Should You Get a Dog Lick Mats?

Reviewed By Joana Garrido DVM

Curious about the fuss around dog lick mats? In this article, we delve into how these simple yet effective boredom busters can make your pup’s day. We’ll also share some practical, no-nonsense recipe ideas you can customize effortlessly.

Get ready to enhance your pet’s well-being in a straightforward and enjoyable way!

Health Benefits of Lick Mats to Dogs

Dog lick mats are valuable tools that pet owners can use to help make their pooches more amenable to minor and major adjustments in life.

Here are some of the wonderful health benefits dog lick mats offer:

1. Dog Lick Mat Helps Minimize Stress and Anxiety.

Many dogs get agitated and restless when facing stressful situations, such as moving to a new home. Their pent-up energy may push them to act out destructive behaviors, such as nuisance barking, incessant digging, and sudden biting.

The act of licking is said to stimulate the brain of anxious dogs to release dopamine, which is the hormone responsible for fostering feelings of satisfaction and pleasure.

While there is no hard evidence for this theory, licking on textured surfaces helps redirect the focus of pooches to a calming and relaxing activity. Hence, dog lick mats greatly help in reducing stress and anxiety.

2. Dog Lick Mat Promotes a Positive Experience.

If your furry pal is strongly food-motivated, a dog lick mat can be used as a training tool to instill positive reinforcement.

Stress-inducing activities like bathing and grooming can also be transformed into an enjoyable experience by distracting him with a lick mat for dogs.

3. Dog Lick Mat Helps Reduce Boredom.

Apart from physical exercise, our four-legged friends also require mentally stimulating games. Neglecting their brain’s need to engage in activities contributes to developing unwanted behaviors.

Giving a lick mat to a food-motivated dog is a simple yet effective way to ease his boredom. It will keep him busy and entertained for longer periods. This also makes it a useful tool for addressing separation anxiety in dogs.

4. Dog Lick Mat Slows Down Fast Eaters.

Canines that quickly scarf down their food are at risk of many stomach problems, such as indigestion, obesity, and bloat.

Dog lick mat is handy to use on fast-eating dogs on a wet food diet. Spreading meals decreases their pace when eating and prevents them from gorging on their food.

4 Easy Homemade Dog Lick Mat Recipes

Making dog lick mat filling at home is easy. It only calls for a bit of creativity to mix and match different ingredients. Here are some food combos you can give a try for your furry pal:

1. Sweet Potato and Cheese Dog Lick Mat FillingIngredients

• 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
• ¼ cup low-sodium cream cheese
• 1 cup distilled water
• 5 tablespoons all-natural unsweetened peanut butter

Instructions

1. Use a steamer to steam the diced sweet potatoes for about 10 to 20 minutes or until soft. If you do not have a steamer, a metal colander is a good alternative. Place the sweet potatoes on it and put it over boiling water.
2. Wait for the steamed sweet potatoes to cool before transferring them to a food processor.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients except water.
4. Blend until all of them are thoroughly combined.
5. Add a tablespoon of water at a time until the consistency of the mixture is smooth.
6. Spread the filling on the lick mat for dogs using a spatula or spoon.
7. Place it in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours before serving it to your furry pal.

Note

• Any leftovers of this dog lick mat filling can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days.

2. Mashed Avocado and Egg Dog Lick Mat Filling

Ingredients

• half pitted and peeled avocado
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons minced celery stalks
• 1 teaspoon minced parsley

Instructions

1. Place the egg in a saucepan and cover them with cold water by about an inch.
2. Cover the saucepan and bring the water to a boil.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat, but do not remove its lid.
4. Let the egg stand in the hot water for 10 to 12 minutes.
5. Transfer the egg1 to a bowl full of cold water. Let it sit there until fully cooled.
6. Peel the boiled egg.
7. In a medium bowl, mash the avocado and hard-boiled egg using a whisk or a spoon.
8. Add the Greek yogurt. Mix until all ingredients are properly incorporated.
9. Add and stir the remaining ingredients in the bowl.
10. Smear a small amount of the filling on the licking mat for your dog.

Notes

• While avocado is deemed to be poisonous to dogs, the entire fruit is actually not toxic to them.

The pulp of fully ripe avocados has low concentrations of the toxin called persin. Thus, it is safe to consume in small amounts.

• Since this type of dog lick mat filling has a thick consistency, it is fine not to freeze it.
• Refrigeration will prevent the dog lick mat filling from spoiling for up to a week.

