Hide the dinner. Let the nose do the work.
Scatter a handful of kibble or treats across the Meadow Snuffle Mat and your dog has a job to do. The food disappears into the ruffled hedge, the folded flowers, the little pockets and the fabric tent in the middle, and the only way to get it back is to sniff it out, one piece at a time.
For a dog, that's a brilliant ten minutes. Sniffing is hard work for a brain, which is why a session on the mat tends to end with a dog who's ready for a lie-down.
A proper size
At 78 x 60cm this is a big mat, not a placemat. There's room for a Labrador to spread out, and enough hiding places that a spaniel can't clear it in thirty seconds.
Lots of places to hide things
- The tall ruffled hedge along the back, with deep folds.
- A fabric tent with a chenille floor and flaps inside.
- Flowers with hidden centres, folded petals and small cup pockets.
- A big fringed sunflower for the easy finds.
Start with treats in the open and work up to the deep folds as your dog gets the idea.
Slows down fast eaters
Feed a whole meal on it and a dog who normally inhales their food takes a good deal longer over it. A lot of owners use a snuffle mat as a slow feeder for exactly that reason.
It goes in the wash
Kibble crumbs and dog spit build up fast. The whole mat goes in the washing machine on a cool, gentle cycle, then dries flat.
Stays put
The underside is rubber-dotted, so the mat doesn't skate across a wooden floor when a dog really gets into it.
A quick word of honesty
A snuffle mat is for supervised sniffing, not for leaving a dog with for the afternoon. Some dogs decide the fleece strips are the prize and start pulling them off, so put it away between sessions. Use dry food or dry treats only; anything wet makes a mess of the fleece. Ten to twenty minutes is a typical session, which is plenty.
Specifications
- Size: approx. 78 x 60cm
- Material: polar fleece top with felt and chenille details; rubber-dotted non-slip backing
- Hiding places: ruffled hedge, fabric tent, flower pockets, cup pockets, fringed sunflower
- Care: machine wash cool on a gentle cycle, no bleach, dry flat; hand wash also fine
- Best for: all sizes and ages; sniffing, slow feeding and treat games
- Colour: green with orange, yellow and red details
Safety and care
Supervise every session. Take the mat away if your dog starts chewing or pulling at the fabric, and stop using it if any part comes loose. Use dry food or treats only. Wash it regularly, because food residue builds up in the folds.
