Are you looking for quality snuffle mat to keep your dog mentally stimulated?
Snuffle mats are a great resource for pet owners who are looking for alternative ways to keep their canine companions mentally and physically stimulated.
If you’ve got a reactive dog, you may find that ditching one of your daily walks in favour of some scentwork with a snuffle mat may result in a more relaxed pooch.
Older dogs or dogs recovering from an operation can enjoy using a snuffle mat as it provides a safe place to explore and release some pent up energy without having to go outside.
Some dog owners believe snuffle mats have helped to reduce their dog’s anxiety or nervous energy as well as developing their foraging skills and overall intelligence.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best snuffle mats for dogs available to pet owners on Amazon right now.
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Benefits Of A Snuffle Mat For Dogs
Snuffle Mat (Photo: Adobe Stock)
A snuffle mat is a type of puzzle toy for dogs that can keep them entertained and mentally stimulated.
They’re usually designed with lots of petals, grass, pockets, flaps and tubes to encourage dogs to use their nose to find treats.
You can find snuffle mats in a range of shapes and sizes to cater to dogs of all sizes and of all ages. Whether you’ve got a Yorkshire Terrier or a German Shepherd, there’s options for you!
Perhaps the biggest reason to consider a snuffle mat is to prevent boredom and increase mental stimulation.
You’ll find that the snuffle mats in this feature can double up as a slow feeder to improve your dog’s digestion. If you’ve got high-energy dogs like me, snuffle mats can help to burn off energy and result in a calmer dog.
As we mentioned above, a lot of pet parents believe snuffle mats have helped to reduce their pup’s anxiety. While it won’t fix separation anxiety, they can prove a welcome distraction.
If you’ve got a dog that likes to beg for food from the table, you could use the snuffle mat to keep your pup occupied as you eat your meal. It can also encourage your dog to improve their nosework!
Things To Look For In A Snuffle Mat
Snuffle Mat (Photo: Adobe Stock)
So you’re ready to take the plunge and get a snuffle mat to provide your dog with a new way to stay mentally stimulated and allow their nose to explore new smells and surfaces.
If you’re thinking about getting a snuffle mat, you’ll want to keep in mind your dog’s size when you’re purchasing a product. For instance, big dog breeds will obviously benefit from a bigger mat.
While I’ve got a small dog breed, my two Alaskan Klee Kai love to use their noses to unearth treats so I usually get a snuffle mat with a lot of different sections to keep them occupied for longer.
I find it’s better to go for a snuffle mat that can be attached to furniture, a door or comes with a device to keep it in place, otherwise your dog will be scooting across your room and could knock something over.
It’s a good idea to opt for a snuffle mat that is machine washable, especially if you’ve got a dog breed that is prone to drooling. Otherwise the snuffle mat may develop a bit of a stench over time.
We took a close look at the Amazon reviews before selecting the products in our list to see what other dog owners had to say about the snuffle mats included in this list.
Best Snuffle Mats For Dogs
Now that we know what a snuffle mat is and what to look for when looking at different snuffle mats, let’s get stuck into our pick of the best snuffle mats for dogs available right now.
1) AWOOF Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
The AWOOF Snuffle Mat is dominated by a big orange flower in the middle of the enrichment mat. It has four layers of orange petals surrounded by a bed of grass so dog owners will have plenty of areas to hide treats in the middle of the snuffle mat. Each petal has a range of pockets, bells and ringing paper to provide extra stimulation. The AWOOF Snuffle Mat is made from oxford cloth and polar fleece so it should be durable and odorless. You can use the string to attach the snuffle mat to furniture. It’s one of the top-rated snuffle mats on Amazon with an average rating of 4.5 stars based upon nearly 3,000 reviews.
2) LAMTWEK Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
The LAMTWEK Snuffle Mat has been designed to improve your dog’s forging skills and encourage slow feeding. In doing so, they hope to aide your dog’s digestion. The mat uses thick hair to allow pet owners to hide treats with a foam edge finishing. It comes with two extra suction cups so you can stick it to a smooth surface and attach the mat to hold it in place. The LAMTWEK Snuffle Mat uses high quality, soft polyester to withstand even the most enthusiastic dogs. The LAMTWEK Snuffle Mat has an average rating of 4.2 stars based upon nearly 2,500 reviews on Amazon.
3) IFOYO Pet Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
IFOYO Pet Snuffle Mat is described on their Amazon page as being non-toxic, skin-friendly and very soft. The snuffle mat has been designed to reduce stress by foraging. This non-slip snuffle mat has two straps so you can attach it to furniture while your dog works to uncover the hidden treats. You can get the IFOYO Pet Snuffle Mat in a range of different colors. An Amazon’s Choice product, the IFOYO snuffle mat gets an average rating of 4.2 stars based upon nearly 1,500 reviews on the online retailer.
