lick mat for dogs vs snuffle mat for keeping them busy

You've got a dog that won't settle, eats dinner in 30 seconds flat, or destroys shoes when you're on Zoom calls. You've seen the ads for lick mats and snuffle mats. Both promise to "keep them busy." But they work in completely different ways, and picking the wrong one wastes money and leaves your pup frustrated.

I've tested both with my own border collie mix (who has the attention span of a gnat) and a foster greyhound (who is basically a couch potato). Here's the honest breakdown of what each tool does, which one you need, and the exact products worth your cash.

Lick Mat vs Snuffle Mat: The Core Difference

A lick mat is a flat silicone or rubber pad with grooves and ridges. You smear peanut butter, yogurt, or wet food on it, then let your dog lick. The repetitive licking action releases calming endorphins. It's passive — your dog stays in one spot.

A snuffle mat is a fabric mat with fleece strips sewn into a base. You hide kibble or treats deep in the strips. Your dog uses their nose and paws to sniff and dig out the food. It's active — they move their head, use their brain, and burn physical energy.

So the short answer: Lick mats are for calming. Snuffle mats are for tiring out. If you have an anxious dog that paces and whines, get a lick mat. If you have a dog with endless physical energy, get a snuffle mat. If you have a lab, get both.

Buyer's Guide: What to Look For

Material and Safety

For lick mats, you want food-grade silicone. Not rubber — silicone won't hold odors and is easier to clean. The Lickimat brand uses medical-grade silicone, which is the gold standard. Avoid cheap PVC mats that smell like a shower curtain; your dog will be licking this for 20 minutes straight.

For snuffle mats, fleece is non-toxic and soft. But check the base. A non-slip backing (like TPR dots) keeps the mat from sliding across the floor while your dog digs. You don't want a mat that slides into the wall every time they use it.

Cleaning

Lick mats are easy — rinse under hot water or toss in the dishwasher. Snuffle mats are a pain. You have to shake out crumbs, then hand wash or machine wash on gentle. If your dog drools a lot, the fleece gets slimy. Look for mats with a mesh base that allows water to drain when washing.

Size and Durability

For lick mats, small (6-8 inches) works for dogs under 25 lbs. Large (10-12 inches) for bigger dogs. A flimsy mat will bend and warp after a few washes. The good ones stay flat.

For snuffle mats, bigger is better for large dogs. A 12x12 inch mat is fine for a chihuahua, but a 16x16 inch mat suits a golden retriever. Check the stitching — if the fleece strips are sewn tightly, they won't pull out. Loose stitching means you'll be picking fleece out of your dog's poop in a week.

The 5 Products We Actually Tested

1. Lickimat Wobble (Large)

The Wobble is a dome-shaped silicone bowl with ridges inside. It's designed to be licked, but the shape makes it wobble and move slightly, which adds a bit of challenge. You can also freeze wet food in it for a longer-lasting treat.

I smeared plain Greek yogurt and mashed banana on the inside and froze it for two hours. My border collie was occupied for 35 minutes. That's a record. The suction base holds firm on tile and wood floors, so it doesn't slide. The dome shape means you can fill it with more food than a flat mat, which is great for meal replacement.

The downside? It's bulky. It takes up real estate in the freezer and the dishwasher. And if your dog is a heavy chewer, the silicone edges will get chewed. My foster greyhound nibbled the rim and left teeth marks. It still works, but it looks rough.

• Pros: Freezable for longer engagement, suction base, holds a full meal
• Cons: Bulky to store, not for aggressive chewers

2. AWOOF Snuffle Mat (Large, 16x16 inch)

This is the most popular snuffle mat on Amazon, and for good reason. It has three layers of fleece strips sewn into a non-slip TPR base. The strips are dense, which means you can hide a full cup of kibble and it's genuinely hard to find.

I tested it with my border collie, who is a speed eater. It took her 12 minutes to find all her breakfast. That's a massive improvement over the 30 seconds she usually takes. The non-slip base kept it in place on hardwood, which surprised me — most mats slide.

Cleaning is the weak point. I machine washed it on gentle with cold water, and the fleece held up fine. But it took 6 hours to air dry because the strips hold water. If you have a drooly dog, this mat gets gross fast. You'll want two so you can rotate.

• Pros: Dense fleece hides kibble well, non-slip base, durable stitching
• Cons: Long drying time, needs regular washing

3. Lickimat Splash (Small)

The Splash is a flat, rectangular mat with a wavy pattern. It's the most basic option — no fancy shape, no suction cup. Just a flat silicone mat with ridges.

