I recently shared a blog post about the LickiMat. In case you missed it, here’s a quick summary. Designed by veterinarians, the LickiMat is a flexible mat made from food-grade rubber that features shallow ridges and grooves. Using a butter knife or the back of a spoon, you pack the 3-D texture with soft/pureed food, which your canine companion works to lick clean. According to the company, “The pockets of the LickiMat challenge your dog to extract the raw, wet, dry or liquid food or treat as a reward, enriching their feeding experience.”
These mats are a stress-reliever, boredom buster, slow feeder, training aid, and the list of benefits goes on. You can read more about lick mats here.
Today, I’m sharing the various types of LickiMats. They may all look similar, but they each have a different purpose.
Which one is best for your dog?
Classic (Buddy, Playdate, and Soother)
LickiMat Classics come in three different surfaces: Buddy, Playdate, and Soother. One glance at these original mats and it’s clear the surface patterns are different. Why? Well, each model differs to better suit various foods, treats, and liquids.
Playdate is easy to identify by its box-like pattern. It has clear pockets to fill with your pup’s favorite food choice. Try pureed meats and fish, applesauce, mashed banana or other fruits, pureed veggies, etc. With this mat, it’s easy to schmear on different foods: Try steamed and pureed carrots in one corner, while mashed up canned salmon sits on the other.
Buddy‘s 3-D texture is a bit more complex than Playdate’s, but still allows separation of foods and treats.
Soother – Licking is a comforting and soothing action for dogs. As they lick, feel-good hormones are released into their brains and bodies. More licking = more soothing. While every LickiMat can be used as a tasty distraction during stressful moments (grooming, storms, etc.), the Soother features a much more compact 3-D texture than the rest. You know what that means, right? Dogs have to lick more and work harder to get the food out. Fill these tight grooves with bone broth, goat’s milk, or other liquid/finely pureed foods.
All LickiMat Classics are microwave and freezer-friendly. Once your pup is all licked out, hand wash these mats in the sink.
Splash
While most lick mats are designed to lay flat on the ground, the LickiMat Splash features a suction cup on the back, allowing you to stick it to the wall. This one really comes in handy during nail trim sessions or bath time, when you’re in search of a good, stress-relieving distraction! Simply suction the mat onto the side of the tub and let your furry friend focus on the yummy reward while you lather, rinse, and repeat.
All LickiMat Splash are microwave-proof, freezer-friendly, and dishwasher-safe.
Slomo
When it comes to mealtime, there are two types of dogs. 1. The dog who leisurely nibbles and licks his way to a clean bowl. 2. The dog who quickly attacks his food the moment it’s in reach, as if he hasn’t eaten in days and has no idea when he’ll eat again.
While most dogs are food motivated, scarfing down meals too quickly can be quite dangerous. It can lead to choking and gagging, vomiting, and bloat. One way to help slow your dog down is by spreading their food into the LickiMat Slomo.
This mat combines two textures, which you can fill with fresh food, canned food, or even dry kibble.
All LickiMat Slomos are microwave-proof, freezer-friendly, and dishwasher-safe.
Wobble
Consider the LickiMat Wobble a super fun dog puzzle/game that helps bust boredom. Sure, it provides the same soothing experience for your pup. But, the Wobble will keep your canine companion busy for longer. That’s because, as they lick the tasty treat inside, the Wobble … well … wobbles!
All LickiMats Are …
- Made from human-grade, food-grade rubber
- BPA-free
- Non-toxic
- Microwave proof
- Freezer-friendly
