The Best Snuffle Mats For Puppies
Puppies are full of energy and love exploring the world around them. Providing mental stimulation is essential to raising a happy and healthy pup. That's where snuffle mats come in; they engage your dog's mind through their nose, expertly combing mealtime and playtime. They're a great way to keep high-energy pups occupied, slow their eating, and help with crate training. With so many snuffle mats on the market, choosing the right one can be difficult. With that in mind, we've rounded up some of the best snuffle pads the market has to offer.
What to Look For
We recommend keeping the following things in mind when shopping for a snuffle mat for your pup: Is it easy to clean? How challenging would it be for your puppy to use? Is it the right size for your furry friend? Our favorite was the snuffle mat from Pet Arena, which trains your dog to use their natural foraging and hunting instincts to find hidden food. We also really liked the snuffle mat from Awoof, which lets your pup sniff out concealed treats and encourages slow eating. Keep reading to learn more about our favorites and find the right one for your dog.
Pet Arena Adjustable Snuffle Mat For Puppies
Whether you have a small or big puppy, this snuffle mat from Pet Arena gives them plenty of room to explore. It features a drawstring closure that allows you to open it up just as much as you want, so you can use it as a large flat mat or as a bowl. The bowl shape is ideal for encouraging slow eating because you can hide kibble to discourage your pup from gulping down food. Plus, its non-skid backing holds it in place as your puppy explores.
Pros:
- Helps slow down eating and improve digestion
- Can be used as a flat mat or a bowl
- Provides puppies with a stimulating mental workout
- Machine washable
Cons:
- The material is a bit scratchy
Awoof Interactive Snuffle Mat For Puppies
Hunting for treats
Put your puppy’s foraging skills to the test with this snuffle mat from Awoof. The large flower-shaped mat gives you plenty of room to hide treats, providing your pup with a lot of fun and a real challenge. Bells and rings are strategically throughout the mat for additional sensory stimulation. There are tons of hiding spots on this mat, and you can customize it to your pet’s abilities by increasing or decreasing the difficulty based on where you place the treats.
Pros:
- Four layers of bright orange petals for your pup to explore
- Lots of hiding places for kibble
- Folds down to a compact size for easy storage
- Durable and machine washable
- Non-slip cloth on the bottom to hold it in place
Cons:
- Heavy chewers may tear it apart quickly
All For Paws Snuffle Mat For Puppies
Interactive fun
Add some extra fun to your puppy’s feeding routine with this snuffle pat from All For Paws. The mat features a squeaky squirrel toy peaking out of a tree trunk, appealing to puppies’ playful natures. It also features many hiding places, including petals and pockets, for treats to help develop your pup’s sniffing and foraging skills. You can increase the difficulty level as your puppy gets better at it by moving treats to more challenging spots on the mat.
Pros:
- Provides puppies with lots of stimulation
- Features a squeaky squirrel toy for added fun
- Lots of hidden compartments for hiding treats
- Non-slip bottom holds it in place
Cons:
- It’s compact, so it’s not the best option for large puppies
Stellaire Chern Snuffle Mat For Puppies
With a variety of textures to keep your pup engaged and enough hiding places to slow down their eating, there’s a lot to like about this snuffle mat from Stellaire Chern. It’s split into two zones: a traditional snuffle mat and a puzzle area to keep your pup occupied for long periods. It has several pockets, flaps, and cups for your furry friend to explore and lots of room for spreading out food on it. Your puppy will have to sniff a lot to find the treats hidden in this mat, helping them to develop their foraging skills.
Pros:
- Large size makes it great for big puppies or homes with more than one pet
- Available in three bright colors and two sizes
- Encourages foraging instinct and reduces boredom
- Variety of textures and activities
Cons:
- Takes up a lot of space, so may not be suitable for smaller homes
Twoper Sunflower Snuffle Mat For Puppies
When your puppy is ready for a challenge, this snuffle mat from Twoper will keep them engaged. It features four feeding games with cups, petals, and ringing paper to keep your pup mentally stimulated and slow their eating. It helps develop their sense of smell and encourages their foraging skills, which can help calm anxious dogs. There are lots of places to hide food throughout the mat, and you can increase the difficulty as your pup gets better at finding the treats.
Pros:
- Bright, eye-catching colors and designs to get your pup’s attention
- Helps alleviate boredom and reduce destructive behaviors
- Encourages your pup to slow down while eating
- Machine washable
Cons:
- Food may stick to the mat if puppies drool on it
What are the benefits of using a snuffle mat?
If your puppy tends to scarf down their food, a snuffle mat will slow them down. Snuffle mats force dogs to use their sense of smell to find kibble or treats and pick them out one by one. As a result, they also help keep your dog from overeating. Since your dog has to pause between eating as they search for more food, it gives them more time to sense when they’re full. Finally, snuffle mats provide dogs with mental stimulation, requiring them to use their sense of smell to figure out where treats are hidden.
How do you use a snuffle mat?
Snuffle mats are easy to use; all you have to do is place them on the floor and sprinkle kibble or dry treats on them. After that, let your puppy explore the mat with their nose. If your pup eats their food too quickly, you can use the mat to feed them. Your pooch may interact with the mat anywhere between a few minutes to more than half an hour.
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