How to handle wildlife encounters
• How to handle horseback riders
• How to handle mountain bike riders