My dog wont eat

Question
QUESTION: I just adopted a 1yr old spaniel mix, and he is not eating.  I mixed his dog food with Iams and the mixables, and he just eats the mixable stuff and leaves the iams.  How do I get him to eat just the Iams dog food?

ANSWER: Thank you for giving him a home.  He may mostly just need more time.  Give him plenty of attention.  You have the right idea, getting him on just dry dog chow.  

The worst thing you can do is to bribe a dog with rich foods into eating more than it needs. Instead, Put down the dish with what the dog should eat, and give it 15 minutes to eat. Then take it up. Do not give it anything to eat until its next scheduled meal. In a few days, it should be eating what it needs. Continue to check its ribs and adjust the food as needed. This is not easy. I had a Shepherd go 3 days on a few nibbles. I was a wreck, but she was fine. It is almost unknown for a healthy dog not to eat what it needs. Unfortunately, in too many cases, it is less than the package says, and less than the owner thinks the dog should have. Many dogs are quite good at holding out for tastier chow. Like kids, sometimes it calls for tough love.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So I should never leave that one bowl of food out to sit until he gets ready for it?  Also, how do you know enough is not too much?

Answer
Leaving food out works for some dogs, but is a disaster for others.  I am reading Merle's Door by Ted Kerosote.  Yesterday, I read about his misadventure with it.

Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest.
You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them.  Each dog is
different.  Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog
must have its food adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide,
http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx