Dog Lick Mat Guide: Types, Spreads and Cleaning Tips

November 1, 2026

A dog lick mat is a flat, textured mat with little grooves and bumps. You spread soft food into the grooves, and your dog licks it out bit by bit. This guide explains the main types of lick mat, what to put on one, how to freeze it, how to clean it and how to pick the right mat for your dog. You can also see the LickiMat lick mats and slow feeders we stock.

Key takeaways

Here are the main things to know before you buy a lick mat for your dog. Each point is explained in more detail further down, with tips from the American Kennel Club, the RSPCA and the US Food and Drug Administration on safe foods and safe use at home.

• A lick mat turns a small amount of soft food into a longer, slower treat.
• Flat mats, bowl-style mats and novelty shapes all work. Pick one that suits your dog and your kitchen.
• Use plain, dog-safe spreads. Never use peanut butter that contains xylitol.
• Freeze the mat for a treat that lasts longer.
• Wash the mat after every use and stay close while your dog uses it.

What is a dog lick mat?

A dog lick mat is a mat made of rubber or silicone with a textured top. The texture holds a thin layer of soft food. Your dog cannot pick the food up in one bite, so they have to lick it out of the grooves. That makes a spoonful of food last much longer than it would in a bowl.

The American Kennel Club lists lick mats as a dog enrichment activity. Enrichment means giving your dog things to do that use their senses and keep them busy. The RSPCA says dogs need things to do and should be given chances to behave normally, such as playing and exploring.

Lick mats are sometimes called licky mats, slow feeder mats or treat mats. LickiMat is a popular brand name, and many people call any lick mat a “lickimat” for short.

Types of lick mats for dogs

Lick mats come in a few main styles. They all do the same basic job, but they differ in shape, how they sit on the floor and how easy they are to fill. Here are the types you will see most often when you shop for a lick mat in Australia.

• Flat square mats: a simple flat mat with textured patterns. Easy to fill, freeze and wash.
• Bowl-style lick mats: a bowl with a textured base, which can hold a full meal of wet food.
• Novelty shape mats: fun shapes like fruit or a donut, often with suction cups to grip a smooth surface.
• Tougher mats: thicker mats made for pets who like to chew or flip their mat.

If your dog tends to push the mat around the floor, a mat with suction cups or a heavier bowl-style mat is often easier. If you want a mat you can stack in the freezer, a flat mat works best.

Our dog lick mats compared

These are the lick mats we stock right now. Each one links to its own product page with full details. Features below are taken from each product page on our site.

LickiMat Buddy

The LickiMat Buddy is a flat mat with a textured pattern that suits both dogs and cats. You can spread or press in yoghurt, wet food, mashed fruit or broth. It is a simple first lick mat if you have never used one before.

LickiMat Pastel Playdate

The LickiMat Pastel Playdate is a flat feeding mat in a soft pastel colour. It works with yoghurt, raw food, wet food and liquid treats. The licking slows your dog down, so a small portion lasts longer, which is handy if you are watching your dog’s treats.

LickiMat Dog OH Bowl

The LickiMat Dog OH Bowl is a bowl with raised textured patterns in the base. Your dog has to lick around the patterns, which slows down eating. It suits dogs who gulp their wet food, such as many Labradors and Beagles, and it can be used for a full meal instead of just a treat.

Novelty Pet Lick Mat

The Novelty Pet Lick Mat comes in strawberry, avocado, donut or pizza shapes, about 21cm across. Each one has suction cups to help it stay put on a smooth surface. Designs are picked at random, so you may get any of the four shapes.

LickiMat Cat Playdate Tuff

The LickiMat Cat Playdate Tuff is part of the Tuff range and is made for cats and dogs. It is a good pick for a home with both pets, because one mat style works for everyone.

