Best Snuffle Mat for Dogs: What to Look For and Two Picks

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A snuffle mat is a pad covered in strips of fabric. You scatter kibble or small dry treats into it, and your dog sniffs and noses through the strips to find every piece. It is one of the simplest ways to give a dog a job indoors, and it slows down a dog that empties a bowl in seconds. Mats differ a lot, though: some are thick and hard, some are flat and easy, some cinch into a bowl, and some cannot go in the washing machine. This guide covers what to look for, how to use and wash a mat, and the two mats in our catalog that a hands-on reviewer has tried.

How we wrote this: hands-on notes come from Whole Dog Journal, where dog trainer Jae Thomas, CPDT-KA, tried five snuffle mats with her own two dogs for a guide first published on 30 December 2024; the article does not say whether the mats were bought or sent by the makers. Tips on use and cleaning come from the American Kennel Club, checked on 1 November 2026. Product facts are as each maker states them. We did not test these snuffle mats ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Our picks at a glance

• Best overall: Pet Parents Forager Bowl, a 9 inch bowl style mat with a dense middle and a cinch string that tucks away.
• Best for large dogs: PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat, a thick cotton mat that kept the tester’s dogs busy the longest.

If you want other kinds of brain games, such as spinning puzzles and stuffable rubber toys, see our best puzzle toys for dogs guide. This page sticks to snuffle mats.

Why dogs like snuffle mats

Dogs learn about the world mostly through their noses, and a snuffle mat turns that habit into a game. The AKC describes it as a fabric pad with folds, flaps and pockets where you can tuck food for your dog to find, and it notes that mats can help on days when very hot or cold weather keeps you inside. A mat also makes each piece of food take more effort, which is why many owners use one at mealtimes for a dog that eats too fast. The AKC points out that dogs can throw up when they gulp their food; if your dog often does, ask your vet.

A snuffle mat is not a fix for problem behavior. It gives a dog something to do for a few minutes, nothing more. If your dog is destructive, restless or upset when left alone, talk to your vet or a qualified trainer.

Types of snuffle mat

• Flat strip mats. The classic design: a square or rectangle of fabric strips on a base. Easy to fill and easy to understand, which makes them a good first mat.
• Bowl style mats. A round mat with a drawstring around the edge. Use it open, or pull the string to make a bowl that is harder to search and easier to store. The AKC notes a bowl shape works well at mealtimes.
• Row or layered fleece mats. Fleece sewn in rows that you part as you fill, so the food sits at the bottom. They take longer to fill but are harder for the dog.
• Shaped and themed mats. Mats made to look like a pizza, a flower or a garden, often with plush parts, flaps and pockets. Some are fun but too easy; others are large and hard. Plush and stuffed parts are a poor match for dogs that rip toys.

What to look for in a snuffle mat

• Dense strips. Whole Dog Journal’s tester preferred mats packed with fabric, because they give more hiding spots and make the search last longer, closer to hunting through grass.
• Strong stitching and a solid base. If your dog may pull at the strips, look for heavy stitching and a sturdy backing. Loose pieces can be torn off and swallowed.
• A tidy drawstring. On bowl style mats, check that the string can be tucked away. Thomas found some dogs pulled loose strings out and chewed them, which is a choking risk.
• Machine washable fabric. A mat should be cleaned often, so pick one that can go in the washer if you know you will not hand wash it.
• Non-slip backing. The AKC suggests an anti-slip base so your dog does not slide on the mat. Even a good one may move a little on smooth floors.
• The right size. A big mat takes longer to search and suits large dogs; a small one may only keep a big dog busy for a moment. Think about floor space and storage too.
• Your dog’s chewing habits. The AKC says snuffle mats are a poor match for hard chewers, for dogs that chew whatever they find, and for dogs with little interest in food.

How to use a snuffle mat

1. Start easy. Sprinkle a few pieces on top so your dog finds them at once and gets the idea.
2. Ask for a wait during filling. A sit or down stay, a crate or another room all work. A mat with a soft base is best filled where it will be used.
3. Add a cue. Say “find it” as you put the mat down, so the game has a clear start.
4. Make it harder slowly. Push pieces deeper into the strips, use the cinch on a bowl style mat, or spread food through the rows.
5. Pick it up afterwards. When the food is gone, put the mat away so it does not become a chew toy.

Count any food that goes into the mat as part of your dog’s daily amount, so the game does not add extra. Small, dry pieces work best. The AKC suggests keeping wet food out of fabric mats unless you plan to wash the mat after every use; a lick mat is easier for soft food.