3. Fruity Dog Lick Mat Filling

Ingredients

• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup distilled water
• 2 sliced bananas
• 2 sliced kiwi
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon blackberries

Instructions

1. Soak chia seeds in water overnight.
2. Blend the pumpkin puree, sliced kiwis, sliced bananas, and blackberries in a blender.
3. Combine the blended fruits and soaked chia seeds in a large bowl. Stir well so that all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
4. Spread the fruity filling on the lick mat for dogs.
5. Place it in the freezer to freeze for 30 minutes to an hour.

Notes

• If you have extra slices of fruit, use them as toppings for the dog lick mat.
• Store leftovers in the fridge to make them last for 5 to 7 days.

Read: What Fruits Can Dogs Eat?

4. Tuna and Chickpeas Dog Lick Mat Filling

Ingredients

• 1 can tuna in water
• 1 cup chickpeas
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons unflavored nori seaweed flakes
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a small pot, cover the chickpeas with 1½ to 2 inches of water.
2. Bring the water to a boil before covering the pot with a lid.
3. Lower the heat to simmer. Allow the chickpeas to simmer for at least 1 hour or until soft.
4. Drain the water and let the cooked chickpeas cool down completely.
5. In a large bowl, add the chickpeas, tuna, and Greek yogurt. Use a spoon to combine them well.
6. Add the thyme, sea salt, and ground black pepper to the mixture, then stir.
7. Scoop the filling and spread it evenly on the lick mat for dogs.
8. Allow it to freeze for one and a half hours, then let Fido enjoy the frozen dog lick mat

Notes

• You can use tuna in oil or brine, but make sure to drain the liquid before using it in the recipe. Also, consider running the tuna under clean water as this helps reduce its salt and fat content.

• The tuna and chickpea dog lick mat filling can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days.

3 Useful Tips When Using Dog Lick Mats

Letting Fido use dog lick mats can be a bit of a messy ordeal. However, here are a few pointers that help keep you from constantly cleaning up after your dog:

1. Some pooches have a bad habit of picking up or flipping the dog lick mat. So we recommend buying a product with high-strength suction cups.
   If you own a suctionless lick mat for dogs, there is no need to swap it with a different variety. Instead, place it on a heavy-duty baking tray or pan to help keep it in place.
2. Keep your dog under supervision whenever he is using a dog lick mat. If he ever starts to bite or chew on it, have a toy ready to redirect his focus.
   Additionally, make sure to take away the lick mat for dogs after your pooch is done with it. Doing so will prevent him from roughly playing with it and accidentally destroying it.
3. When cleaning lick mats for dogs, soak them first in warm soapy water. We advise doing this as soon as your dog is done using the enrichment toy.

   This prevents residues from the food from hardening and sticking to the mat. Afterward, get rid of hard-to-remove food remnants using a scrubbing brush.

   Not all dog lick mats are dishwasher-safe, so be sure to double-check that the brand you own is confirmed to be dishwasher-safe.

FAQs About Dog Lick Mats

1. What Can I Put in My Dog’s Lick Mat?

You can put any pet-safe foods in your dog’s lick mat. Always go for healthy options like vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat.

The ingredients used in our recipes are all dog-friendly. However, feel free to switch them with alternative ingredients you have in mind in case your dog has food allergies or sensitivities.

Read:

• What Vegetables Are Good for Dogs?
• Can Dogs Eat Fish? Best 10 Fish Dogs Can Eat
• 13 Best Types of Meat for Dogs

2. How Long to Freeze Dog Lick Mat?

You can freeze a dog lick mat for half an hour or overnight depending on how hard the filling you prefer to be. The tougher the dog lick mat filling is, the longer it will take your pooch to finish licking it all off.

3. Do Lick Mats Tire Dogs Out?

Lick mats tire dogs out, even if using them does not involve physical exercise. This enrichment toy focuses on providing dogs with mental stimulation, which is another way of expending their excess energy.

4. Can I Give My Dog a Lick Mat Every Day?

There is no clear-cut rule on how often you should let your dog enjoy a lick mat. It can be used as an occasional reward during training sessions or an anxiety soother. It is also a good alternative to regular food bowls if your dog has a wet dog food diet.

Just keep in mind to make adjustments in your dog’s food consumption when using the dog lick mat as a treat.

Summary

A dog lick mat is a wonderful enrichment toy that eases the stress and anxiety in dogs while providing them with mental stimulation.

There is a big versatility when it comes to the ingredients you can use for making dog lick mat filling. Any food is fair game as long as they are dog-safe.

Our recipe serves as a guide on how to create a filling for dog lick mats but feel free to customize them to your liking. Do not be afraid to get creative!

Try your skills in making homemade treats for dogs by learning recipes in our Diet & Recipes section.