For a small dog or a puppy, this is perfect. My neighbor's 8-week-old lab puppy used it with a thin layer of pumpkin puree and was focused for 10 minutes. That's an eternity for a puppy. It's also the easiest to clean — just rinse and wipe.

But for a large dog, it's too small. My 50 lb border collie finished it in 4 minutes flat. And because it's flat, there's no challenge. It's purely a calming tool, not a mental workout. If you have a big dog that needs to slow down eating, get the Wobble instead.

• Pros: Cheap, easy to clean, perfect for puppies
• Cons: Too small for large dogs, no challenge factor

4. Bissell Snuffle Mat (Medium, 12x12 inch)

Bissell is a cleaning brand, but they make a solid snuffle mat. It's less dense than the AWOOF, with wider fleece strips that are easier for older dogs or flat-faced breeds (like pugs and bulldogs) to navigate. The lower density means treats are easier to find, which is great for beginners.

I tested this with a senior beagle who has lost some sense of smell. He found his treats in 6 minutes without getting frustrated. The mat is also machine washable and dried in 3 hours, which is faster than the AWOOF.

The tradeoff is that a determined dog will finish it too fast. My border collie solved it in 4 minutes because the strips are too loose. This is a beginner mat, not a long-term challenge.

• Pros: Easier for senior or flat-faced dogs, faster drying
• Cons: Too easy for smart or high-energy dogs

5. PetSafe Lickety Split (Medium)

The Lickety Split is a flat mat with a suction cup on the back. You can stick it to a wall, a window, or a tile floor. This is a game-changer for bath time — I stuck it to the shower wall during a bath and my dog was so focused on licking that she forgot she was getting wet.

It has deep, wide grooves that hold a lot of food. I filled it with wet dog food and froze it. It lasted 20 minutes for my border collie. The suction cup is genuinely strong — it held firm on a textured shower tile, which surprised me.

The downside is the mat itself is thin. If you have a strong chewer, they'll bend it and break the suction seal. Also, the suction cup is in the middle, so on a flat floor, the mat rocks slightly. It's best used on vertical surfaces.

• Pros: Suction cup for wall/bath use, deep grooves, holds frozen food well
• Cons: Thin material, rocks on flat floors

Comparison Table

FAQ

Can I use both a lick mat and a snuffle mat in the same day?

Yes, and you should. Use the snuffle mat for breakfast to burn energy, then the lick mat after a walk or before bed to calm down. They serve different purposes and complement each other.

How do I clean a snuffle mat without ruining it?

Shake out loose kibble, then soak in warm soapy water for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and hang to dry. Machine washing on gentle is fine, but skip the dryer — heat melts the non-slip backing.

Can I leave my dog unsupervised with a lick mat?

Only if your dog isn't a chewer. Lick mats are made of silicone, which can be torn and swallowed. Supervise the first few uses, and if you see bite marks, take it away.

Which one is better for separation anxiety?

Lick mat, hands down. The repetitive licking releases serotonin and reduces cortisol (the stress hormone). Give it to your dog 5 minutes before you leave the house. The snuffle mat is too stimulating if they're already panicking.

Bottom Line

Buy the Lickimat Wobble if your dog needs to calm down, has separation anxiety, or eats too fast. Buy the AWOOF Snuffle Mat if your dog has endless energy and needs to burn it off through foraging. If you can only afford one, get the AWOOF — it serves more purposes (slow eating, energy burning, boredom relief) and works for more dogs. But the honest truth is that a truly busy dog needs both, so budget for the pair.

#1

Best Overall

Lickimat Wobble ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: Freezable, suction base, holds a full meal

Cons: Bulky, not for aggressive chewers

💰 $18-$22🎯 Anxious dogs, meal replacement

Check Price View on Amazon →

#2

Runner Up

AWOOF Snuffle Mat ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: Dense fleece, non-slip base, durable

Cons: Long drying time, needs regular washing

💰 $15-$20🎯 High-energy dogs, slow eating

Check Price View on Amazon →

#3

Also Great

Lickimat Splash ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: Cheap, easy to clean, perfect for puppies

Cons: Too small for large dogs, no challenge

💰 $8-$12🎯 Puppies, small dogs

Check Price View on Amazon →

#4

Also Great

Bissell Snuffle Mat ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: Easier for older dogs, faster drying

Cons: Too easy for smart or high-energy dogs

💰 $12-$16🎯 Seniors, flat-faced breeds

Check Price View on Amazon →

#5

Also Great

PetSafe Lickety Split ($10)

★★★★☆ 4/5

Pros: Strong suction cup, deep grooves

Cons: Thin material, rocks on flat floors

💰 $10-$14🎯 Bath time, vertical surfaces

Check Price View on Amazon →