Q&A for How to Get Your Dog to Eat Dry Food

Unfortunately, force feeding will make the pup resent the kibble and even less likely to eat it. Start fresh with a different brand, so he doesn't associate the kibble with distress. Put the kibble in his bowl and leave the room. Return after 20 minutes and throw any uneaten kibble away. Don't offer anything else until the next meal time, and then repeat. Eventually the dog will learn to eat if he's hungry. Also, check the kibble size is appropriate for the dog, and moisten the kibble with a bit of hot water.

In the short term, it's fine to serve a portion of boiled white rice, pasta, or even potato, along with some cooked chicken or fish. Additionally, cooked eggs can provide good protein content or a little cottage cheese (provided the dog is not lactose intolerant).

Most dry dog foods are nutritionally balanced (look for the words 'Complete and balanced' on the packaging). Therefore, you don't need to add anything from a nutritional perspective. However, some dogs do like the addition of something like chicken, to tempt them to eat it.

Yes, you can add water to dry food. Adding a little boiled water is best, as this then forms a sort of gravy. Dogs with poor teeth, elderly, or puppies can benefit from softening a dry food in this way.

Unlike cats (which are obligate carnivores and must eat meat), dogs are omnivores. This means they can thrive when fed a well-balanced, good quality vegetarian diet. However, this needs to be done properly, so it's best to speak to a veterinary nutritionist who can advise you on sources of high quality plant-based proteins to keep the dog healthy.