Deep Dive: Lick Mats
We were first introduced to lick mats during our first Minnesota winter with our pup, Eddie. While he's usually up for just about anything, a stretch of subzero temperatures was just not ideal for outdoor frolicking. So, we were left with Jack Russell energy in a 500 square foot apartment.
Enter LICK MATS. We love lick mats because of their versatility; they can be mixed and matched depending on the situation and your furry friend's food preferences.
Some of our favorite benefits of lick mats include:
- They Alleviate Stress: the repetitive licking can calm anxious pups.
- Offers Mental Stimulation: the focus required can provide mental exercise to tire out your pup if physical exercise is limited.
- Can Offer a Distraction: keeps your pup occupied during that third Zoom meeting of the day or when you have company over and they just needs a job to do that isn't licking your guest's face.
- Slow Feeding & Dental Hygiene: the textured design and act of licking can naturally help clean teeth and gums while slowing down the pace if you've got a pup who loves to gobble their food.
We especially love these offerings from Awoo Pets because they are made from food-grade silicone (a.k.a. plastic-free), offer a variety of shapes (and cute colors) and a few are designed with suction cups on the back making them non-slip and excellent for mounting on the wall.
Some of our favorite ways to use lick mats:
- Keeping your furry friend occupied while working from home.
- Utilizing the suction cups in the tub to keep your pup busy and stress-free during bath time.
- As a treat to look forward to when leaving your pup at home .
- When the weather is too cold, too hot, too rainy or the air quality is too poor.
Lastly, there are so many ways to customize your pup's favorite treats! Plus, they can be prepped ahead of time and popped in the freezer for an added challenge or to keep your pup cool. Some great foods to try are peanut butter, plain yogurt, dog-safe fruit, baby food.
Which style will your pup love?
