How to get my large dogs to eat dry kibble without adding treats?

Question

I have two large dogs, they refuse to eat dry food - unless I add ham - they pick out the ham. I have tried several different brands - all with the same effect. How do I get them to eat dry food? Thank you, Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 3 years and 10 months old | 160 lbs

C. Rathjens, DVM · Accepted Answer

There could be a reason that the dry food is uncomfortable for them (broken teeth, gum disease, etc), however since it's both dogs, I expect it's more that they have learned to hold out for the ham addition. The good news is that they are large adult dogs, so they can go a day or 3 without eating without issues if they are otherwise healthy. If they are having ANY other issues (vomiting, diarrhea, weight gain or loss, limping, skin disease, lethargy, or anxiety etc check with your vet first before working on the dry food issues). If they truly are healthy, just stop giving them ham. Put the food down for 15 minutes and then pick it up. Offer the food 2 or 3 times a day. Throw away any uneaten food at the end of the day and start over the next day. Stay in the room during meal times, but don't make a fuss about the food. If they STILL aren't eating the food by the end of day 3, consult with your regular veterinarian. Make sure water is always available. It's ok to give them their regular treats at other times of the day (but no Ham and generally no super amazing treats), but don't try to fill them up with treats. The idea is to let them get hungry enough to eat the food.

How to get my large dogs to eat dry kibble without adding treats?

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