Licking is a soothing behavior 1 for dogs. Lick mats are special toys with patterned nubs that you fill with a spreadable treat, such as dog-safe peanut butter or tinned food, and let your dog lick it out. It takes work since your dog needs to maneuver around all of the obstacles to get the treat out.
Along with providing a calming experience, lick mats keep your dog distracted and stimulated when you’re too busy to play. Lick mats are appropriate for all dog ages and sizes, especially if they’re prone to separation anxiety or anxiety in other stressful situations.
Take a look at the seven best lick mats for dogs, based on reviews from pet owners like you, to pick the best option for your licker!
A Quick Look at Our Favorites (2024 Update)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Hyper Pet IQ Calm Treat Mat |
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Best Value
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Star Wars Dog Treat Lick Mat |
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Premium Choice
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Hyper Pet IQ Banquet Dog Lick Mat |
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| Best for Puppies |
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Lick Lick Pad Dog |
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Frisco Silicone Mat with Suction Cups |
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The 7 Best Lick Mats for Dogs
1. Hyper Pet IQ Calm Slow Feeder Cat & Dog Treat Mat – Best Overall
| Material: | Plastic |
| Dimensions: | 11”L x 11”W x 0.4”H |
| Feature: | Portion control |
Hyper Pet’s IQ Calm Slow Feeder Treat Mat is the best overall lick mat for dogs. Its textured surface is suitable for spreadable treats and stimulates saliva production for dental health. Dogs can get a ton of time licking and relieving anxiety with a distraction.
The mat is freezer friendly, so you can spread a treat and freeze it for teething puppies. It’s also top-rack dishwasher-safe and microwave safe for cleaning or heating up food. Though it’s intended for licking treats, it could be used for feeding time to slow down dogs that rush food. Several reviewers said the mat’s texture is too small for them to get all the food out, however.
- Freezer friendly for teething
- Optional slow feeding
- Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
- Texture may be too small
2. Star Wars The Mandalorian Grogu Silicone Dog Treat Lick Mat – Best Value
| Material: | Silicone, plastic |
| Dimensions: | 8.8”L x 6.3”W x 0.37”H |
| Feature: | Novelty |
Star Wars The Mandalorian Grogu Silicone Dog Treat Lick Mat is the best lick mat for dogs for the money. It’s a fun and inexpensive toy that features the popular character Grogu, from Disney’s The Mandalorian. The design is shaped like the character with a ridged texture to hold spreadable treats like peanut butter, yogurt, or wet food.
The practical lick mat is top-rack dishwasher safe and BPA free. It has a non-skid design to keep it in place while your dog licks. If you want to complete the set, you can get a matching food mat. Several reviewers had issues with it sliding around too much or being too easy to destroy, however.
- Star Wars theme
- BPA-free
- Dishwasher-safe
- Moves around a lot
- Easy to destroy
3. Hyper Pet IQ Banquet Dog Lick Mat – Premium Choice
| Material: | Plastic |
| Dimensions: | 7.8”L x 7.8”W x 0.5”H |
| Feature: | Multiple textures |
Hyper Pet IQ Banquet Dog Lick Mat is the premium choice for its multiple textures to keep your dog interested for long periods. There are several raised areas for wet food or spreadable treats that are challenging for your dog to get out. You can also use this for slow feeding and portion control to help stop guzzling food.
The lick mat is top-rack dishwasher safe for cleaning and sanitation. You can put it in the freezer for teething puppies or to make it more challenging for your dog. Though it’s made with durable plastic, it can still be destroyed by your dog and requires supervision.
- Multiple textures
- Dishwasher-safe
- Durable
- Requires supervision
4. Lick Lick Pad Dog – Best for Puppies
| Material: | Silicone, plastic |
| Dimensions: | 9.5”L x 4.5”W x 0.25”H |
| Feature: | Portion control |
The Lick Lick Pad Dog toy is a good choice for puppies. The bone-shaped mat is designed with a textured interior for peanut butter, wet food, yogurt, or other spreadable treats to create a distracting challenge for your pup. The pad sticks to any flat or shiny surface without suction cups or adhesives, so it stays put while your dog does the work. It can be used on porcelain, tile, granite, glass, or polished metal while your pup gets groomed, brushed, or bathed.
For hygiene, the pad can be cleaned and disinfected in the dishwasher. It’s made of food-grade silicone and plastic that’s free of lead, DBP, BPA, and BPS. Though it’s listed as appropriate for large breeds, owners said that it was too flimsy for large dogs to use effectively.
- Food-grade silicone and plastic
- Dishwasher safe
- Lead, DBP, BPA, and BPS free
- May not be suitable for large breeds
- Flimsy
5. Frisco Silicone Dog Lick Mat with Suction Cups
| Material: | Silicone, melamine |
| Dimensions: | 8.07”L x 8.07”W x 0.35”H |
| Feature: | Dishwasher-safe |
The Frisco Silicone Dog Lick Mat with Suction Cups is a fun way to give your dog spreadable treats. The BPA-free silicone is soft, flexible, and safe for your pup to enjoy hours of licking up peanut butter or wet food. After your dog is done, you can put the mat in the dishwasher’s top rack for cleaning.
