Snuffle Mat for Dogs: Slow Food Interactive Experience

We have a 5-month-old cattle dog / collie puppy. She is very active, very smart, and loves to be kept busy. She has chewed her way through more than a few toys, so I was a bit hesitant to get this, for fear that she would chew all the fabric pieces and destroy the snuffle mat. But it has been one of our best purchases for her, hands down. When we first introduced the snuffle mat, a family member kept the puppy busy while I loaded it with food, and then we let her at it. She quickly figured out what to do and LOVED it. We load the mat with regular food, and it will fit almost a full meal for her. The "cups" are usually the area she goes to first, because it is very easy, even if I smush the fabric to cover the food. The "grassy" area is also pretty easy for her to find food, and it is easy for her to grab the food and leave the fabric pieces alone. The "booklet" flaps took her a few tries to master, but she is now able to easily nose through and get food. The "pockets" and the "flowers" are the sections she goes to last, only when the other food is gone. Only one time has she chewed a fabric piece on the mat. I got distracted, and she got frustrated on one of the flowers and started to chew the fabric. As soon as I noticed, I removed the mat, and she has not done it since. She has also on one or two occasions decided it was easier to just pick the mat up and shake it so the food would all fly out. When she did this we removed the mat, and she has not done it again. We've had the mat for over a month now, and we actually leave it on the floor most of the day, and load it with food at mealtimes. If she is hungry, she will go over and start nosing for food, but otherwise she leaves it alone. She also has a nice food bowl, but most of the time she would rather eat her food from the snuffle mat. For the price, I think this is a must-have, especially for working-breed dogs who enjoy a challenge. You'll need to watch closely at first, make sure that the mat is loaded with food before they have access, and then remove the mat if they start to chew or shake it. But once they understand the concept, they will love it. I have not tried other brands of mats, but this one was recommended on several pet sites, and I've been very happy with it. The fabric is thick and relatively durable (for fabric, anyway). There is a non-skid coating on the bottom (we use it on a rug so I don't know how well it works on hard floors), and there is a nice fabric tie to keep it tidy when rolled up. It also has a variety of puzzles in a range of difficulty levels. I would definitely recommend snuffle mats in general and this one specifically to pet owners.

Great for keeping my puppy busy. It’s very durable and easy to clean

Fun, great quality, dogs were working on it for quite a while (until they started fighting, now they have to use the mat separately).

Soft. easy to wash. My dog enjoys finding the treats but not very challenging and she rumples up the mat looking for them. She also enjoys laying on it!

My dog is a snuffler. Take her to the park, and her nose doesn't leave the ground. She loves to eat bugs and whatever else she can find (much to my chagrin). That's how I knew she'd like a snuffle mat. My dog is also barrel chested, so I needed something to slow her eating down and reduce the risk of bloat. This mat is a good size for a small or medium dog (mine is 35 lbs). The materials are all stitched together well and feel sturdy. I've used this mat every day for almost three months now, and it shows no signs of wear. It can temporarily discolor from the dog's dry food, but I wash it in my washing machine, and it comes out looking great. Most days, I will just use the snuffle side, but I like having the other little puzzle sections as well. Will this work for your dog? Things to consider: - My dog loves chewing things like felt, so I thought this would be an issue, but she has not tried to chew the "grass". I do pick the mat up when it's not in use, but I'll leave it down for a few minutes when she's done eating and haven't had any issues. - Depending on your dog's face shape and size, some of the little puzzles can be really difficult for the dog. For instance, two of the little "cups" are so small that my dog gets very frustrated because her snout and paws are too big to fit through the cup hole. - Willingness to play along. As I said above, I knew my dog was a snuffler, but some dogs may not take to this. I've heard of dogs picking up their mats or shaking their mats and letting all of the food fall to the floor. My dog does not do this, but, if she's frustrated with a puzzle, she will dig at the mat or pull at the one section with her teeth. A more aggressive dog may rip the felt or toss the mat when faced with similar frustration. Overall, I'm very satisfied with this product.

My dog loves this mat! It’s a great size and had held up well. Gives him the stimulation he needs and I love that I can wash it!

These snuffle mats are great for puppies that eat too fast. It has slowed down my miniature dachshund who would practically inhale her food. She now hunts for the pieces of kibble and supposedly it also tires her out and slows down her eating.

My 4 month old puppy LOVES this! It gets him focused and settles him down when he’s feeling “spicy”. There are several different places to put treats on this! Would definitely recommend!

There are cheaper products available but this one works well for my reactive dog. Dry kibble is easily hidden in a variety of places on the mat which requires him to concentrate resulting in calmer frame of mind. I have also used it for our elderly second dog to stimulate her cognitively.

My dog using this to eat part of his meals and is definitely satisfied afterwards as he often just lays down on it afterward searching for his food and goes to sleep. It has a non slip backing which is extremely helpful as my guy is older and he does slip or slide as the mat stays put. My favourite thing is that I throw it in the washer on delicate and then in dryer on delicate and comes out looking brand new . Lots of different areas to hid food and challenges my dog

Das 2. Mal habe ich diesen Schnüffelteppich gekauft; wirklich super. Aufgrund einer Erkrankung kann nur feuchtes Futter versteckt werden, was ein ständiges Waschen erforderlich macht. Aber der Schnüffelteppich ist sehr lange schön geblieben und der Hund hat viel Freude damit. Wir sagen: Daumen und Pfoten hoch

Loved this snuffle mat, not as large as I thought and the rubber coating only does so much sticking but my 15year old lab is like a pup when we bring this out. It completely reactivates that foraging instinct and she usually takes it outside afterwards and sniffs everything out there too. Comes back to it all day, even snoozes on it. Well worth it, has relieved a little of her anxiety. One of her favorite things! If you're on the fence, get one, even if it's not this one. They are brilliant!

My dog loves it. I order the large one for my medium (14kg) dog. Looks like the right size. I washed it in washing machine and it was all fine afterwards.