Can Lick Mats Calm My Anxious Dog?

by Britt

June 23rd, 2023 11:47 PM

Photo credit: Konstantin Gushcha / Shutterstock.com

As loving dog parents, we are always looking for new and effective ways to provide for our best friend’s happiness and well-being. This includes boosting their mental health with regular mental enrichment and addressing concerns like high stress levels or anxiety. One simple and budget-friendly addition to the world of canine enrichment is the dog lick mat.

But is a lick mat the right choice for your dog? Let’s look at what a lick mat is and how you can use it to contribute to the happy, healthy life your pup deserves!

What Are Lick Mats?

Lick mats are mats made from rubber or silicone with a textured surface. This texture creates small pockets and spaces for you to spread your dog’s favorite soft, spreadable treat. As your dog licks the top of the mat, they use their tongue to get the delicious reward. Not only does this keep your dog occupied and entertained, but it may also provide a calming effect.

Studies have found that licking is a naturally soothing activity. This is why dogs experiencing stress or anxiety are prone to excessive licking of their paws or stomachs to the point of fur loss. Studies have shown that as your dog licks, they release endorphins, chemicals that create a feeling of calmness and euphoria. This burst of happiness can help them adjust to an otherwise difficult situation.

The Different Styles of Lick Mat

While lick mats are, at their root, a mat, several different designs and interpretations have emerged to address different situations. Some of the more common options available include:

Traditional Lick Mats: As the name suggests, traditional lick mats are flat rubber or silicone mats. They are commonly found in a square or rectangular shape, but some companies get creative with fun shapes and designs.
Lick Mat Bowls: These feature a rounded bowl shape with texturing on the inside. Most lick mat bowls can also be flipped inside-out to create a textured dome for another fun experience.
Suction Cup Lick Mats: Traditional lick mats with suction cups on the back, these are often used as a distraction during bathing by hanging them on the tub or shower wall.

What Are the Benefits of Dog Lick Mats?

These little mats may seem super basic and not too special, but you may be surprised to learn that they offer many benefits for you and your dog.

As I mentioned, dog lick mats are an excellent solution for reducing stress and anxiety. If you know your dog will be facing an otherwise stressful situation, consider preparing a lick mat to make the experience easier to handle. You can take this anxiety-reducing effect up a level by filling your dog’s lick mat with foods that offer natural calming properties, like sweet potato, turkey, and blueberries.

Lick mats can also be used as a form of distraction. Groomers and veterinarians commonly use them to capture and hold the attention of dogs during procedures like nail trims, bath time, and physical exams.

Do you have a dog with a lot of excess energy? A lick mat may be the perfect choice to keep your dog busy, giving them a positive outlet and eliminating boredom. I often use lick mats to distract the pups while working from home or on important Zoom calls.

Finally, a little-discussed benefit of lick mats is their ability to support your dog’s dental health. As your dog licks the ribbed textures on the mat, any bacteria on their tongue will be naturally scraped away. This helps to reduce the amount of unwanted bacteria in your dog’s mouth, reduce plaque buildup, and improve your dog’s breath.

Do Lick Mats Help with Separation Anxiety?

Yes, having access to a lick mat can help to reduce separation anxiety. These mats will offer a distraction from the fact that you have left, making it easier for your dog to overlook that they are home alone. At the same time, the soothing act of licking will address the feelings of stress and anxiety that they often feel when you leave the house.

However, you must consider your dog’s behavior with toys before filling a lick mat and leaving them unsupervised. These mats are made from rubber or silicone, so they aren’t the most durable option. If you have a heavy chewer or a dog known to be destructive with their toys, a lick mat can be easily torn apart. If pieces of the mat are swallowed, this can lead to a dangerous or even life-threatening gastrointestinal obstruction.

How Do You Use a Dog Lick Mat?