Safety

• Supervise every session. The AKC says to always watch your dog while they snuffle, and to take extra care with a dog that has chewed up or swallowed things before.
• One dog per mat. Give each dog its own mat in its own space, so nobody guards the food.
• Check the mat often. Throw out a mat with torn strips, loose threads or a frayed string.
• Know when to call the vet. If your dog swallows fabric, or vomits, retches or seems in pain afterwards, call your vet right away.

How to clean a snuffle mat

Dogs drool while they snuffle, and saliva mixed with crumbs builds up fast. Whole Dog Journal suggests cleaning a mat between uses, as you would a food bowl, so a slimy film of bacteria, known as biofilm, does not form. Its advice: wash a machine washable mat on hot with a degreasing laundry detergent, and soak and scrub a hand wash mat in hot water with a degreasing detergent or dish soap. The vet quoted by the AKC suggests a pet friendly detergent, a gentle warm cycle and air drying, and wiping small messes with a damp, soapy cloth. Always check the maker’s care label first, and keep a second mat if you use one every day.

For more on washing fabric, rubber and plastic toys, read how to clean dog and cat toys.

The snuffle mats we list

Pet Parents Forager Bowl

Pet Parents makes the Forager Bowl as a round snuffle mat with a cinch string, so it works flat or as a bowl. The maker lists a 9 inch size in Meadow and Forest styles, its own soft SoftSnout fabric that it says is gentle on noses and gums, a non-slip backing, an easy cinch design for different difficulty levels, and machine washable construction. It says the bowl suits dogs and cats of all ages (Pet Parents).

Whole Dog Journal made it the overall winner. Thomas liked its dense center, sturdy stitching, canvas base and grippy underside, which cut down on sliding without stopping it altogether. A small pocket holds the loose end of the cinch string, which she valued after seeing dogs pull and chew the strings on other bowl style mats. At 9 inches it is on the small side for a big dog, so large breeds may finish it quickly.

PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat

The PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat is the main product of PAW5, which says it is made to engage a dog’s nose as they sniff and snuffle for their food (PAW5). Whole Dog Journal lists it at about 18 by 12 by 3 inches, made of 100% cotton, with room for 1 to 2 cups of kibble, and machine washable.

In the Whole Dog Journal test it was the pick for large dogs. It took Thomas’s two dogs longer to clear than any other mat, and she found it tough, easy to fill and the closest thing to foraging in long grass. The trade offs were the cost and the soft base: it has no stiff bottom, so food falls out if you fill it on a table. Fill it on the floor instead. K9 of Mine also liked how its dense fabric makes dogs work, while noting it comes in one color.

Other mats named without links

These came up in the same test, but each misses one of our checks for a linked pick (a current maker page plus an independent page that matches the Amazon listing), so we name them without links:

• Pupford Snuffle Mat: a fleece mat built in rows that you part as you fill, so food drops to the bottom. Whole Dog Journal found it slower to fill but harder for dogs, and a close runner up (Pupford sells it directly).
• Frisco Pizza Snuffle Mat: a very large, pizza shaped mat with lots of hiding spots and pieces joined by hook and loop tape, so it can be split between dogs. It is not machine washable, and the plush, stuffed parts make it a poor choice for dogs that shred toys.
• AWOOF Pet Snuffle Mat: Whole Dog Journal’s budget pick, similar in design to the Forager but with thinner materials and stitching. It is machine washable.

New to puzzles? See how to teach a dog to use a puzzle toy: start easy, raise the difficulty slowly, and supervise every session.

FAQ

Are snuffle mats good for dogs?

For most dogs that sniff rather than chew, yes. The AKC says they turn sniffing into a rewarding game and can slow down fast eaters. They are not a good fit for dogs that chew or rip fabric, or dogs that are not interested in food.

How long should a dog use a snuffle mat?

As long as it takes to find the food, then pick it up. Most sessions last a few minutes; a denser or larger mat takes longer. Do not leave the mat down as a toy once it is empty.

Is it safe to leave a dog alone with a snuffle mat?

No. The AKC says to always supervise your dog while they snuffle, because strips and strings can be chewed off and swallowed.

How do you clean a snuffle mat?

Follow the care label. Whole Dog Journal suggests a hot wash with a degreasing detergent for machine washable mats, or a soak and scrub in hot water for hand wash mats, ideally between uses. Air drying helps the mat keep its shape.

Can you put wet food in a snuffle mat?

It is best not to. The AKC advises small, dry pieces and suggests a lick mat for wet food, unless you will wash the mat each time.

For more, read the dog and cat toys buying guide, the best puzzle toys for dogs guide and slow feeder vs regular bowl.