The best snuffle mats for dogs deliver an excellent way to keep your canine companion stimulated, and entertained. These toys are perfect for hiding the best dog treats, or bits of kibble for them to find, letting them work their brain out without constant attention.
Snuffle mats come in a range of designs, and challenge levels, so it's easy to find a mat that fits your dog's demeanor and ability level. These toys allow you to hide bits of food rather than just filling their bowl. From there, your dog will need to use their nose to sniff out the snacks you've hidden for them. It's an easy way to add more enrichment to your dog's life, keeping them occupied for minutes or hours, as they track down every bit of food you've dropped for them.
But, as with almost any item on the market these days, snuffle mats are being designed and rolled out in their hundreds, so with that many to choose from, how do you know which mat is right for your pooch? You'll be relieved to hear that unlike the best dog beds which you might invest in only to find out they're not big enough or comfortable enough, you really can't go wrong with snuffle mats.
As we mentioned, snuffle mats do come in all sorts of different designs, ranging from basic models that are best suited to puppies or those who have never used a snuffle mat before, all the way up to intricate patterns that offer tons of hiding spots for food and treats. We recommend you start with a basic snuffle mat and once your dog has mastered that, feel free to move up to something a little more complicated to make things more challenging.
Before we point out our picks for the best snuffle mats for dogs, we've got some tips from Dr. Rebecca Macmillan.
Rebecca MacMillan is a companion animal vet who has always had a passion for writing and client communication. Since her graduation from the Royal Veterinary College in 2009 she has gained a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, in both clinical and managerial roles. She currently works in the South West and deals with a variety of routine and emergency appointments, but particularly enjoys medicine cases. She has recently gained her postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine!
When it comes to choosing a snuffle mat for your dog, Dr. Macmillan says this:
"Snuffle mats are a type of enrichment toy that helps dogs work their noses as they forage for treats. Most snuffle mats feature strips of fabric attached to a plastic base or mat, on which owners can hide small treats or kibbles. They are an excellent way of providing mental stimulation and encouraging natural behaviors. A good snuffle mat will get your dog’s brain working, as well as help them exercise their sense of smell. Snuffle mats are great for most dogs, but particularly those that are high-energy or prone to anxiety and boredom."
PetsRadar's pick of the best snuffle mats for dogs
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Keeping your pet pooch stimulated and entertained is not only good for their mental health but will also stop them from engaging in destructive behavior. When a dog gets bored, it will search for something to do – you don’t want that to be chewing up the ends of your new sofa. This snuffle mat will help stop that from happening.
Made from a soft eco-friendly, machine-washable, sustainable polar fleece material, it is comfortable and inviting but at the same time durable. That’s ideal if your dog gets over-excited and starts chewing.
The snuffle mat comes in two sizes, medium and large, making it suitable for small, medium, and large breed dogs. The medium mat measures 23.6in x 39.4in, while the large mat adds another foot and a half in width, making it over three feet square. A rubber non-slip material is embedded into the bottom of the mat to help keep it in place and make it easier to get to those tasty treats.
Both mats are divided into different spaces to give your fur friend maximum interactivity, stimulation, and some fun. A set of strands that mimic grass, though in this case not in color, takes up half the mat and is great for hiding small treats and kibble. Watch as your pet pooch tries to sniff them out.
To further stimulate your dog’s senses, the other half of the mat has a host of flaps, pockets, and cups to help get them thinking. And when you and your fur friend have finished with the snuffle mat, you can simply roll it up, tie it up and store it away.
If you're in the market for a bargain snuffle mat, this one from Pet Arena is well worth considering adding to your shopping cart. Particularly well suited to larger breeds, this mat will help challenge your pup and provide them with a stimulating mental workout while also slowing down their eating speed to improve digestion.
The dual usage design of this food puzzles for dogs makes it unique and allows you to convert it into snuffle mat, feeding bowl or a small storage bag by adjusting its PP belt. It's made from eco-friendly, sustainable, anti pilling upgraded polar fleece material and is both highly durable and machine washable.
Measuring 10.12 x 9.61 x 3.35 inches, the snuffle mat comes with a base made of non-slip cloth so you don't have to worry about it slipping and sliding all over the place while your dog is foraging for their treats.
This adorable and intricate snuffle mat will keep your canine companion content for ages thanks to the multitude of hiding places on offer. The flower shape in the middle of the foraging mat can hold big chunks of food while the wavy grass is ideal for disguising smaller treats.
The dimension of the large snuffle mat is 31 x 19 inches, which is perfect for all dog breeds. It also comes with velcro tape that helps to hold the mat in place. Made with super soft fabric, it features a squeaky toy for added fun and is easy to wash and store.