After reading about the benefits of using a dog lick mat, does this sound like something that could be useful in your dog’s life? If so, you may be wondering how to use this tool with your pup. The good news is that it is incredibly simple! Spread a treat across the top of the lick mat, filling the little grooves in the texture. You can also add some non-spreadable treats on top, like kibble, using the soft base treat to hold everything in place.

If you want to take the challenge to the next level, place it in the freezer after filling your dog’s lick mat. As your dog licks the mat, they slowly thaw the treat, releasing it from the mat.

Some treat options to use with your dog’s lick mat include:

Mashed sweet potato
Greek yogurt
Mashed fruit or fruit purees
Veggie purees
Peanut butter
Cottage cheese
Canned tuna or salmon
Baby food
Wet or canned dog food
Lickable or creamy commercial treats

When Should I Use a Lick Mat for My Dog?

Offering your dog a lick mat isn’t going to be a quick fix for every negative situation they face. But they can provide some much-needed comfort in a wide variety of otherwise challenging or uncomfortable situations. Here are a few examples of circumstances where a lick mat may prove to be beneficial:

New Experiences or Surroundings

Are you planning on bringing your dog somewhere new and unsure how they will respond? New surroundings can be overwhelming for your pup. They introduce new sounds, smells, and sights. Introducing the lick mat can distract them from anything else happening around them, giving them time to adjust to this new environment.

When You Have Company Over

Do you have a dog that often gets over-excited or worked up when you have friends or family over to the house? Before your guests are expected to arrive, fill your dog’s lick mat and place it in the freezer. After everyone has settled, pull out the lick mat to give your dog something positive to focus on. This is a great way to ensure you and your loved ones can relax and enjoy one another’s company.

Slow Fast Eaters

Eating too quickly can lead to serious health complications, including gastric dilation-volvulus (or bloat). One of the best ways to prevent this is to find ways to force your dog to slow down. This includes interactive toys, food dispensers, food puzzles, and, of course, lick mats! If your dog usually eats a diet of canned food, spreading it on the lick mat is a quick way to make a significant difference. If they are kibble fed, choose a healthy spreadable treat to create a surface in the lick mat to stick the kibble into. Freezing the lick mat will slow your dog down further.

Crate Rest or Recovery

Do you have a dog that is recovering from an illness or injury? If so, you may be in a situation where you need to keep your pup calm and relaxed. While some dogs adjust to crate rest easily, this isn’t true for all pups! For those that struggle with pent-up energy while on crate rest, having a mental outlet for that energy is the key to success. Consider giving your dog their meals on a lick mat to help exercise their mind and burn some energy, making it easier to stay calm and relaxed.

During Thunderstorms or Fireworks

If your dog is afraid of loud noises like thunderstorms or fireworks, you may be searching for a solution to distract them and help them get through these otherwise frightening situations. A lick mat may be the answer that you’re looking for. Fill the lick mat with your dog’s favorite treats, something they don’t regularly get, to make it an extra special reward. Set your pup up in a quiet room of the house, away from windows and doors, where the sound is louder. If you know that a big holiday or event is coming up that is likely to bring fireworks, like the 4th of July, prepare a lick mat or two in advance and stick them in the freezer so that you are ready to respond quickly if the noises start.

Our Go-To Solution: Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat

The concept of the dog lick mat and its ability to help reduce stress and anxiety is one that I have been familiar with for quite a while. Having been actively involved in the rescue world, I have spent much time helping dogs from less-than-ideal situations adjust to their new (and better) lives. This often means finding ways to keep them calm as they learn that the world doesn’t have to be seen as scary.

More recently, we brought our youngest pup Lucifer into the family. Before adopting him, he had been through a traumatic situation that left him with some serious injuries to overcome – both physical and mental.

One of the best solutions we have found to help Lucifer deal with uncomfortable situations is to provide him with a Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat and some of his favorite dog-friendly snacks.

