Thanks:-)
Hills was recommended by the vet (I hadn't used it before).
Yes, I've tried softening it with water and still the same. Also tried mixing it with tinned food and he seems to like the tinned stuff more, so eats round the Hills 'bits' or drops them on the floor (oops)
My other dogs ate a variety of foods, but these days I keep getting told that the dried food is better for our pooches, not entirely convinced though.