There is a reason so many trainers reach for a lick mat before a chew toy when a dog is wound up, licking and sniffing are two of the most naturally calming things a dog can do. A wound-up, anxious, or bored dog isn’t being difficult, it’s a dog with nowhere to put its energy. The right lick mat for dogs, paired with a good snuffle mat, gives that energy a quiet, satisfying outlet that actually settles the nervous system, and pairs well with the full interactive and enrichment toys guide for dogs that need their minds worked as much as their nerves calmed.
This guide Best Lick Mats & Snuffle Mats breaks down how these calming toys work, which ones are worth buying, and the specific Amazon picks that help an anxious or restless dog find some peace.
Affiliate disclosure: Frenchienova may earn a small commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through links in this post, at no extra cost to the reader. Recommendations are based on independent research.
Table of Contents
Why Do Licking and Sniffing Calm a Dog Down?
Licking and sniffing calm dogs because both actions are neurologically soothing, not just distracting. Licking releases endorphins that lower stress, while sniffing engages a large part of the canine brain and taps into a natural foraging instinct. Together, they reduce arousal more effectively than physical activity like running or fetch.
This is not a wellness trend, it is how a dog’s brain is wired. Licking releases endorphins, the same feel-good chemicals that settle stress, which is why a dog will lick a surface for ages and visibly relax doing it. Sniffing works similarly: scent processing engages a huge part of a dog’s brain, and the act of searching for food taps a deep, satisfying foraging instinct. Both activities lower arousal in a way that running around simply doesn’t.
That is what makes calming dog toys different from regular enrichment. A fetch session burns physical energy but can leave a dog more amped up. A lick mat or snuffle mat does the opposite, it down-regulates a dog, which is exactly what an anxious, overstimulated, or bored dog needs.
The use cases are everywhere once you start looking: a dog that panics during thunderstorms, a pup that can’t settle when left alone, a fast eater who inhales dinner and gets an upset stomach, or a dog that needs to hold still during grooming or a vet visit. In all of these, a calming toy gives the dog a job that happens to be soothing.
Best Lick Mats for Dogs
A lick mat is a flat, textured silicone mat you spread soft food across, wet food, plain yogurt, puppy-safe peanut butter, mashed banana, or pumpkin. The dog works to lick every last bit out of the ridges, and the slow, repetitive licking is what calms them.
Top Pick: Silicone Lick Mat (Textured) (Best Everyday Calmer)
A simple, durable food-grade silicone mat with deep grooves that make the licking last. Spread, freeze for a longer session, and hand it over during stressful moments, storms, alone time, or a tense evening. Easy to clean and endlessly reusable. This is the single best entry point into the calming-toy category.
- 【77 Super Suctions】: The back of this licking mat is equipped with 77 high-strength suction cups, which can be well fixe…
- 【Slow Feeder Mat for Dogs & Cats】: Four different textured surfaces design is prefect for spreadable treats, such as cre…
- 【Reduces anxiety, boredom and destructive behavior】: The lick pads help calm pets. It is a boredom buster for dog to sup…
Runner-Up: Suction-Backed Lick Mat (Best for Bath and Grooming)
Same idea, but with suction cups on the back that stick to the tub wall, floor, or crate. It keeps a dog happily occupied and holding still during baths, nail trims, or grooming, turning a dreaded chore into a treat. A genuinely clever fix for a squirmy dog.
- SLOW FEEDING AND IMPROVES DIGESTION – Lick mat is a unique form of pet slow feed dog bowl for dog, puppy, cat and kitten…
- REDUCES ANXIETY & DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR – It is a calming mat that helps calm and soothes your pet by helping release end…
- PRACTICAL INNOVATIVE DESIGN – This feeding mat you could stick on any smooth surface, such as bathtub, counter, glass, c…
A safety note: always supervise lick mat sessions, and pick a thick, one-piece mat. A dog that tries to chew and ingest the mat itself should use it only under watch, or switch to a sturdier design.
Best Snuffle Mats
A snuffle mat is a fabric mat full of folds, flaps, and fabric strips where you hide kibble or treats. The dog sniffs and noses through to find every piece, which mimics natural foraging and is wonderfully tiring in a calm way. How to make a DIY snuffle mat.
