New Dog Food Issues

We just got a new 1yr old dog this week...he is a 1/2 pekinegse and 1/2 lapso apso....the love of our lives already! Its become very obvious to us that he was fed strictly table food at his old house. I would like to get him to eat regular dog food..I've bought him a few different types...canned, dry, slices, ect...but he refuses them all...he even refuses treats, I've bought milk bones, bacon strips, ect. The vet said to just not feed him that he will eventually start eating when he's hungry...but that just seems cruel to me. What do you think??