For example, shortly after adopting him, we realized that car rides were uncomfortable for him. He would try to climb into my lap constantly for comfort or completely shut down due to his anxiety. We could distract and calm him during the ride by preparing a lick mat before heading out. Doing this regularly not only offered an immediate solution but also helped to create a positive association with the vehicle for future rides.

Lucifer in the car with his lick mat covered with mashed sweet potato.

Pros

Budget-friendly option to address anxiety
Can be used with any soft or lickable treat
Provides mental enrichment and helps address pent-up energy in high-energy dogs

Cons

Can be chewed up easily by heavy or destructive chewers if left unsupervised
May create a messy situation if the mat is flipped

Final thoughts

Dog lick mats are a low-cost and easy solution to helping your dog calm down in an otherwise stressful situation. This can be used effectively to address all forms of anxiety or nervousness, including encountering new situations, fearful situations like thunderstorms, or moments of high stress. At an even more basic level, they can be paired with your dog’s favorite treats for a fun form of mental enrichment. Lick mats are a great way to support your dog’s happy, healthy life – physically and mentally.

Britt

Britt Kascjak is a proud pet mom, sharing her heart (and her home) with her “pack” which includes her husband John, their 3 dogs – Daviana, Indiana, and Lucifer – and their 2 cats – Pippen and Jinx. She has been active in the animal rescue community for over 15 years, volunteering, fostering and advocating for organizations across Canada and the US. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around the country camping, hiking, and canoeing with her pets.

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New research done by Compare The Market shows that you’re not crazy in thinking your dog hates the vacuum. Turns out, he likely does, as over four in five dogs were found to be afraid or anxious about household appliances and the vacuum topped the list! Coming in right after the vacuum was ….you guessed it! The hair dryer! With over four in five dogs (85%) being afraid of common household appliances, it’s important to know what causes anxiety and how to help your pup through it. One in five of the dogs surveyed were found to have behaviors considered ‘misbehavior’ in response to the machines–for instance, barking excessively, chewing or chasing the appliance. The study found the following to be the most disliked villains of the home: Hoover (45%)Hairdryer (24%)Lawnmower (21%)Washing machine (15%)Food blender (13%)Sweeping brush (10%) Nearly 40% of the fearful dogs will simply leave the room until the scary machine is no longer being used and a fifth of the dogs will actually try to hide from the horrible cleaning and drying monsters. A fifth will also shake, chew or bark excessively, while another fifth will cry or whine. Sadly, nearly 10% would even pant, which vets say can be signs of serious anxiety. So what’s a pet parent to do? Dr. Heather Venkat is a veterinarian consultant and says that there are some tips we can use to help ease the issues. They include: Giving them space to move away from the noise. Let them avoid the appliance if that makes them feel better.If your dog is destructive and cries or chases after the appliance then consider putting your dog in a kennel or another room for their own protection.Extremely noise-sensitive dogs may need further attention including natural supplements such as probiotics or even anti-anxiety medication from your veterinarian. Try playing calming music when using loud appliances to try to drown out the scary noise.To avoid dogs becoming afraid of home appliances when they’re puppies, pet owners should gradually introduce their pups to noises at a low volume or from further away. Pairing the noise with a treat also helps the puppy associate the noise with something positive.

