Best Snuffle Mat For Dogs For Mental Stimulation – CanineJournal.com


Want to help your pup use his foraging skills to keep him entertained and engaged? A snuffle mat might be the perfect thing.

Hunting and foraging is an instinct for many dogs, but our pet pups don’t need to go looking for food. Using a dog foraging mat, aka a snuffle mat, allows you to put those instincts to use while increasing mental and physical stimulation. We’ve got all the information you need to find the right snuffle mat for the furry friend in your life.

Article Overview

What Is A Snuffle Mat For Dogs?

A snuffle mat or snuffle rug for dogs mimics the outdoors by using long pieces of fabric tied to a mat. The different lengths and widths of material make it easy to hide treats and food within the layers so your pup can go foraging through the fabric to find them. This game helps encourage slower eating habits and stimulates and engages your pup’s mind.

These mats are user-friendly and only require you to spread the food or treats out in them and then let your pup loose to find their rewards.

Best Snuffle Mat

We’ve picked the best snuffle mats in several categories based on factors like price, ease of use, customer reviews, durability, and more to help you decide what would work best for you.

Best Overall Snuffle Mat: Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat Review

Paw5 Wooly Snuffle MatView on Amazon

Our pick for the best overall snuffle mat is the Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat. This mat is easy to fill by just sprinkling food over the top. Your dog will enjoy foraging through this mat, sniffing out, and looking for his treats. This machine-washable mat is easy to clean and also sustainably handmade from non-toxic, safe materials. Some customers complain that the mat is small and may not hold up to intense chewing.

Pros

Cons

  • Easy to fill
  • Machine-washable
  • For any breed or size dog
  • Sustainably made
  • No anti-slip backing
  • May not hold up to intense chewing

Price

Best Washable Snuffle Mat: YEPPUPPY 23″ Durable Snuffle Mat Review

YEPPUPPY 23" Durable Snuffle MatView on Amazon

If you’re looking for a washable snuffle mat, we chose the YEPPUPPY as the best in this category. This mat is durably made and sewn so it won’t deform after washing. It’s easy to fill, the polar fleece material is soft and sturdy, and the non-slip bottom keeps the mat from sliding around. Unfortunately, some customers say this mat is not very challenging and heavy chewers may tear the material.

Pros

Cons

  • Easy to fill
  • Machine-washable
  • Anti-slip backing
  • Made of eco-friendly polar fleece
  • Not the most challenging mat
  • Heavy chewers may tear the material

Price

Best Portable Snuffle Mat: ALOYA Snuffle Mat Review

ALOYA Snuffle MatView on Amazon

Need a snuffle mat to take on the go? The ALOYA Snuffle Mat is our winner of the best portable snuffle mat. With an outer edge, you can cinch this mat up to take on the go or just tighten it a bit to make treat finding a more significant challenge. This mat is easy to fill, machine-washable, and made of durable, non-toxic materials. There is no non-slip bottom, so it may slide around during foraging, and some customers complain it doesn’t hide the treats very well.

Pros

Cons

  • Easy to fill
  • Machine-washable
  • Folds up for portability
  • Made of non-toxic durable material
  • No anti-slip backing
  • May not hide treats well

Price

Best Versatile Snuffle Mat: STELLAIRE CHERN Snuffle Mat Review

STELLAIRE CHERN Snuffle MatView on Amazon

What makes the STELLAIRE CHERN Snuffle Mat the most versatile choice is the multiple options for foraging. This mat has a section that looks like other foraging mats and other types of cups, folds, and pockets to increase entertainment. Though it does take longer to fill with treats, and customers say it isn’t very durable, it does have an anti-slip backing and folds up easily for storage or to take on the go.

Pros

Cons

  • Machine-washable
  • Anti-slip backing
  • Folds up for portability
  • Made with upcycled materials
  • Takes longer to fill
  • Not super durable

Price

What Are My Other Options?

MeijieM Carrot PuzzleNot sure a snuffle mat is right for your pup? You have some other options to encourage foraging, including snuffle toys. Some snuffle toys like this carrot puzzle by MeijieM keep your pup guessing where treats are hidden while also including squeaky toys to make it more fun. Other snuffle toys have pockets to hide treats like the Spanomic Plush Snuffle Chew Toy.

Suppose slow feeding is the goal. In our ultimate dog food bowl guide, we point out the Outward Hound Fun Feeder as the best in this category. There is something for every pup. You just might need to try a few different things.

DIY Snuffle Mat

If you’re wondering how to make a snuffle mat, this five-minute video from Bishop Animal Shelter shows you how to make DIY snuffle mats to use at home or donate to a shelter.

Brain Games For Mental Stimulation

Snuffle mats can be engaging, stimulating, and lots of fun. Brain games might be a good choice if you’re looking for other ways to keep your pup mentally sharp. Every dog is different, but brain games for dogs give you a lot of ideas on keeping your furry friend entertained so he’s happy and well behaved.



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