A dog’s nose is around 40 times better than humans at analyzing smells, so your pet pooch will be pretty good at sniffing out its favorite tasty treats. But, to stimulate your pet pooch’s brain and improve their mental health, they need a challenge and this snuffle mat provides plenty of them.
The Awoof is designed to provide layers of funs and challenges. Shaped like a large flower, it has four layers of petals coming out from the center, which in turn are surrounded by an outer ring of messy fake grass strands.
These are both integrated into the base, which continues the flower theme with four petal-shaped areas, all of which contain even more challenges for your pet pooch.
In the center, the layers of petals aren’t tightly packed, so don’t offer much of a challenge for your fur friend. But for extra stimulus and excitement, there are three bells and four pieces of ringing paper randomly placed amongst the petals. The outer ring provides continuous fake grass strands for more challenging treat retrieval. And finally, a selection of four different types of challenges such as cups, flaps, and harder-to-reach flaps, complete the challenge.
The base isn’t just petal-shaped to look good. Each of the four outer ‘petals’ folds into the center, creating an integrated carry bag for the mat. Four quick-release buckles make sure that it stays securely packed away when carrying and storing. But smartly, they double up as an anchor when the snuffle mat is in action. You can clip them around the legs of your heavy furniture and make sure the mat stays in place.
If your dog loves a trip out and a good sniff around in long grass, then this snuffle mat could be just what you are looking for. It’s a simple but challenging design that’s unlike many of the other snuffle mats available. It doesn’t use wide felt strands to hide its tasty treats but looks to create a more realistic environment.
The design brings together rolled-up strands that mimic large natural grass strands. It does this by using a combination of non-toxic and dog-safe virgin and upcycled materials that are hand-made, more environmentally friendly, and more durable.
So even if your dog likes to chew, it will last longer than felt and it’s machine washable to get rid of any dog slobber. This makes it ideal for owners who want to help the planet as well as keep their dogs happy and healthy.
The mat measures 12in x 18in, so it is not the largest snuffle mat you can buy, but it what it lacks in length and width it makes up for with its depth. This makes it ideal for all breeds.
The deep pile of fake grass strands is good at hiding any tasty treats or kibble that you drop into the mat. This in itself provides a challenge for your fur friend. They will be able to sniff out the treat pretty quickly, but it won’t be that easy to get it out, especially if the treat has slipped down to the bottom.
Don’t be fooled by the simple design of this unassuming-looking snuffle mat, it has hidden depths that will provide plenty of challenges to keep your pet pup happy and stop them from getting bored.
Made from felt, it is gentle on your dog’s nose, is non-toxic, so won’t cause any stomach issues, and is odorless so it won’t interfere with any tasty treat aromas that your fur friend will be looking to get their teeth into. Plus it’s durable and, like all good snuffle mats, is washable to stay slobber-free.
Rectangular in design, the RundA snuffle mat measures 17 x 21 inches, making it best suited to small breeds, although some larger dogs may still enjoy this mat. Drop in your dog’s favorite treats – or even small toys, if you want to go a little left field – and rock the mat side to side a few times for them to drop into the recesses.
This mat has a non-slip base and comes with suction cups that you can use to fix it into place - great for wood, tile and vinyl floors. It also has a 1-inch edge height to prevent food from falling out.
How to choose the best snuffle mats for dogs
When it comes to choosing the right snuffle mat for your dog, there are a number of factors that you should take into consideration. From picking the right size and materials, to the level of difficulty, you want an option that is right for your dog, and your budget.
We've outlined a few questions you should ask yourself before picking a mat below!
Is this mat challenging enough for your dog?
Probably the top consideration will be how much of a challenge your chosen snuffle mat provides. All dogs are different, some are smarter than others, so if a snuffle mat has too many challenges your dog might get frustrated rather than stimulated. You can start out simple and see how that works. Or make a judgment call and choose the challenge level you think is a good fit – no one knows your dog better than you.
Which size is right for your dog?
Size does matter, but most snuffle mats are suitable for most dogs. Smaller mats can provide a real challenge for large breeds with large snouts, while a large mat can have lots of small challenges – it depends on what works best for your pet pooch.
What should you look for in a snuffle mat?
You should pick a good-quality product where the fabric is securely attached to the base. Choosing a snuffle mat that features different textures and pockets will provide your dog with variety which will help to keep their interest. A mat that is machine washable is a must (drool and treats can get messy!) and select one with a non-slip base if you plan on using it on hard flooring. Just make sure that you inspect the toy regularly for signs of wear and tear, removing it if it becomes damaged.
What kind of materials should a mat be made from?
What material the mat is made from is also something to check. All will be made from a non-toxic, dog-safe medium – if not, don’t even consider it. But you might want to think about mats made from upcycled or recycled material – this is more environmentally friendly and saves on waste. We all know dogs like to chew, so think about how durable is the material is.
