Pet Parents Forager Bowl

A round, bowl style snuffle mat with soft fabric strips and a cinch string, so you can use it flat or pull it into a bowl for an extra challenge.

Who it suits

Dogs that gulp their food or need something to do indoors, owners who want a mat they can tighten into a bowl shape, and cats as well as dogs, as the maker says. Not for dogs that chew or rip fabric.

Key facts

• Made from the maker’s own soft SoftSnout fabric, which it says is gentle on noses, teeth and gums (Pet Parents)
• 9 inch size, in Meadow and Forest styles and several colors (Pet Parents)
• Can go in the washing machine; the maker says it is built for use every day (Pet Parents)
• Non-slip backing and an easy cinch design for different difficulty levels; the maker says it suits dogs and cats of all ages (Pet Parents)

What reviewers say

Whole Dog Journal: Dog trainer Jae Thomas, CPDT-KA, tried five snuffle mats with her own two dogs for a guide first published in December 2024 and made this her overall pick. She praised the dense center, sturdy stitching, canvas base and grippy underside, which slowed sliding without stopping it completely. She also liked the small pocket that hides the loose end of the cinch string, since on other bowl style mats her dogs had pulled the string out and chewed it. The review does not say whether the mats were bought or sent by the makers.

We did not test it ourselves.

Pros

• Dense middle with lots of hiding spots
• Cinch string tucks away
• Machine washable

Cons

• Small at 9 inches for a big dog
• Backing does not stop all sliding, per Whole Dog Journal

Good to know

• Stay with your dog while they use it, and put it away afterwards.
• Not for dogs that chew or swallow fabric; take it away if strips start to come loose.