Best lick mats UK: what to look for before you buy

Lick mats look simple, but they vary more than you'd expect. Some have suction cups, some have deep grooves, some are made for the freezer, and some won't last a minute with a dog who chews. This guide explains what to look for, so you can judge any lick mat you find in a UK shop or online.

We don't score products or print prices. Prices change often, so check the live price on the retailer before you buy.

Quick checklist

• Material: food-safe silicone, rubber or TPR. Check the maker's description.
• Base: suction cups, a weighted base, or a flat mat with no grip.
• Pattern: shallow, medium or deep grooves and bristles.
• Size: big enough that your dog can't pick it up and carry it off.
• Cleaning: dishwasher-safe or hand-wash only.
• Freezer: whether it's freezer-safe, if you want to freeze fillings.
• Your dog: licker, chewer or "carry it to the sofa" type.

Material

Most lick mats are silicone, natural rubber or a rubber-like plastic. Check that the maker describes the product as made for pets and food-safe. Softer mats are often easier to clean but easier to chew. If your dog chews things up, choose a tougher material and keep sessions supervised.

Suction cups or not

Suction cups let you stick a mat to a tiled wall, a bath or a shower screen. That's useful for bath time and grooming, and it stops the mat sliding across the kitchen floor. A suction mat like the LickiMat Buddy is one example. The downside is that some dogs pull the mat off and chew the cups, so watch the first few sessions.

Flat mats without suction, like the LickiMat Soother, are easy to use on a floor or in a crate and easy to clean. Put them on a non-slip surface.

Groove depth and pattern

• Shallow patterns are easier and quicker. They suit puppies, older dogs, flat-faced breeds and dogs new to lick mats.
• Deeper grooves and bristles hold more filling, which makes the session last longer. They suit dogs that finish a shallow mat very quickly.

Textured mats like the SodaPup eMat mix different patterns on one mat.

Size

A mat that's too small gets picked up, carried off and chewed. As a rough guide, choose a mat your dog can't easily fit in their mouth. Larger mats also take longer to clean, so think about your sink and dishwasher.

Cleaning and freezing

Lick mats need cleaning after every use, because dried food builds up in the grooves. If you have a dishwasher, check whether the mat goes in it, and on which shelf. A brush helps with deep grooves. If you plan to freeze fillings, check the mat is freezer-safe. Our lick mat guide covers fillings, freezing and cleaning, and the frozen lick idea works with almost any mat.

Which dogs a lick mat suits

• Good fit: dogs that settle by licking, dogs that need something quiet during grooming or bath time, and dogs that need a calm activity on busy evenings like Bonfire Night.
• Think twice: dogs that chew and swallow non-food items. A lick mat isn't a chew toy. Use it supervised, and remove it once it's licked clean.
• Not sure whether licking or sniffing suits your dog? Read lick mat vs snuffle mat.

Red flags in listings

• Medical or behaviour claims, for example a mat "fixing" fear or curing a health condition.
• Ratings or "number one" claims you can't trace to a source.
• No information about the material or about cleaning.
• Photos showing large amounts of human food like peanut butter with no mention of xylitol. Always check spreads are xylitol-free.

Where to look

You can search Amazon UK for lick mats for dogs (affiliate link, opens Amazon UK), suction lick mats (affiliate link, opens Amazon UK) or dishwasher-safe lick mats (affiliate link, opens Amazon UK) and compare listings against the checklist above. Browse our lick mats category for the designs we list.

FAQ

What is the best lick mat for a dog? The best lick mat is the one that suits your dog: the right size so it can't be carried off, a pattern that matches their experience, and a material that stands up to how they use it. Use the checklist above rather than any single "best" list.

Can lick mats go in the dishwasher? Many can, but not all. Check the maker's instructions. Some recommend the top shelf only.

What can I put on a lick mat? Your dog's usual wet food, plain yoghurt or mashed banana, or soaked kibble. Spread it thinly and freeze it for a longer session. Avoid anything with xylitol, grapes, raisins, onion or garlic.

Wrapping up

Choose a lick mat by size, base, pattern, cleaning and your dog's habits. Supervise the first sessions, clean it after every use, and replace it once it's damaged. This guide isn't veterinary advice.