- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
Now that I’m working at home full time, I’m surrounded by pups: senior ladies Shirley the Pug and Prissy the Dachshund, and young Boston Terrier Olive, all of whom are all bored, will constantly seek my attention, and won’t play with any of the millions of Kongs and chews in the house. A few weeks ago I heard about lick mats for dogs on Instagram (of all places) and thought they could be a helpful solution to keep my dogs occupied while I try to work.
Lick mats seemed simple to use but intriguing enough to dogs that even my golden girls, who have lost interest in most of their toys over the years, might give them a try.
What Are Lick Mats for Dogs?
Lick mats are a type of enrichment toy for dogs and cats, like puzzle toys. These rubbery mats come in various shapes, sizes, and textures. You apply a dog-friendly snack like peanut butter, soft banana, or yogurt to the mat for your dog to lick, while the raised rubber nubs make it a challenge. The closer the texture, the more work your pup will have to do to lick the mat clean.
Food-motivated dogs will become determined to lick up the last bit of the treat, offering both mental stimulation and, for some dogs, a physical calm. Repetitive licking can be helpful to distract pets from anxiety-inducing situations, such as thunderstorms and fireworks.
And, of course, the toy simply keeps pets busy for a while, which is handy for humans who need to get things done.
I tried two different styles of lick mat with my pets, and here’s what I thought.
Olive taking over for Prissy cleaning up the remaining peanut butter.
My Dogs Put Lick Mats to the Test
Hyper Pet Lick Mats
These Hyper Pet lick mats for dogs are some of the most popular on the market. You can buy them separately or as a set; I have both and recommend each of them.
I’ve found each provides a challenge for my senior dogs. The main difference is the texture on the mat and how the pattern itself holds the snack. The “Calm” style is a tighter pattern, while the “Reward” is a deeper pattern. With four sections, both hold peanut butter, our preferred treat, or any other dog-approved snack really well.
Both also kept my dogs’ interest piqued: when our paralyzed Dachshund has licked all she can, our Boston Terrier swoops in as the cleanup crew. With food on the line, I found these lick mats kept my dogs’ attention anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes.
If you’re trying to decide between the “Calm” and “Reward” styles, in general, I found that my dogs worked a little harder to get the peanut butter out of the Reward’s tricky corners—but different treats will pose different challenges.
At 8 inches square, they’re made of food-grade rubber, clean up quickly in the sink (or dishwasher!), and can be easily stored when not in use. You can also put them in the microwave if warm treats are enticing to your pet.
Do they stay in place or slide around? They’re made of grippy silicone, so I found they stayed put equally well on carpet and laminate. And, at least for my small, three-dog crew, they’re not messy, as long as you use something like peanut butter or canned food and feed reasonable, breed- and age-appropriate portions.
Note of caution: You’ll want to do your research if your dog is an aggressive chewer; while my dogs are determined, they are small and don’t have the ability to completely annihilate their toys in one session. This is something to keep in mind if your dog regularly destroys toys labeled as “indestructible” or has ever ingested toys or parts of toys not meant to be swallowed.
Shop on Amazon Shop on the Rover Store
Other Lick Mats for Dogs
If the Hyper Pet mats don’t look like your pet’s style, there are other options—a lot of them. Different designs serve different purposes, from keeping your dog preoccupied during a grooming session to portion controlling his meals. They also have varying difficulty levels, making it easy to choose with your pup’s temperament in mind.
Suction Cup Lick Pad (Verified Review)
This Aquapaw lick mat for dogs offers enhanced versatility, allowing you to use it on shower walls or anywhere else that allows for a suction-cup grip (which is great for grooming or bath time, as another Rover test pup discovered).
It’s slightly smaller than the Hyper Pet mats, but it provides a similar challenge, and we like that this one can be used specifically for grooming to help combat a pup’s bath-time anxiety.
Shop on Amazon Shop on Petco Shop on Chewy
Wobble Slow Feeder from LickiMat
This bowl-style option provides the challenge of a lick mat and the joy of a puzzle toy in one. Since it doesn’t sit flat, dogs have to work a little harder to get all of the goodies off the inside.
Shop on Amazon Shop on the Rover Store
Final Thoughts
I’m really glad I discovered these lick mats! You can’t beat the price (together, both of mine were around $15), and the fact that my 17-year-old Dachshund loves the lick mat as much as my one-year-old Boston Terrier has me completely sold—and getting a lot more work done, too.
Further Reading
- The 18 Best Puzzle Toys That Actually Help Bored Dogs
- The Best Dog Toys and Chews According to an Overenthusiastic Doberman Puppy
- The Best Cat Toys According to a Few Hyperactive Kittens
- How to Buy a Quality Dog Toy (and Avoid a Dangerous Fake)