Top Pick: Classic Snuffle Mat (Best Foraging Enrichment)
A dense fabric mat that hides food deep in its folds. It slows down fast eaters, exercises the nose, and settles a restless dog through sniff-work. Many have adjustable difficulty, cinch it tighter to make the hunt harder as the dog gets better at it. Machine-washable versions are worth seeking out.
- ★ Dog Training Toys: It is a unique dog training mat that allows your dog to find snacks or small toys hidden in the mat…
- ★ Non-slip & Large & Portable: The bottom is a non-slip cloth that effectively holds the mat and prevents the dog from m…
- ★ Dual-use Design: The feeding mat can be folded into a bowl. Stick to the good habits of your dog or use it as an olfac…
Runner-Up: Interactive Snuffle Puzzle (Best for Clever Dogs)
A snuffle mat with added puzzle elements, flaps to nose open, pockets to dig into, for dogs that solve a basic mat too quickly. It keeps the challenge fresh, and the dog engaged longer.
- Dog Training Toys: It is a unique dog training mat that allows your dog to find snacks or small toys hidden in the mat. …
- Non-slip & Portable: The bottom is a non-slip cloth that effectively holds the mat and prevents the dog from moving the …
- 2 Extra Suction Cups: By tightening the screw cap operation, pull the sucker and suck on the smooth surface.Maximize the…
Best Slow Feeders
A close cousin of these calming toys, slow feeder dog toys tackle a specific problem: dogs that eat too fast. Gulping food leads to bloating, choking risk, and stomach upset, and slowing the meal down helps with all three.
Top Pick: Slow Feeder Bowl (Best for Fast Eaters)
A bowl molded with ridges and mazes that force a dog to work food out bit by bit, stretching a 30-second meal into several minutes. It’s a simple, cheap health upgrade for any dog that inhales dinner. Lick mats and snuffle mats double as slow feeders too, so a fast eater has plenty of options.
- Large slow feeder dog bowl – helps slow down eating up to 10X; this SLOWEST level feeder is best for very fast eaters an…
- Holds 4 cups of dry or wet dog food – this very deep dog bowl has our most challenging puzzle feeder maze design and can…
- Mindful mealtime – encourages slower eating and longer engagement, helping pups enjoy every bite while making mealtime m…
Best Toys for Separation Anxiety
Some dogs struggle most when left alone, and a couple of toys are built specifically for that.
Top Pick: Snuggle Puppy (Best Separation-Anxiety Aid)
A plush toy with a pulsing “heartbeat” and an optional warmth pack that mimics the comfort of a littermate or a resting companion. Many owners credit it with calmer alone-time and smoother crate training, especially for puppies and newly adopted dogs. It’s a behavioral aid, not a chew toy, so supervise to keep it intact.
- Heartbeat Toy for Medium Breeds: Plush comfort toy (12 x 8 in) sized for dogs 25-70 lbs; includes beating heart, 1 dispo…
- Battery-Powered Heartbeat: Provides a rhythmic pulsing sensation designed to comfort puppies during rest, crate time, or…
- Calming Comfort for New Puppies: Designed to help your puppy settle during first nights home, crate training, and bedtim…
Runner-Up: Frozen Stuffed KONG Before You Leave (Best Departure Distraction)
A long-lasting frozen treat given right as you head out gives an anxious dog something absorbing to focus on during the hardest moment, the departure. Cycling a few so the dog doesn’t get bored keeps the trick working.
- Satisfy Instinctual Needs: The KONG Classic red rubber toy helps satisfy dogs’ instinctual needs and provides mental sti…
- Enticing Chew Toy for Dogs: This unique toy has an erratic and unpredictable bounce, keeping all breeds of dogs engaged …
- Treat-Filling Capabilities: The hollow interior allows for stuffing with kibble, peanut butter, or KONG Snacks or Easy T…
A clear, honest note: real separation anxiety is a serious behavioral condition, and toys help manage it but don’t cure it. For a dog that panics, destroys things, or hurts itself when alone, the toys are one piece of a plan that should include a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist.
How to Use Calming Toys Well (Best Lick Mats & Snuffle Mats)
A few tips to get the most out of them:
- Match the tool to the moment: Reach for a snuffle mat for daily energy burn or mealtime foraging, and a lick mat for acute stress, grooming, vet visits, storms, or alone time. Most dogs benefit from having both in rotation.