4) Routesun Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
Routesun Snuffle Mat is a versatile option with a number of different sections. It has petals, flaps, pockets and tubes to give dog owners a number of different places to hide treats. It’s non-slip and can be folded away if once your dog has finished exploring. Routesun explain that the mat is made of high-quality, eco-friendly sustainable polar fleece material. It can be washed in the machine or by hand. The Routesun Snuffle Mat gets an average rating of 4.6 stars based upon nearly 1,000 reviews, making it one of the top-rated snuffle mats in this feature.
5) Emwel Dog Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
Emwel Dog Snuffle Mat gives dog owners lots of options to hide food so dogs can use their nose and brain to find some tasty rewards. It’s durable with soft fabric and a non-slip bottom. Emwel Dog Snuffle Mat is made from felt fabric and Oxford cloth and comes with a buckle so you can fold it away once your dog has enjoyed sufficient mental stimulation. Another Amazon’s Choice product, the Emwel Dog Snuffle Mat gets 4.4 stars based upon nearly 600 reviews.
6) FOSSA Dog Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
If you’re looking for something a little different then you may want to check out the FOSSA Dog Snuffle Mat. It’s described as a 3-in-1 feeding mat as it can be used as a snuffle mat, a brain stimulation game or a slow feeder. There eight detachable plush carrot toys with eight built-in holes for the carrots. The carrots have additional space for hiding treats so can use the carrots as part of the snuffle mat or separately. My Alaskan Klee Kai love both the mat and the plush toys so it’s a win-win. The FOSSA Dog Snuffle Mat has an average rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon based upon nearly 250 reviews making it another top-rated product on this feature.
7) Imperial Paws Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
The Imperial Paws Snuffle Mat is suitable for any breed, size and age. It’s made from premium and durable material to keep dogs stimulated, entertained and develop foraging skills. Pet owners can sprinkle kibble and treats in between the petals and distribute evenly throughout the snuffle mat. This particular snuffle mat is machine washable, sustainable and plastic-free. Sustainably produced, the Imperial Paws Snuffle Mat gets 4.6 stars from 200 reviews on Amazon.
8) SUMISPOT Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
One of the more aesthetically-pleasing snuffle mats in this feature, SUMISPOT Snuffle Mat contains three yellow flowers and a bed of green. The Sumispot Snuffle Mat can be used to slow down fast eaters by spreading kibble throughout the various areas of the mat. It’s made from fleece and can be popped in the washing machine when it needs to be cleaned. The SUMISPOT Snuffle Mat gets an average rating of 4.4 stars based upon over 120 reviews.
9) ALL FOR PAWS Pet Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
My dogs are obsessed with squirrels so I had to include this option. The ALL FOR PAWS Snuffle Mat can be used in the traditional way to hide treats and develop your dog’s foraging skills. The snuffle mat has some petals as you’d expect to find on a snuffle mat plus pockets and flaps to hide kibble. But it comes with a squirrel and tree trunk to add an extra layer of fun for our canine companions. At the time of writing, the ALL FOR PAWS Pet Snuffle Mat has an average rating of 4.2 stars based upon nearly 100 reviews on Amazon.
10) GAXCO Snuffle Mat
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
If you want a novel option that will entertain both your dog and you, the GAXCO Snuffle Mat is designed in the shape of an American Football field. The field has petals in the middle with four tubes to hide kibble, while the touchdown zones have flaps for additional hiding space. The GAXCO Snuffle Mat comes with a toy football that also has pockets and flaps for additional space to hide treats. It’s machine washable and comes with a bag to store away once your dog is done. The GAXCO Snuffle Mat gets an average rating of 4.5 stars based upon nearly 50 reviews.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
We’ve reached the end of our article on the best snuffle mats for dogs.
There’s no shortage of options available to dog owners who want to provide their canine companion with some mental stimulation to be enjoyed inside the home or on the road.
You can find lots of traditional snuffle mats that contain petals, flaps, pockets, tubes and evenlopes.
However, there are some snuffle mats that comes with a plush toy that also has hiding spots giving you even more options to keep your dog’s brain ticking over and tire them out.
For instance, my dogs love a snuffle mat that has plush toys because it adds an extra layer of fun as I’m able to hide treats in the mat and hide some of the toys in the room.
One of the snuffle mats in this feature should be able to meet your dog’s specific needs, irrespective of age, breed or size!
