Machine-Washable Snuffle Mat for Nose-Work Feeding

Scatter a handful of kibble or small treats into the fleece strips and let your dog sniff its way to dinner. A snuffle mat turns a bowl of food into a nose-work game, which slows eating down and gives a bored dog something to do. This one is made from fleece, measures 19.7 x 17.7 in (50 x 45 cm), and is described as easy to fill, so you can reload it in a minute.

It is suited to both small and large dogs, and the size is large enough for a big dog to work across without pushing the mat around too quickly. Packed, it measures about 11.8 x 9.8 x 2.8 in (300 x 250 x 70 mm) and weighs about 14.1 oz (400 g).

Start with a few treats on top of the fleece so your dog learns the idea, then tuck pieces deeper as they get confident. Use only dry food or small treats, since wet food will cling to the fabric. When the mat gets grubby, shake out crumbs and put it in the washing machine; let it air dry fully before the next feeding. Supervise play and take it away if your dog begins chewing or swallowing the fleece.