Ask The Hairy Dogfathers: Daddy’s Puppy Problem

The Hairy Dogfathers take on some baby daddy drama – with a full house of animals and another baby on the way, is now the best time to add another puppy to the mix? Hey Hairy Dogfathers, My wife and I have been married for four years. When I met her she already had two cats. I have always been more of a dog person, so when my Uncle’s dog had puppies, I brought one home. My wife wasn’t too happy. She really is more of a cat person. I know it wasn’t the best timing, but I think it’s cool that my daughter gets to grow up with a dog. Now, we are expecting again and I would really like to get another puppy! What do you guys think? Signed, “Every Baby Needs a Puppy” Related: Help – My Dog Has Cabin Fever! André says: Dear Every Baby Needs a Puppy, Your expanding family sounds lovely. One thing that holds true whenever adding another member to any family is that it upsets and changes the balance in the household. Change isn’t always a bad thing though – just try and think about how it will affect every member of the family, furry and human. How will the cats react to a playful pup? How about your wife? Another thing to consider is timing – you mentioned that it was bad timing last time? Why was that? Are you about to repeat the same mistake? If your answer to that last question is “yes,” then it’s simple: wait until the timing is better. Honestly, adding a new puppy into a family is a wonderful experience, but there is no need to rush into it. Related: A Dog By Any Other Name Kevin says: Dear Every Baby Needs a Puppy, Well dude, all I’ve got to say is: “No! No puppy for you… at least not right now.” You mentioned your wife wasn’t thrilled, so count your blessings that she forgave you last time (I’m assuming that she did, considering she wanted to make another baby with you). Looks like your kid is already has a bond with the cat, judging by the comfy kitty in the crib pictured above. Trust me on this one; if your kids and wife want another dog down the road, they will let you know! For now, enjoy what you have, and spend some of that would-have-been puppy time, playing with your kids, cats and dog!

Best Flea Spray for Dogs

Flea spray for dogs will help you keep your pet parasite-free without much hassle – they work immediately and are easy to apply. Take a look at our selection of the best flea sprays for dogs and make your pick!

Survey Helps Researchers Understand Why People Surrender Their Pets

New research survey is designed to study the reasons people voluntarily relinquish their pets The numbers are staggering – 7.6 million animals enter shelters in the United States per year according to the ASPCA… but why and how do they end up there? The University of Lincoln is trying to find out the reasons behind owner surrenders with a comprehensive and anonymous survey. Knowledge is power, and if we can figure out why, perhaps we can help to lower that number. There are plenty of reasons behind a person can be forced to give up their pet – finances, health, big life change, behavior problems, etc. It’s the reason I’m in the business I am: to work from the owner’s end to prevent dogs from ending up in hopeless situations. But the bottom line is sometimes a dog just isn’t the right fit. In these extreme situations where the owner has taken the appropriate steps to ensure the dog’s well-being and it still isn’t feasible, sometimes there is no other option. Unfortunately, the stigma is terrible for people in this situation. The idea of this online survey is to allow people to answer honestly without prejudice about why they were unable to keep their pet. At first, previous surveys were done at the shelters upon intake. But this type of questioning, when people were agitated and the emotions were high, led to results that can’t be taken as fact. The online survey takes between fifteen to twenty minutes and can provide valuable insight into the reasons behind surrender. If a pattern can be established, then hopefully we can work toward a world where the shelters aren’t overflowing with unwanted pets. For more information or to take the survey, please visit the Dog Relinquishment Survey. [Source: Scientific American]

Best Puppy Shampoo

A puppy shampoo will keep your pooch fresh-smelling, their coat soft, and their sensitive skin healthy. Read on to learn which puppy shampoo is the best choice for your pet!

Best Hands Free Leash

A hands free leash will ensure you have control over your pet at all times – without actually having to use your hand to maintain a firm grip. This is our selection of the best hands free leashes the market has to offer – read on to find a perfect match!

Wise Cat Explains The Super Bowl In Latest “Dear Kitten” Episode [

Have you ever watched any of the “ Dear Kitten” videos on YouTube? Sponsored by Friskies and voiced by Internet sensation ze frank (of Sad Cat Diary), the newest installment features the wise and witty cat explaining the ins and outs of the Super Bowl to his kitten sidekick. If you thought football was confusing, just imagine how the cats must feel. But his frisky feline has his own ideas about the big game. He has his theory as to why everyone shouts, the significance of the costumes they wear, and what’s up with the moist food the humans try to put in their mouths. Watch the hilarious video below – it’s the perfect way to warm up for Super Bowl XLIX this Sunday!

