Sometimes, I need to get out the door quickly. In these moments, I’m just using The Lick Mat to interest Rolly enough so that he won’t panic when I leave. Even a frozen Lick Mat is too challenging to hold his attention when he's anxious. My formula for a fast-and-easy Lick Mat is two-fold: something that spreads + something that sprinkles
Spreads:
Rolly’s tastes are pretty basic—he likes meat. Unfortunately for me, that doesn’t include the paté-style dog food that works so well on a lick mat. But I’ve been able to help him cultivate a taste for a few other spreadable things I can rely on:
cottage cheese
plain yogurt
cream cheese
whipped peanut butter*
Less picky pups, might also enjoy these spreadable treats:
banana
unsweetened applesauce
pumpkin puree
baby food (free of garlic, onion and salt)
*Peanut butter whipped with water is less caloric, less rich and less likely wreak stomach havoc—plus, he likes the taste better. I aim for a ratio of 1:1, but it usually requires a little extra peanut butter. If I know I’ll need some during the week, I’ll whip it and store it in the fridge for a few days.
Sprinkles:
Magic dust*
Freeze-dried chicken or beef sprinkles
Powdered bone broth
*Magic dust is what I collect from the bottom of all of my dogs’ food and treat bags. I store it in a glass jar and use it for both lick mats and on their regular dog food when they aren’t showing interest.
As always, please make sure whatever you choose doesn’t contain xylitol or other ingredients that are harmful to your pup. I have a list of some ingredients to avoid, but you should always do your own research before offering a food to your pet. When in doubt, ask your vet. Introduce new treats gradually to avoid causing an upset stomach.
