Lick mats and snuffle mats are both popular ways to add food-based enrichment to a dog's routine, but they encourage different kinds of activity. One is not automatically better than the other. The useful question is which one suits your dog, the food you want to use and the situation you are trying to make more interesting.
What is a lick mat?
A lick mat is a textured surface designed to hold a small amount of suitable soft food across grooves or patterns. The dog works across the surface by licking. They are straightforward to prepare, easy to place in a feeding area and can be reused after cleaning according to the product instructions.
See our dog enrichment collection for the current ShedShift lick mats, treat balls, puzzles and snuffle mats.
What is a snuffle mat?
A snuffle mat hides dry food or treats among fabric sections so the dog has to search with its nose and move around the mat to find them. It turns part of a meal or a small number of treats into a simple foraging activity.
Choose a lick mat when...
A lick mat can be a good fit when you already use a suitable spreadable food, want an activity that stays in one place, or want to vary how part of a dog's normal food is presented. It is also easy to change the pattern by spreading food into different sections rather than filling the entire mat.
Choose a snuffle mat when...
A snuffle mat can be useful when your dog enjoys searching for dry food or treats and you want to encourage sniffing and foraging around a larger surface. Start simply by leaving food easy to find, then make the search a little more involved once your dog understands the game.
To compare the products themselves, view the silicone dog lick mat and dog snuffle mat. Our guides to using a lick mat and setting up a snuffle mat explain how to introduce each activity.
Can you use both?
Yes. Rotating activities can keep the routine varied. You might use a snuffle mat with part of breakfast on one day, a lick mat on another, and an interactive treat ball or puzzle toy at another time. The goal is variety rather than making every meal complicated.
What if your dog gets bored?
Make the activity easier before making it harder. A dog that walks away may simply not understand the task, may not be interested in the food being used, or may prefer a different type of activity. Keep sessions short at first and change one thing at a time.
Safety and supervision
Food-enrichment products are not chew-proof by default. Supervise use, choose an appropriate size, inspect the item regularly and remove it if it becomes damaged. Follow the product's cleaning instructions and consider your dog's dietary needs when deciding what food to use.
If you want to compare options, browse ShedShift Enrichment & Play.