What to put on a dog lick mat

Put soft, plain, dog-safe food on a dog lick mat. Spread a thin layer and press it into the grooves with a spoon or spatula. Start with foods your dog already eats, so you know they agree with your dog’s tummy. Here are some easy ideas.

• Plain yoghurt: unsweetened, with no added flavours.
• Mashed pumpkin or carrot: cooked and cooled, with no salt or butter.
• Your dog’s wet food: spread a portion of their normal meal.
• Low-salt broth: pour a little on, then freeze it.
• Dog-safe peanut butter: only a brand with no xylitol, and only a little.
• Lickable dog treats: a squeeze of a dog treat such as Inaba Dog Churu Meal Topper.

The American Kennel Club says some peanut butter contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs. It also says peanut butter should only be used in moderation. Always read the label before you use any spread.

Xylitol is present in many products and foods for human use, but can have devastating effects on your pet.

US Food and Drug Administration, Paws Off Xylitol

Foods to keep off a lick mat

Some foods are toxic to dogs and should never go on a lick mat. The RSPCA lists foods to avoid, and the list below covers the ones people most often have in the kitchen. This is not a complete list, so ask your vet if you are not sure. The RSPCA Australia list has 20 entries, and the six groups below, about 30% of that list, are the ones most likely to end up on a lick mat by mistake.

• Onions, onion powder and garlic
• Chocolate, coffee and anything with caffeine
• Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants
• Avocado
• Nuts, including macadamia nuts
• Anything sweetened with xylitol, such as some peanut butters, sugar-free yoghurts and baked goods

How to freeze a lick mat

Freezing a lick mat makes the treat last longer, because your dog has to lick the food as it slowly thaws. It is also a nice cool treat on a hot summer day in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Darwin. Freezing works best with flat mats that lie level in the freezer.

1. Spread your filling into the grooves in a thin, even layer.
2. Lay the mat flat on a tray in the freezer.
3. Freeze for a few hours, or overnight.
4. Give the mat to your dog and stay nearby while they lick.
5. Wash the mat when they are done.

The American Kennel Club suggests pouring low-sodium chicken, beef or vegetable broth on the mat and freezing it for a few hours, for an ice-cold treat your dog can enjoy.

How to clean a lick mat

Clean your dog lick mat after every use. Food left in the grooves can go off and grow bacteria. A small scrubbing brush is the easiest way to reach into all the little bumps and channels. The American Kennel Club says mats made of natural rubber should be washed by hand, while some food-grade silicone mats can go in the dishwasher.

1. Rinse off leftover food under warm water.
2. Scrub the grooves with a brush and dish soap.
3. Rinse well so no soap is left behind.
4. Let the mat dry fully before you fill it again.
5. Check the product page or care label to see if your mat can go in the dishwasher.

The American Kennel Club says lick mats are generally easy to clean. It says mats made of natural rubber are best washed with soap and warm water, while some food-grade silicone mats are dishwasher-safe.

How to use a lick mat safely

Lick mats are safe for most dogs when you use them the right way. The main rules are to supervise your dog, take the mat away if they start to chew it, and keep portions small so treats do not add too much to their daily food.

There’s no such thing as a “leave-it-and-forget-it” dog toy.

American Kennel Club, Lick Mats for Dogs

• Stay close while your dog uses the mat.
• Take the mat away once the food is gone.
• Swap to a tougher mat if your dog chews the edges.
• Count spreads as part of your dog’s daily food.
• Replace the mat if it cracks or tears.

The RSPCA says dogs need a safe, comfortable place to live, and that includes the things you give them. A torn mat can leave small pieces your dog might swallow, so check it each time you wash it.

How to choose the best lick mat for your dog

The best lick mat for your dog depends on their size, how they eat and how you plan to use the mat. Think about these points before you buy.

• Size of your dog: a larger mat or bowl suits bigger dogs like a Kelpie, Border Collie or German Shepherd, while a small flat mat suits a Cavoodle or Maltese.
• Chewing: pick a tougher mat for dogs who chew.
• Grip: suction cups help on tiles, in the bath or on a shower wall.
• Freezer space: flat mats stack easily.
• Pets at home: many LickiMat mats suit both dogs and cats.

