A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated Apr. 25, 2024
If your dog hates grooming, fears loud noises or gets easily bored, our pet expert explains how you can fix these problems with dog lick mats.
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A dog lick mat could be your dog’s new best friend (next to you and their favorite toys). Maybe your dog licks your face or your feet, and you love him but would rather he lick on something else? Dogs use licking for grooming, tasting yummy treats, seeking attention and as a self-soothing behavior. Just as people feel stressed or nervous and bite their nails, dogs use licking to deal with powerful emotions, especially when they can’t control a situation—like during a visit to the veterinarian.
“Dogs need safe activities to keep them busy and enrich their lives. Without an appropriate outlet for their energy, dogs can become bored and anxious, leading them to develop behavioral or medical concerns like obsessive licking and destructive behaviors,” says Dr. Tara Hansen, a veterinarian at Chewy. “For dogs experiencing boredom or potentially unpleasant experiences like a bath or vet visits, a lick mat can engage their brain in something enjoyable that naturally relieves stress.”
Licking releases brain chemicals including endorphins that make dogs feel good, so licking is incredibly rewarding. However self-targeted licking can become a bad habit that causes fur loss or skin sores. That’s where a dog lick mat works wonders.
Veterinary hospitals, groomers and other pet professionals often provide a lick mat for dogs to help relieve stress. A lick mat—made of flexible plastic or silicone—has little patterned raised nubs or bristles on one side of a flat or bowl-shaped surface. The textured surface holds soft treats inside to encourage sniffing and licking. The texture not only holds the treat, but it also slows the dog’s ability to lick it out and prolongs the dog’s enjoyment. That way, Fido is focused on licking instead of stress and fear.
Besides distracting dogs during stressful situations like a nail trim or vet examination, lick mats relieve doggy boredom at home. Depending on the design, lick mats calm dogs during thunderstorms and other stressful times. They work as slow feeders for dogs that otherwise gulp meals. Lick mats provide mental stimulation, entertainment like a puzzle toy, aid oral health and help with crate training. What’s not to love?
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The original product designed by veterinarians, the LickiMat Classic is my go-to dog lick mat for all dogs. It works for any age from puppies to adult dogs, making it highly versatile. Since it’s made with food-grade rubber, the quality materials last for the life of your dog.
Load up the LickiMat with your dog’s favorite treats and freeze it for longer-lasting licking enjoyment. Microwave the LickiMat to increase the treats’ aroma to entice your dog to lick-lick-lick. Choose between three textured surfaces and several colors to satisfy what your dog needs, from soothing anxiety or boredom, to using as a slow feeder.
With a cost under $10, you can find the perfect fit for your dog without spending a bunch. Customer satisfaction ranks high with this product, boasting over 15,000 reader ratings averaging 4.4 out of five stars.
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You get two Frisco Silicone Treat Lick Mats for under $6 each at Chewy. Sized approximately 8″x8″ (one square, the other a hexagon), they’re a great option for medium to large dogs.
The nonskid mats work well in a crate, on the floor or even in a car during rides to keep dogs soothed. Different textures offer options for use with wet or dry food or treats. They’re freezer-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe. Reviewers note the texture offers just enough of a challenge for big dogs, so they must work to lick out the treat.
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For the economically minded pet parent, the Kilin Dog Lick Pad is a great option at $6.99. The BPA-free, food-grade silicone mat is safe for your pet. It provides two textures in a single mat, to offer a soothing lickable surface plus a slow-feed option. The lick pad cleans easily with soap and water or in the dishwasher.
Suction cups on the back of the pad secure it on smooth clean surfaces so the dog won’t chase it across the floor, or allows it to suction to bathtubs or walls to give pups a lick-focus while you bathe them. Within 12 hours, customer service promises to address any issues. Choose from small or large sizes and several color options. The Kilin Dog Lick Pad is dishwasher-safe or hand wash and hang dry.
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Sloppy eaters benefit from this all-in-one slow-feeder that contains any messes. The Neat-Lik dog lick mat comes contained inside a tray to keep floors clean. The tray prevents chew-aholic dogs from targeting the lick mat or carrying it around the house.
You can shop the mat in a pack of one or two, and you can choose to include the tray for each option, too. The two-mat and tray combination is a great deal at under $20. Made of food-safe and nontoxic rubber, the lick mat is top-shelf dishwasher-safe—but wash on the lower heat setting to prevent the mat from bending.
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From the same company that created the LickiMat comes the Wobble, which offers the same LickiMat concept in a bowl format. The brilliant design makes this a functional bowl, but with all the benefits of a slow feeder and lick target.
Made from food-grade recycled rubber, the “wobble” of the bowl design adds another dimension that slows eating, prevents food gulping and bloat and keeps dogs focused on the self-soothing activity. This version is microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. Turn it inside-out for increased ease of cleaning.
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The unique three-wing design of the Aquapaw Slow Treater, which made a splash on Shark Tank, makes it a standout in the shower or for suction cup attachment to any vertical surface. Use this dog lick mat for dogs of any age or size, but the small size is perfect for puppies, who benefit from the chew-resistant FDA-grade silicone. You can use it in the freezer and it’s dishwasher-safe.
When searching for a dog lick mat, keep the material it’s made of in mind. It must be not only safe for dogs, but also durable. Most lick mats aren’t designed to withstand chewing like indestructible dog toys, but a durable product that stands up to an errant nibble or two is essential. A quality lick mat lasts for years.
“Dogs should not be left unattended with these items, since they can potentially be ripped into pieces and ingested, leading to illness,” says Hansen. “Lick mats are appropriate for most pets, but care must be taken to fill lick mats with suitable and safe food options that cater to individual diet needs.”
Look for designs that suit your needs. For example, some lick mats have suctions to “stick” to the side of a bathtub for use while bathing your dog. If you plan to use one for meals, choose a larger size. Since you’re dealing with food—and in my experience, it’s hard to clean out the old dried-up treat remains—look for dishwasher-safe products. The dishwasher makes cleanup easy and sterilizes the mat to prevent any dangerous spoilage.
Finally, make sure that you pick a design tailored to your dog. The size and complexity of the lick mat should match up with your dog’s size and age. “Avoid giving big dogs smaller or thinner lick mats, as they may be able to pick them up and swallow them whole or chew them into pieces more easily,” says Hansen. “The complexity of the lick mat should be suited to the individual pet and engross them in the licking activity without frustrating them.”
I am a certified animal behavior consultant and have written over 35 pet-care books. I started my career as a veterinary technician and know an extensive amount about pet care and behavior. I now write for the veterinary and pet products industry.
For this piece, we consulted Dr. Tara Hansen a veterinarian at Chewy. Dr. Hansen has practiced veterinary medicine for over 20 years and has a passion for client education, pain management and rehabilitative medicine. She received her degree from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
We kept an eye out for design and function, quality of materials, easy cleaning, durability, cost and customer reviews and satisfaction when choosing the best dog lick mats.
Yes. They’re especially helpful for shy or fearful dogs prone to anxiety but also benefit confident canines as a special long-lasting treat dispenser.
You can put nearly anything smearable on the dog’s lick mat that won’t upset his digestion. Common choices that get dog tails wagging include:
No, as a pet behavior expert, I don’t recommend it. Most lick mats won’t stand up to teeth, and once dogs lick out all the treats, they may chew. Besides destroying the lick mat, dogs easily swallow small plastic pieces that could cause indigestion—at best— or blockage requiring surgery at worst.
Absolutely!
Originally Published: November 04, 2022