Like other lick mats, this toy should only be used under supervision. Though it’s durable, chewing it into small parts could cause a blockage or present a choking hazard. The texture isn’t complex, so it may not be challenging for more aggressive lickers.
- BPA-free silicone
- Dishwasher-safe
- Simple texture
- Not suitable for aggressive lickers
6. LickiMat Tuff Soother Lick Mat for Dogs
| Material: | Rubber |
| Dimensions: | 7.87”L x 7.87”W x 0.47”H |
| Feature: | Chew-resistant |
Lickimat Tuff Soother Lick Mat features an intricate design for spreadable treats. Dogs can spend a long time trying to get peanut butter, soaked kibble, or other spreadable treats out of every nook and cranny. Suitable for both large and small dogs, Lickimat Tuff Soother is made of silicone-free, recyclable rubber for chew resistance. It comes in several different patterns. It’s also dishwasher-safe and features non-slip rubber feet to keep it in place.
Though it’s more durable than plastic, this mat shouldn’t be given to your dog without supervision. It has a hard base that can break apart and present a choking hazard. Several reviewers noted that their dogs were able to chew pieces off of it.
- Intricate pattern
- Chew-resistant
- Non-slip rubber
- May break apart
- Not suitable for aggressive chewers
7. Pup Culture Dog Lick Mat
| Material: | Silicone |
| Dimensions: | 9”L x 4.76”W x 0.5”H |
| Feature: | Multiple puzzles |
Pup Culture Dog Lick Mat is an elaborate lick mat with four different puzzle textures to hold your dog’s attention. It’s made in the US and offers small and large grooves for mental stimulation. The unique suctioning design helps the mat stay put while your dog licks. It’s also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
If you want, you can use the deeper sections of the lick mat for slow feeding. The lick mat is also touted as bite-proof for all dog types, but it’s important to watch your dog to prevent injury. It comes in navy, gray, black, green, lavender, orange, and pink.
- Multiple puzzle textures
- US made
- Bite-proof
- Requires supervision
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Lick Mat for Dogs
Lick mats come in a lot of different sizes and varieties. Some are better for small dogs, while others are good for big dogs. Some patterns are more intricate and challenging, while others can be used for licking or slow feeding.
- Non-Skid or Suction: Lick mats will end up sliding all over your floors if they don’t have a non-skid or suction surface. This not only leaves you with a mess, but it can be frustrating for your dog to keep chasing the mat around.
- Pattern: The patterns of a lick mat are where the benefits come in. A complicated pattern with small depressions is more difficult for your dog to lick out all the spreadable treats, leading to more mental stimulation and playtime. The downside to this is that the mat may be too small for a larger dog to use effectively, so it’s best to choose a pattern that’s ideal for your dog’s size and level of interest. Another downside of intricate lick mats is that it may be too hard for your dog to get all of the treats out, which is why it’s important to supervise your dog with a mat to keep it from chewing up the mat.
- Dishwasher-Safe: Many lick mats are made of silicone, rubber, or plastic that’s top-rack dishwasher safe. Even though you could hand-wash your lick mat, it’s more convenient and sanitary to use a dishwasher to clean the mat when your dog is done with it. Otherwise, all those small grooves could harbor germs.
- Non-Toxic Materials: Most lick mats are made of BPA-free, non-toxic materials like plastic or silicone, but it’s important to do your due diligence and make sure it’s safe for your dog. Even though your dog will only be using the lick mat occasionally, consider your options and choose the material least likely to cause a health problem.
- Treats: There’s virtually no limit to the types of treats you can use for your lick mat. Peanut butter without xylitol is a challenging treat that dogs love, but you could also use coconut oil, canned dog food, non-fat cottage cheese, mashed bananas, or wet food toppers. You know what your dog likes, so consider its favorite treats when you’re picking out a lick mat. For example, a mat with small nooks and crannies may not hold a chunkier dog food as well. Think about the treats you’ll be using to help you select a mat.
Conclusion
Lick mats are excellent for relieving anxiety and stress in your pup. Our favorite is Hyper Pet’s IQ Calm Slow Feeder Treat Mat for its textured surface that’s ideal for spreadable treats. For value, choose the Star Wars The Mandalorian Grogu Silicone Dog Treat Lick Mat affordable novelty lick mat. Our premium pick is Hyper Pet IQ Banquet Dog Lick Mat for its challenging textures.
Featured Image Credit: Huong Nguyen, Pixabay
Contents
- A Quick Look at Our Favorites (2024 Update)
- The 7 Best Lick Mats for Dogs
- 1. Hyper Pet IQ Calm Slow Feeder Cat & Dog Treat Mat – Best Overall
- 2. Star Wars The Mandalorian Grogu Silicone Dog Treat Lick Mat – Best Value
- 3. Hyper Pet IQ Banquet Dog Lick Mat – Premium Choice
- 4. Lick Lick Pad Dog – Best for Puppies
- 5. Frisco Silicone Dog Lick Mat with Suction Cups
- 6. LickiMat Tuff Soother Lick Mat for Dogs
- 7. Pup Culture Dog Lick Mat
- Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Lick Mat for Dogs
- Conclusion