If your dog likes a challenge, you can also try other food puzzles. The Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-A-Lot and the GiGwi Treat Dispensing Bulb drop dry treats as your dog plays. You can find more ideas in our dog training products range.

Novelty lick mat sizes compared

The Novelty Pet Lick Mat comes in four shapes. Sizes come from the product page on our site. The surface area is worked out from the height and width, so you can see how much room each shape gives for spreading food.

That means the pizza shape gives about 20% more spreading room than the strawberry, and the avocado gives about 7% more. The strawberry is about 20% deeper than the other shapes, at 1.8cm instead of 1.5cm, so its grooves can hold a slightly thicker layer. The donut gives about 10% more room than the strawberry, and the pizza gives about 13% more than the avocado.

Lick mats by the numbers

• 4 shapes: strawberry, avocado, donut and pizza in our Novelty Pet Lick Mat.
• About 21cm: the size of each Novelty Pet Lick Mat shape.
• 5 mats: the lick mat styles we stock and compare in this guide.
• A few hours: how long the American Kennel Club says to freeze broth on a lick mat.
• About 20% more room: the pizza shape compared with the strawberry shape.
• About 20% deeper: the 1.8cm strawberry compared with the 1.5cm shapes.
• 20 items: the RSPCA list of foods and things not to feed dogs, including onions, garlic, chocolate and grapes. The RSPCA says even this list is not complete.
• 6 sources: the animal welfare, dog and food safety pages this guide draws on.
• 0 xylitol: the only safe amount in any spread you give your dog.

Want new treats and toys for your dog to try? Our pet subscription box sends a mix of goodies to your door.

Dog lick mat FAQ: specific questions about dog lick mats

These are common questions owners ask about lick mats for dogs. The answers are short and simple. Follow the links above for more detail on types, spreads and cleaning.

Are lick mats good for dogs?

Lick mats give your dog something to do and make a small treat last longer. The American Kennel Club lists them as an enrichment activity. Use plain, dog-safe food, keep portions small and stay close while your dog uses the mat.

What can I put on a lick mat instead of peanut butter?

Try plain yoghurt, mashed pumpkin, your dog’s wet food, low-salt broth or a lickable dog treat. If you do use peanut butter, choose one with no xylitol and use only a little.

Can puppies use a lick mat?

Yes, many puppies enjoy a lick mat. Use foods your puppy already eats, keep portions small, and watch them closely, because puppies love to chew. Take the mat away if they start chewing it.

How often should I give my dog a lick mat?

There is no set rule. Many owners use a lick mat once a day, or at times when they want their dog busy. Count the food on the mat as part of your dog’s daily intake.

Can I put a lick mat in the dishwasher?

Some lick mats are dishwasher-safe and some are not. Check the product page or care label for your mat. If you are not sure, wash it by hand with warm soapy water and a brush.

References

The advice in this dog lick mat guide comes from the animal welfare, dog and food safety sources listed here. Product details come from each product page on our site. Always ask your vet if you have concerns about your dog’s diet or health.

• American Kennel Club, Lick Mats for Dogs: Everything You Need to Know
• American Kennel Club, Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
• US Food and Drug Administration, Paws Off Xylitol; It’s Dangerous for Dogs
• RSPCA Australia, What should I feed my dog?
• RSPCA, Dog behaviour
• RSPCA, Dog environment

Dr Jay Rollings BSc DVM

Veterinarian – Dr Jay Rollings is a skilled veterinarian with 12 years experience in wildlife research and conservation

During veterinary school, he contributed to projects involving species such as hammerhead sharks, Shark Bay mice, woylies, mulgara, and kangaroos, gaining valuable hands-on experience in wildlife health and preservation.