- Start short and low-distraction: For the first few sessions, use a quiet space and keep it to 5–10 minutes so the dog learns the mat pays off before working up to longer sessions.
- Freeze for a longer, calmer session: A frozen lick mat or stuffed toy lasts far longer and the cold adds to the soothing effect.
- Use them before the stress peaks: Hand over a lick mat as a storm rolls in or before you leave, not after the dog is already panicking.
- Feed meals through them: Serving dinner via a snuffle mat or lick mat turns a quick meal into 10–20 minutes of calm enrichment.
- Rotate to keep novelty: Even a great snuffle mat gets boring if it’s always out. Cycle a few.
- Wash right after each use, not just occasionally: Lick mats are usually dishwasher-safe; snuffle mats do best in a mesh laundry bag. Food left in the grooves or folds breeds bacteria fast.
- Always supervise: These are activity toys, not chew toys, watch a dog that tries to eat the mat itself, and retire any that get damaged.
Do Lick Mats Really Calm Dogs Down?
Yes, and there’s biology behind it. Licking is a repetitive, self-soothing action that releases endorphins, the same calming chemicals that help settle stress. That’s why a dog will work a lick mat for ages and visibly relax doing it. It’s why trainers and behaviorists often reach for a lick mat during storms, vet visits, grooming, or alone time, when a dog needs to down-regulate rather than burn physical energy.
What Can You Put on a Lick Mat?
Soft, spreadable, dog-safe foods work best: wet dog food, plain unsweetened yogurt, dog-safe peanut butter (xylitol-free), mashed banana, pumpkin purée, or a little wet food thinned with water. Freezing the loaded mat makes the session last much longer and adds a cooling effect. Avoid anything toxic to dogs (no xylitol, chocolate, grapes, or onion), and keep portions modest so the treat fits the dog’s daily calories.
Are Snuffle Mats Good for Dogs?
Very. Snuffle mats tap a dog’s natural foraging instinct and engage the powerful scent-processing part of the brain, which is both mentally tiring and calming. They also slow down fast eaters when used to feed meals, and they suit nearly every dog, puppies, seniors, anxious dogs, and high-energy breeds that need their minds worked. The main rule is supervision, since some dogs try to chew the mat itself.
How Long Should a Dog Use a Lick Mat or Snuffle Mat?
Most sessions naturally run 5–15 minutes, which is usually enough to settle a dog. There’s no strict limit, but these are supervised activities, not all-day toys, put them away once the food is gone. Feeding a meal through one is a great way to stretch a 30-second bowl into 10–15 minutes of calm enrichment.
Can Lick Mats and Snuffle Mats Help With Separation Anxiety?
They can help manage mild cases by giving an anxious dog a calming focus right as the owner leaves, but they’re one tool, not a cure. For a dog that truly panics, destroys things, or hurts itself when alone, these toys should be part of a broader plan guided by a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist. Used before the stress peaks, they make a real difference for everyday restlessness and mild nerves.
How do You Clean a Lick Mat or Snuffle Mat?
Silicone lick mats are usually top-rack dishwasher-safe or easy to hand-wash with hot, soapy water. Fabric snuffle mats are typically machine-washable (a mesh bag protects them) and should air-dry. Clean them regularly, especially after wet food, to prevent bacteria buildup in the grooves and folds.
The Bottom Line
The best calming dog toys work with a dog’s biology: licking releases endorphins, sniffing engages the brain, and both quietly settle an anxious or bored dog in a way exercise can’t. A silicone lick mat for stressful moments, a snuffle mat for daily foraging, a slow feeder for fast eaters, and a Snuggle Puppy for alone-time will cover almost any restless dog. Freeze them for longer sessions, use them before stress builds, and keep them in rotation, and a wound-up dog gets a genuinely peaceful outlet.
Calming toys help manage anxiety but don’t replace professional care. For a dog with significant anxiety or separation distress, consult a veterinarian or qualified behaviorist for a full plan.
Auston is the founder of Frenchie Nova and a longtime French Bulldog owner. He writes practical, research-backed guides on Frenchie care, feeding, and health. Not a veterinarian — always consult your vet for medical concerns.