Yorkie-Pom

Yorkie-Pom BasicsIf you were ever worried that you wouldn’t be able to find a small dog adorable enough to fulfill your voracious appetite for cuteness, worry no longer! We have the pupper for you. The Yorkie-Pom is known by many names including “Porkie” and “Yoranian” (yep, if the names are almost offensively cute). This lovable designer breed is a cross between a purebred Yorkshire Terrier and a Pomeranian, making it the ultimate small-breed dog. These little dogs exhibit the best of both worlds when it comes to temperament and behavior. They are essentially a cross between the affectionate Yorkshire Terrier and the energetic Pomeranian. Energy, affection, and furriness. What more could you possibly want? These pups make other purse dogs jealous. If you need a little extra fuzzy cuteness in your life, it doesn’t get much better than the Yorkie-Pom. This pooch prompts squeals of delight from fully grown adults everywhere that it goes.Of course, owning a dog is a major responsibility that shouldn’t be determined entirely by cuteness. It’s sad but true. So, before you consider one of these little dogs, it’s quite important to learn everything you can about them. Crossbreed dogs (also known as designer dogs) come with some challenges due to variations in breeding. You cannot expect every litter of Yorkie-Poms to exhibit the same characteristics. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Keep your eyeballs glued to this page to find out whether or not a Yorkie-Pom belongs in your life.The Yorkie-Pom is known by many names including “Porkie” and “Yoranian”.Origin

Top 10 Essential Books for New Cat Owners

If you’re a first-time cat parent, you may be overwhelmed with all the things you need to know about your kitty. These books are great resources for new or nearly new cat owners.

Chipoo

Chipoo Basics Looking for a dog with a name every bit as adorable and his cuddly little appearance? Then you need a Chipoo in your life. An energetic and friendly little pup, the Chipoo is a great companion dog and loves to be part of a family environment. This pup not only soaks up attention and affection, he gives it back in spades. He loves to play, he’s quite intelligent, he’s considered easy to train due to his desire to please, and because of a tendency to bark when excited, he is an effective – albeit tiny – guard dog. He is also known to be quite independent, turning any space into his own personal play zone – including a small apartment – so lots of toys are a wise investment. In other words, this is a sweetheart of a doggo who can fit into just about any home. But, is the Chipoo the right pooch to bring home to your family? There’s only one way to find out! Keep your eyes glued to this page and scroll away. Everything that you could possibly want to know about the Chipoo is about to be revealed. The Chipoo is a great companion dog and loves to be part of a family environment. Origin Similar to other designer dogs that have Miniature or Toy Poodle DNA running through their veins, Chipoos likely originated in the U.S. back in the 1970s. That’s about a decade after the first poodle-mix (the Cockapoo) came on the scene. The Chihuahua is thought to date back to an ancient civilization that lived in Mexico between the 10th and 12th centuries. Poodles are believed to have originated in Germany around the 13th century, while the more recent Toy variation came out of the U.K. around the 18th century. Unfortunately, there’s not much known about the history of the Chipoo beyond that. Like all designer dogs, there simply wasn’t much documentation kept about their history. No breeder has even claimed credit for being the first to breed Chipoos deliberately. Sadly, the history of designer dogs simply isn’t considered as important as that of purebreds. Pedigree

Papi-Poo

Papi-Poo Basics The Papi-Poo, which is also sometimes referred to as the Papidoodle, is one of those adorable little dogs that you’ll want to take home with you as soon as you see him. A mix of a purebred Papillon and Poodle, these carefree dogs are affectionate and elegant, and their personalities match their good looks. If you’re in search of a toy dog breed that has loads of energy and is easy to care for, the Papi-Poo could be the pooch of your dreams. But before you head out to find your match, keep reading to learn all about this breed to be absolutely sure it’s the right one for you. The Papi-Poo is a cross between a purebred Papillon and Poodle. Origin The Papi-Poo is a designer crossbreed from the United States. Pedigree

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