Dr John Puppy

Why some dogs leave their food

Dogs love trying our food! There’s no doubt that human food is designed to be tasty, delicious and easily eaten but that doesn’t make those titbits healthy (or always safe) for our dogs to eat. With research and preparation, it is possible to make a healthy homemade diet from human food (and a few supplements…

Early Weaning

Early weaning – we’ve recently had some calls asking for advice on how to start weaning with our puppy food Dr. John Puppy. It’s an exciting new step in every pup’s development, and at last some more freedom for mum! But it’s important to take this gradually and at the pups’ pace. Here are some…

How much to feed Mum

We’ve had several enquires come in from owners whose dogs are expecting new pups or have just had them the past couple of weeks. Whilst it’s a very exciting time for both you and your dog, feeding the right amount becomes even more important to ensure everyone is getting enough food, both mum and the…

Prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)

Prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) is a great supplement for dogs, mainly sourced from chicory root where the relevant fibres are extracted by hydrolysis. Prebiotics work by supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria that line the digestive system in dogs (in particular bifidobacterium and lactobacillus) These bacteria increase the acidity in the gut which makes it harder…

Salmon Oil

Salmon is a great ingredient to feed to dogs and salmon oil even more so, as this is where the essential fatty acids are concentrated and provide the most benefit to dogs. High levels of omega 3’s docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are concentrated in the oil which studies indicate can help with…

Puppy Development

There has been a bit of a puppy boom this year! Breeders have reported record demand, waiting lists for popular breeds are now commonplace and unfortunately prices for pedigree pups has soared as well. Along with all of the issues around choosing the right dog to fit into your household both now and when the…

English Cocker Spaniel Image

Breed Profile – English Cocker Spaniel

This good-natured gundog breed is just as popular as a family pet as it is a working dog. Read on to find out more about the rather odd history of the English Cocker Spaniel. History of Breed: Spaniel-type dogs have been around for at least 500 years as is evident in art and literature. Originally, spaniels…

Retriever Dog Training

5 Essential Nutrients for Dogs

The balance of nutrients in your dog’s diet is complex. It can be just as dangerous to have too much of a particular nutrient as it is to have too little. Choosing a complete dog food, like those in Gilbertson & Page’s ranges, takes away some of the guess work. Our nutritionists have already developed the…

crossbreed dog

Crossbreeds

From Morkis to Puggles, the recent explosion of crossbreeds over the last ten years has certainly given birth to some pretty amusing portmanteau names. Regular readers of Gilbertson & Page’s breed profiles will know that the profiles tend to concentrate on pure breeds. We thought we’d give a little space to some of the amazing crossbreeds, the…

Riva and puppies

Italian Spinoni Go from Strength to Strength

Back in January 2015, we published an article about ace Italian Spinone breeder and judge Nina Fleming’s latest litter. You can find the original article here. Well, Nina’s dogs have come up trumps yet again and she very kindly attributes some of her success, and the health of the mother and pups, to the role of…

Image courtesy of Rachel Richards

A Brief History of Gundogs

Once upon a time (as all good stories start), Man discovered that dogs could be trained to locate and chase prey, making them the ideal hunting companion (the seaweed doesn’t count, but Oscar was a puppy at the time!). It was the start of a beautiful relationship. It is from these dogs that terriers, hounds, gundogs…

Newfoundland Dog Breed image

Breed Profile – Newfoundland

It’s Winter and it seemed like the perfect time to take a look at the Newfoundland dog breed, or Newfie to its friends. The majesty and bulk of the Newfoundland belies its playful and fun nature. Our latest breed profile focuses on this working dog with an interesting history. History of Breed: The origins of the…