What’s a snuffle mat for dogs? You'll love these fun and safe pet toys

Posted by Annie Grossman · August 01, 2022

What's a snuffle mat for dogs?

Snuffle mats are a form of enrichment or "work to eat" toy, designed with the purpose of keeping dogs entertained and mentally stimulated. By hiding treats in the nooks and crannies of the mat, you can provide your pup with hours of fun. They come in many sizes, shapes and colors. We carry a wide variety of these in our online shop, StoreForTheDogs.com, and in our store in Manhattan.

snuffle mat taco

The DogNMat Taco Snuffle mat is handmade in the USA

How do snuffle mats work?

Clients often ask us a simple question: How does a snuffle mat work? We give them a simple answer: It doesn't do any work! Your dog does the work! You see, a snuffle mat is a type of "nose work" toy that encourages your dog to use his/her mouth and brain to search for bits of food. You can use dry food or dry treats with snuffle mats (or even slightly moist treats, like shredded cheese, as snuffle mats can be put into the washing machines). News flash: Dogs like to work! We sometimes cause more harm than good by putting all of a dog's food in simple bowl. If you don't give a dog a job they can sometimes make up their own job, like... ripping apart your couch. Let them forage in a mat instead.

Snuffle mats can be used at meal time, or you can bring them with you to give to your dog if you're in the car, or enjoying a meal outdoors. They generally fold up easily (we particularly like traveling with the Buster Activity Mat, as it comes with its own cute carrying case and had detachable pieces that can be configured in an infinite number of ways).

fleece dog snuffle mat

Snuffle mats like the Butterfly Snuffle Activity Mat are made of felt and fleece and can be rolled up for easy storage or for travel.

Are snuffle mats safe?

Snuffle mats are very safe for puppies and adult dogs, but if you have a dog who has a tendency to rip things apart, you may want to avoid ones that are made of fleece and instead stick to sturdier varieties, such as the Wooly by Paw5.

dog using a puppy snuffle mat

The Paw5 Wooly is a machine washable snuffle mat.

Snuffle mats for rabbits? Snuffle mats for guinea pigs?

Why should dogs have all the fun? Snuffle mats can indeed be enjoyed by lots of different pets. Even toddlers can enjoy searching for Cherrios or peanuts in the folds and flaps of these fun toys.

turtle snuffle mat

The Tortoise Snuffle Activity Mat or dog can be used by cats, rabbits, guinea pigs.

Made by the Danish company Kruuse, the Buster Activity Mat is very sturdy, can be configured in infinite ways and comes with its own carrying case.

Snuffle Mat: DIY?

On a dog toy budget? You can make you own snuffle mat! All you need is some old t-shirts cut into strips and anything plastic with holes. A shower-caddy, rubber flooring a sink liner will do the job. Simply thread the strips through the holes and tie it in knots. (Note: If your dog is playing with a homemade snuffle mats require extra supervision, as you're using materials not designed for pets and it's possible they could bite off and swallow a piece of rubber or plastic).