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Lick mats are a simple, cheap yet innovative idea to keep your dog entertained for hours. These so called 'boredom busters' consist of a patterned mat designed to spread with your dog’s favourite treat or meal.
Admittedly we were extremely sceptical that these little mats could hold our dog's attention for any length of time. We were so wrong !
We put a whole variety of lick mat styles through their paces. If you're in a rush, the photos in the gallery below are selectable or read on for our lowdown on each design.
We'll tell you best we can, which styles suit which food types, which kept our dogs interest the longest, if they're designed to calm anxious dogs and importantly how easy they were to clean. You can then decide which suits your dog most.
Lastly we'll look at what food to put on lick mats and offer some tried and tested toppings which are bound to get the paw prints of approval.
Here's your go-to guide for the best lick mats on the UK market. Hand picked by us and sure to get those tails wagging
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Buying Guide for Dog Lick Mats
Lick Mats are available in a collection of styles, surface textures and shapes to suit different dogs, their needs and their diet. Bear in mind the following points :-
Size
The standard mats measure approximately 20cm x 20cm (size of a plate). If you have a very large or greedy dog consider a deeper tray or look at the XL mats offered by some brands.
Design
The raised designs differ from mat to mat. Some work better with runny topping such as peanut butter or yoghurt. Other designs have deeper holes and ridges to hold chunkier food such as fruit pieces, kibble and raw dog food.
We'll indicate which designs suit which types of food.
Cleaning
We found that the deeper groove designs were trickier to clean. We definitely recommend cleaning immediately after use before any remnants of food dry on.
Ideally they should be dishwasher proof to take the hassle out of cleaning. We'll indicate whether each design is dishwasher proof or needs to be cleaned by hand.
Our Picks of the Best Dog Lick Mats
1. LickiMat Playdate
From the original Australian lick mat company, LickiMat Playdate design has deep, even troughs to help grip and trap chunky treats such as raw dog food, fruit pieces or kibble.
Ideal for slowing down dogs on a raw or fresh diet, they have to work hard to release every last morsel. Once filled this mat can hold your dogs attention for a really long time so it's great for distraction purposes.
We found that this mat design holds runny foods such as yoghurt and peanut butter a little bit too well so it can be tricky to spread a small amount right across the whole surface of the mat.
Constructed from a softer rubber it was less stable than the SodaPup range and we found it tricker to slide into the freezer without spilling some of the toppings.
The original playdate design needs to be hand washed, although Lickimat now offer a Tuff version of most of their designs which is chew resistant and dishwasher safe.
We think that the Lickimat Playdate is a classic, great value and well designed starter lick mat.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 20cm x 20cm | Design: square troughs | Cleaning: Hand wash | Food Type : raw and chunkier foodS
REASONS TO BUY
+ Traps food well
+ Perfect for chunky pieces
+ Great value
REASONS TO AVOID
- If you want a lick mat for soothing only
- Hand wash only
BUYING OPTIONS
2. LickiMat Soother
The LickiMat Soother has been uniquely designed with a slightly raised bumpy design, a bit like tiny bristles all over the surface.
It's main aim is to simply encourage a repetitive licking motion to soothe your dog immediately in stressful situations. So if you're looking for a calming tool to help with separation anxiety, fireworks or thunder we thoroughly recommend the LickiMat Soother.
As a bonus, the licking action itself generates saliva that helps protect your dog's teeth and gums, and aids digestion.
Perfect for soft foods and even liquids, our testers topped it with yoghurt, banana and peanut butter. Due to the very shallow design it traps the food less than the other deeper grooved designs, so not ideal if you're looking to pair your lick mat with dry food unless you crush it as we have.
This little gem of a lick mat comes in an extra large version for big breeds and as the picture shows, a Tuff Soother which is chew resistant and heavy duty.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: Classic 20cm x20cm, XL 30 x 25cm | Design: shallow | Cleaning: Hand wash only | Food Type : Soft & Runny
REASONS TO BUY
+ Ideal for anxious dogs
+ Works well with soft treats
+ Great value
REASONS TO AVOID
- Easy to complete
- Not ideal for chunky foods
BUYING OPTIONS
If you have an anxious dog you may be interested in our test of the Silentnight Donut Calming Bed
3. Paws in Earnest 2-in-1 Lick Mat & Bowl
Discover the 2-in-1 Lick Mat & Bowl from UK-based Paws in Earnest.
This innovative product combines a shallow bowl with a textured lick mat, offering endless feeding possibilities for your dog.
Fill the bowl with wet or raw food, or freeze it for a refreshing treat. The lick mat is perfect for spreading soft treats like peanut butter or cream cheese.
We love that the bowl can handle runny foods and even hydrating drinks like Furr Boost, while the outer mat’s design is ideal for chunky spreads.
To elevate your lick mat game, check out Paws in Earnest’s range of cleaning brushes, spreading spatulas, and even treat cutters. Transform mealtime into a creative and enjoyable experience!
