Lick mats are a fantastic way to provide your dog with mental enrichment, and I’ve been using them for years! If you’re new to the concept, a lick mat is typically a flat silicone mat with textured surfaces, usually with suction cups on the bottom so it sticks securely to surfaces. You can spread various foods or liquids on it, and your dog will lick away happily, getting mental stimulation and slowing down their eating.
Fun Ways to Use a Lick Mat:
One of my favorite ways to use a lick mat is to freeze broth on it, making it like a popsicle for my dog, especially on hot days. This helps cool her down while giving her a fun challenge. You can also spread pate-style dog food, peanut butter (make sure it's xylitol-free), or any dog-safe spreadable treats on the mat. Freezing the broth or pate makes it last longer, turning a quick snack into a more engaging activity.
I also like to add supplements, powders, or oils on top of the frozen treat just before serving, so my dog gets her daily supplements in a fun way.
The Benefits of Using a Lick Mat:
1. Mental Stimulation: Licking is a natural behavior for dogs, and it releases calming endorphins. Lick mats encourage this behavior in a healthy way, helping your dog feel relaxed.
2. Slower Eating: For dogs who tend to gobble their food, lick mats slow them down. This can help prevent bloating and aid digestion by ensuring they take their time to enjoy their meal.
3. Great for Hot Days: Freezing the mat turns it into a cooling treat, perfect for summer. It keeps your dog entertained and cool at the same time!
4. Adds Variety: You can get creative with what you put on the mat—bone broth, peanut butter, yogurt, or even dog-safe pumpkin puree. Switching up the ingredients keeps things exciting for your dog.
5. Reduces Anxiety and Stress: Licking is a self-soothing behavior for dogs. Using a lick mat can help calm anxious or stressed dogs by giving them a calming activity to focus on.
6. Improves Dental Health: The repetitive licking action can help remove bacteria and food particles from your dog’s tongue, which may contribute to better oral hygiene.
7. Weight Management: Lick mats allow you to offer low-calorie treats like frozen broth without overfeeding. This can help dogs who need to shed a few pounds feel like there's no getting snacks without getting slighted, all the while, its still a healthy snack & low calorie.
Caution: Lick Mats Shouldn’t Be Used for Stressful Situations
I’ve noticed some pet owners use lick mats to distract their dogs during uncomfortable situations like baths or nail trims. While this might seem like a good idea, I strongly advise against it. Using food to lure your dog into stressful situations can create negative associations with eating, leading to food aversion. This practice isn't cooperative care—instead, it can cause your dog to feel tricked, making them anxious about food in general. It's essential to ensure that your dog always feels safe when offered food. Cooperative care involves building trust and allowing your dog to willingly participate in grooming activities.
Studies suggest that when food is repeatedly paired with stressful events, dogs may begin associating the discomfort with mealtime itself. This can make them anxious around food and lead to a reluctance to eat or even complete refusal, which is especially common in clinical or grooming contexts ( British Veterinary Nursing Association) ( AnxiousCanine.com). Additionally, this approach can undermine cooperative care, where trust and voluntary participation are prioritized over distractions and lures.
Ensuring dogs feel safe and stress-free during mealtime or while using food-related tools like lick mats is crucial to maintaining a healthy, positive relationship with eating. Instead, it's better to work on building trust through positive reinforcement and gentle, cooperative care techniques.
Remember, our dogs are living beings, and they deserve to be given food, water, and care unconditionally—not in exchange for compliance. Avoid using food as a bribe or distraction for things they don’t enjoy.
Shop My Favorite Lick Mats & Slow Feeders:
If you're interested in trying out a lick mat for your pup, check out my recommendations linked below. I’ve handpicked the best lick mats and slow feeders that we’ve tried and love!
