Are Lick Mats Good for Dogs? Why We Use Them at PupMont

Zoe enjoys slowly licking her delicious frozen treat.

A tablespoon of food usually disappears in about three seconds flat. But smear that exact same amount across a textured silicone mat, and it turns into 20 minutes of quiet, focused mental work. The other day, I gave Zoe a frozen lick mat spread with a little peanut butter and unsweetened applesauce.

Twenty minutes later, she was still working at it. She was completely zoned in, quietly licking every little groove, and much calmer than she had been all afternoon.

Dogs do not need constant excitement to be enriched. Sometimes the best enrichment is something simple that helps them slow down, focus, and settle. Licking is naturally soothing for many dogs, and a lick mat gives them a calm activity that can keep them occupied much longer than simply putting the same food in a bowl. There's plenty of behavioral research backing this up, but you see it instantly in practice: giving dogs a job that mimics natural foraging lowers their heart rate and helps regulate their nervous system. Working for their food lowers stress levels in a way that just eating from a bowl never will.

At PupMont, we include lick mats at no extra charge as one of the many enrichment activities we use to keep our guests interested and engaged. They are especially nice after a walk, during quiet time, or when a dog needs help transitioning from an active afternoon into a calmer evening.

What We Put on Lick Mats

We usually use simple ingredients, either alone or mixed together in different combinations.

Some of our favorites include:

• Organic xylitol-free peanut butter

• Mashed banana

• Organic unsweetened applesauce

• Organic pureed pumpkin

• Plain Greek yogurt, if the dog tolerates dairy

• Dog-safe bone broth with no onion or garlic

• The dog’s favorite wet food

• Mashed blueberries

• Finely chopped or pureed apple

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We may use just one ingredient or mix a few together, depending on the dog and what the owner is comfortable with.

The amount does not need to be large. A thin layer pressed into the grooves is often enough to keep a dog busy for quite a while.

Freezing the mat makes it last even longer.

We Supervise First

The first time we give a dog a lick mat, we supervise closely for the first few minutes.

Some dogs are lickers. Some immediately try to pick up the mat and chew it.

We want to make sure the dog understands the assignment before leaving them to enjoy it. If a dog starts chewing the silicone instead of licking the food, we remove the mat.

We also give food-based enrichment separately when multiple dogs are staying with us. Even dogs that get along well can become possessive over something delicious, so everyone gets their own space to enjoy it peacefully.

Lick Mats Are Useful at Home Too

Lick mats are not just for boarding or quiet enrichment. They can make several everyday dog-care tasks much easier.

Bath time

Spread a little peanut butter into the grooves and suction the mat to the side of the bathtub.

Your dog stays focused on licking while you wash.

Nail trims and grooming

Keep the front end busy with a little yogurt or wet food while you work on the back end.

It does not magically make every dog enjoy nail trims, but it can make the process calmer and help the dog remain still.

Vet visits and fireworks

A frozen lick mat with peanut butter, pumpkin, or mashed bananas can redirect anxious energy into a focused activity.

It will not erase serious fear, but for many dogs it gives them something constructive and familiar to do instead of pacing or becoming increasingly worked up.

Simple Enrichment Can Be Very Effective

One of the things I've learned from boarding dogs is that enrichment doesn't have to be complicated. We sometimes think we have to constantly entertain our dogs, but often they just need something interesting to do that lets them settle their minds for a while.

That's why I like lick mats so much. They're inexpensive, easy to prepare, and they give dogs a chance to slow down and enjoy themselves.