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 20 x 20 cm | Design: deep | Cleaning: Dishwasher safe | Food Type : All
REASONS TO BUY
+ Ideal for anxious dogs
+ Works well with runny treats
+ Dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe
REASONS TO AVOID
- Pricier than basic Lickimats
BUYING OPTIONS
For 10% OFF Paws in Earnest
use discount code SMARTBARK at checkout
4. LickiMat Splash
The last Lick mat to feature from the LickiMat range is the Splash. Designed to be used as a distraction whilst shampooing, the Splash has a suction cup on the reverse to stick to baths, showers, tiles and most smooth surfaces.
You could of course spread your dogs favourite treat directly on your bath or tiles, but who needs the extra cleaning ! Available in four colours.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 10 x 9 cm | Design: deep | Cleaning: Hand wash only | Food Type : Soft
REASONS TO BUY
+ Ideal for anxious dogs
+ Works well with soft treats
REASONS TO AVOID
- Pricier than basic mats
- Not ideal for dry foods
BUYING OPTIONS
4. SodaPup Whale Lick Mat
Like all the beautifully designed products in the SodaPup range, the Whale Lick Mat or eMat (which stands for enrichment mat) has been created to combine functionality with a fun and interesting design.
We think that the best thing about this e-mat is the pattern. Designed with a combination of larger compartments which are perfect for trapping chunkier foods, alongside some smaller nodules which encourage a repetitive licking motion to soothe your dog in stressful situations.
The smaller, deeper 'wave' compartments make this mat harder for your dog to lick clean than some of the other designs featured in our review. Ultimately this means that the Whale eMat will keep your dog busier for longer.
This mat is dishwasher safe (top rack) although we'd recommend a quick brush immediately after use so the food doesn't get stuck in hard to reach places.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 20cm diameter | Design: deep & shallow troughs | Cleaning: Dishwasher safe | Food Type : All
REASONS TO BUY
+ Combination of compartment sizes
+ Suitable for a range of foods
+ Dishwasher & freezer safe
+ Suction cups for vertical use
REASONS TO AVOID
- If you want a lick mat for soothing only
- Pricier than the LickiMats featured
BUYING OPTIONS
6. SodaPup Jigsaw Lick Mat
Not convinced by the whale design ? Well SodaPup have a huge range of uniquely designed e-mats to choose from like this Jigsaw pattern.
Ideally suited to peanut butter and other soft foods such as smashed banana, wet dog food, cream cheese or yoghurt, the intricate design will keep your dog busy for a really long time.
Be aware that we wouldn't recommend this lick mat for chunky or dried foods as the compartments are simply too small.
SodaPup also offer different patterns such as honeycomb, flowers even love hearts.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 20 x 20cm | Design: deep, small compartments | Cleaning: Dishwasher safe | Food Type : Soft
REASONS TO BUY
+ Lots of small compartments
+ Range of fun designs
+ Dishwasher & freezer safe
REASONS TO AVOID
- If you want a lick mat for soothing only
- Pricier than the LickiMats featured
BUYING OPTIONS
7. SodaPup Mandala Enrichment Tray
With it's much deeper compartments, the Mandala eTray combines the benefits of lick mats with the benefits of slow feeder bowls.
The design offers compartments in a range of depths and sizes to encourage your dog to forage for their food.
In testing, we found that the SodaPup e-trays were deep enough to feed kibble as well as a whole range of supplements, fruit, wet foods as you can separate them in different compartments for less mess.
It's worth noting that this design doesn't include the softer raised bumpy design which offers extra tongue stimulation like the LickiMat soother, however it does offer tiny pockets to encourage repetitive licking.
If you have a greedy guzzler, the Mandala eTray makes an excellent slow feeding bowl, so you could opt to feed your dog complete meals from this eTray.
We adore this popular combination of lick mat and slow feeder. Whilst SodaPup have a host of eTray designs, we found the Mandala easy to fill and easy to clean.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 20cm diameter | Design: varying trough depths | Cleaning: Dishwasher Safe | Food Type : All
REASONS TO BUY
+ Slow Feeder/ Lick Mat combination
+ Large individual chambers
+ Dishwasher proof
+ Freezer safe
REASONS TO AVOID
- More expensive option
- Doesn't have soothing bumps
BUYING OPTIONS
8. Buddy & Lola Dual Licky Mat
We love the flexibility that this dog lick mat from Buddy & lola offers (better known for their natural range of health supplements). The dual design combines both food trapping compartments and soothing nodules. This means that it works well for anxious dogs and those that need distracting whilst working equally well for greedy guzzlers that need to slow down.
We think this combination is great for smaller dogs but as it's a 2-in-1 solution, it may not provide enough surface area for larger breeds.
Oh and there's the suction caps on the reverse, so you could stick it to your bath or shower door to help keep your pup distracted during bathing.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 21 x 21cm | Design: shallow | Cleaning: Hand wash only | Food Type : Soft & Runny
REASONS TO BUY
+ Ideal for small to medium dogs
+ Works well with soft treats
+ Great value
REASONS TO AVOID
- Easy to complete
- Not ideal for large breeds
BUYING OPTIONS
4. Pets Purest Lick Mat Bundle
Pets Purest offer a great value lick mat and peanut butter bundle.
