Save-your-local-economy

Sugar Land Town Square

16121 City Walk

In Front of City Hall By the Fountain

Mon-Thur 10-6 Fri & Sat 10-8 Sun 12-5

281-340-DOGS (3647)

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Do Dog People get more excercise than Gym People?

A new British survey says there’s no doubt about it: People who have dogs and walk them regularly get more exercise than the average gym member.

According to the survey of 5,000 Britons, dog people walk their best friends twice a day for 24 minutes a pop, on average. And three times a week, the dogs’ walkies are quite a bit longer. That adds up to a whopping eight hours of exercise per week!

Those without dogs averaged 80 minutes a week at the gym, jogging, or walking. And nearly half of non-dog people get no exercise at all, the survey found.

“A couple of short walks a day soon adds up,” a survey official told the Daily Mail. “Owning a dog makes us more healthy.”

The best news is that people with dogs really enjoy taking their dogs out for exercise. Some 86 percent of survey takers like going out for dog walks. Compare that to a paltry 16 percent who say they enjoy going to the gym, which I must admit can get downright boring at times.

It’s obviously best if you don’t slog through your walkies unless you’re not able to comfortably go faster. Doctors advise picking up the pace for better cardiovascular health.

And FYI, standing around chatting at the dog park doesn’t count as exercise for anything except your mouth. We call this “taking your dog for a talk.” Of course, if you walk to get there, you are redeemed.

Do you feel you get more exercise with your dog than you would/than you do at the gym? If you’re a gym member, do you find far more excuses not to go to the gym than not to walk your dog? Not walking your dog can lead to poo on your living-room floor. Not going to the gym doesn’t tend to have the same result. That alone is a big point in favor of choosing walkies over gymies.

In my neighborhood there was 3 Hardware Stores. When I needed something in a hurry, I could walk in to any of them and a friendly employee or owner would approach me and offer their assistance. In and out in a few minutes with the item I was looking for plus anything else I did not know I needed to complete the job, because the person asked if I already had it. Now I travel some distance to Stafford's Court Hardware so I can find what I need and get some friendly informed advice. The times when I go to the BIG BOX stores it is normally a frustrating experience, but still they forced the closing of many neighborhood stores. By the way Court Hardware prices are normally equal or even cheaper than the big box stores.

Now the big Pet Supply stores and Walmart threaten the existence of Boutique Pet Stores. Many have closed around the country. We are still doing well thanks to many loyal customers. They appreciate the friendly informed attention at our store and we are told our prices are in the most part equal or lower. The big stores (if you can find someone to help you) tell you their selections of wheat and corn filled food is very healthy for your pet. The cheap China made toys are wonderful for your pet and so on. Remember for every dollar you spend in a national chain store, only 43 cents of that stays in the local area as opposed to

63 cents for the local independent store. Online Purchases leave nothing in the local economy. But less money that stays here forces local taxes to raise.... SAVE YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY, Shop Here with the independent stores.

Big Chain Stores are in business to satisfy their stock holders. Failure to do so means management will be replaced by the next Stock Holders Meeting. Independent Store owners are in business to satisfy their customers or their store will have to close. The only common denominator is both must make a profit. Other than the big box stores loss leaders, I find prices are equal or even lower at independent owned businesses and the advise plus the friendly service I receive is priceless....