How to use a lick mat: fillings, freezing and cleaning

A lick mat is a flat mat covered in a textured pattern — grooves, bumps, ridges or little pockets. You spread a thin layer of soft food over it, and your dog licks it out of the texture. It sounds almost too simple, but many dogs settle into a slow, steady licking rhythm that keeps them happily occupied in one spot.

Lick mats are useful for moments when you want your dog busy and still: while you work from home, during a nail trim or a bath, after a walk, or in the evening when the house is winding down.

What to spread on a lick mat

Start with food your dog already eats and tolerates well. The safest choice is part of their normal meal.

• Their usual wet food. Spread it thinly into the pattern.
• Soaked kibble. Soak their normal dry food in warm water until soft, mash it, then spread it.
• Plain natural yoghurt, in small amounts, for dogs who are fine with dairy.
• Mashed plain cooked vegetables your dog already eats, such as pumpkin, carrot or sweet potato, with nothing added.
• Dog-safe peanut butter, sparingly. Check the label carefully and only use one with no xylitol (sometimes listed as birch sugar). Peanut butter is rich, so treat it as a garnish, not the main event.

Never use grapes, raisins, chocolate, onion, garlic, macadamia nuts, or anything sweetened with xylitol. Avoid salty or fatty human leftovers. Count what goes on the mat as part of the day’s food, especially if your dog needs to watch their weight.

Thin layers work better

A thick layer gets eaten in moments. A thin layer pressed into the texture takes longer and is easier to clean off. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to work the food down into the grooves, then scrape off the excess.

Freezing for a longer session

Freezing turns a short snack into a longer job.

1. Spread the food thinly into the mat.
2. Lay the mat flat in the freezer for a few hours, or overnight.
3. Let it sit out for a minute or two before giving it, so it is not stuck hard to the surface.

Check the maker’s instructions first: most silicone mats are freezer-safe, but not all. A frozen mat can be a nice option on a warm day. Give frozen food to a dog you are supervising, and stop if your dog is trying to bite chunks off rather than lick.

Introducing it

Put a small amount of something your dog loves on the mat and hold it flat for the first session, or stick it to a wall or tile if it has suction cups like the LickiMat Buddy. Many dogs get it straight away. Others need a couple of tries. If your dog picks the mat up and walks off with it, try a heavier or suction-cup mat, or stay closer and help keep it in place.

Choosing the right mat

• Soft silicone mats, such as the LickiMat Soother, are flexible, easy to wash and fine for most dogs who lick rather than chew.
• Tougher designs, such as the nylon SodaPup eMat, suit dogs who would otherwise chew a soft mat.
• Suction-cup mats stick to tiles, the bath or a cupboard door, which is handy at bath time.
• Bowl-style lick plates have a raised edge, which helps with runny food.

You can search Amazon UK for dog lick mats (affiliate link, opens Amazon UK) to see current designs. Check the size, the material and whether it is dishwasher- and freezer-safe in the listing, and check the live price before buying.

Cleaning

Food left in the grooves goes off quickly. Rinse the mat soon after use, then wash it with hot soapy water and a small brush, or in the dishwasher if the maker says it is dishwasher-safe. Let it dry fully. Replace a mat that is cracked, torn or has bite marks deep enough to trap food.

Safety

• Supervise, at least until you know how your dog uses the mat.
• Take it away if your dog starts chewing pieces off.
• Do not leave a soft mat in a crate or with a dog home alone.
• Keep sessions to a reasonable length; very long licking sessions on a rough texture can leave some tongues sore.

Free alternative

No mat yet? A thin smear of food on a clean plate, frozen, works in a similar way. See the frozen lick idea and our other DIY enrichment ideas.

A lick mat is a food game, not a treatment. If you are worried about your dog’s health, diet or behaviour, speak to your vet.