The cute lick mat measures 19cm x 19cm, with deep ridges so can trap a variety of food from smooth peanut butter to more chunky fruit, veg and raw dog food.
What's more it's made from 100% recycled materials so we think that ticks the eco-friendly boxes.
You can opt to just buy their lick mat, but it's the peanut butter bundle that caught our eye. Pets Purest peanut butter has been formulated for dogs with 100% peanuts, no sugar, salt or xylitol (which is toxic to dogs).
Ultimately buying the lick mat & peanut butter bundle offers a significant saving on buying the products individually.
SPECIFICATIONS : Size: 19cm x 19cm | Design: Raised pattern | Cleaning: Dishwasher safe | Food Type : All
REASONS TO BUY
+ Quick to use
+ Works well with a range of food
+ Bundle savings
REASONS TO AVOID
- If your dog doesn't like peanut butter
- May not be big enough for large breeds
BUYING OPTIONS
For 10% OFF their entire range, enter discount code WELCOME10 at checkout
FAQ'S
What can I put on my dogs licky mat ?
Ideally you should apply a wet food first such as peanut butter (dog friendly), yoghurt or cream cheese. Spread this over the mat so it can work its way into all the nooks and crannies. It can then act as a 'glue' for any drier foods you want to add such as kibble, pieces of fruit or vegetables.
Here are some of our tried and tested winning combinations :-
Yoghurt, Kibble and Fruit
Yoghurt is a great base to help hold larger pieces of fruit and biscuit in place.
Dry kibble or a handful of dry training treats make an ideal topping.
They can be added whole or broken into crumbs and sprinkled over the yoghurt.
If you have a fussy dog, the scents from a little yoghurt or peanut butter with the texture of the smashed kibble can make a meal much more appealing.
Peanut Butter & Banana
The LickiMat Playdate with its square pockets is ideal for trapping chunkier foods such as raw dog food, a few blueberries, chunky pieces of banana or even pieces of chicken.
If you have a greedy guzzler, we've found that mashed banana spread first, sticks to smaller fruit and vegetable pieces.
This gives your pup more time to savour the taste rather than simply inhaling them straight from a bowl.
It's also a really easy way to add dried supplements to your dog's diet.
Wet & Dry Food
What's on our mat ? 💭
🐳 Greek Yoghurt
Dog friendly & natural
Turkey with sweet potato & vegetables
🐳 Forthglade Cold Pressed Dry (crumbled)
Hydration drink for dogs
🐳 Blueberries
A superfood rich in antioxidants
Raw Egg, Leafy Greens & Kibble
What's on our tray ? 💭
🥚 Egg
🍗 Forthglade Cold Pressed Dry
🍓 Strawberry
🍃 Spinach
🐳 Furr Boost - Hydration Drink for Dogs
Natural plaque & tartar remover
🦴 Buddy & Lola - Super Tummy Daily Chew
🍗 Forthglade Complete Grain Free -
Turkey with sweet potato & vegetables
🦴 Fetch Club Shop - Lamb strips
What are the Benefits of a Dog Lick Mat ?
The first thing to say is that a lick mat for dogs is one of the cheapest dog enrichment options on the market and you get so many benefits for very little investment it's definitely worth adding one to your dog box.
On a basic level, it's simply a fun (and very tasty) game for your dog as they work around the mat to seek out every last titbit with their tongue. But there are a host of hidden advantages for you and your dog :-
✅ Enhances your dog’s mental state as the mat design challenges and exercise your dog's brain.
✅ Promotes calm behaviour and reduces anxiety especially in stressful times such as being left on their own or during fireworks.
✅ Repetitive licking has been proven to soothe your dog as the motion gradually releases a calming hormone into their body.
✅ An incredibly useful distraction for puppies while you need to do jobs around the home. Really need to clean the bathroom or sort the laundry ? What you need my friend is a lick mat.
✅ Have you got a fussy eater? Interestingly, some fussy dogs don't like eating their food from a bowl. Sensitive dogs prefer shallow bowls or plates, which enable them to keep an eye on their environment whilst eating.
✅ Stimulating saliva production which can help clean their tongue, teeth and gums keeping plaque at bay.
So as you can see, major reasons why a licky mat deserves a place in your dog's life.
If you haven't found quite what you were looking for here, why not take a look at our new article on the Best Enrichment Toys for dogs. |
Here at Smart Bark, we take product reviews seriously! We partner with various pet brands to receive products, but we only review items that meet our high standards and that we believe will be valuable to our readers.
Our canine reviewer, Freddie, lent a paw (or rather, a tongue) in researching, testing, and modeling for this article!
Thanks for stopping by! We're hope you found our guide to - The Best Lick Mats to Keep Your Pup Busy: Boredom Busters helpful.
