Calming Enrichment for Dogs:

Angela @ The Quirky Canine
May 27
6 min read

Why Lick Mats Deserve a Spot in Your Routine

A German Shepherd dog wearing a blue sloth-print collar is sleeping belly-up on a gray dog bed, looking peaceful and relaxed — *Oona's example of relaxation*

If your dog could use a little help calming their big, beautiful brain... consider adding a lick mat to your routine.

When we think about enrichment for dogs, we often jump to the obvious stuff: puzzle toys, sniffaris, tug games, trick training—mental and physical outlets galore. But there’s a whole other category of enrichment that often gets overlooked: calming enrichment.

Calming enrichment isn’t about getting your dog tired, or using mental energy to solve simple or complex puzzles. It’s about helping them decompress, process their day, and relax. Just like we need downtime (and maybe a cocktail) after a long day, dogs need help winding down from the sensory and emotional overload of living in our human world.

Why Licking Helps Calm Dogs

German Shepherd licking a green mat on rug in a cozy indoor setting. The dog's posture suggests calmness and focus. — *Oona enjoying her lick mat*

Licking is a species-specific, self-soothing behavior that activates the parasympathetic nervous system—aka the "rest and digest" system. It lowers heart rate, releases endorphins and serotonin, and helps the brain and body chill out.

Used strategically—after a stressful event, during crate time, or when your dog is on the edge of overwhelm—a lick mat can be a powerful tool for helping them slide down the emotional ladder toward calm.

Think of it as a canine meditation session... with snacks.

My Favorite Lick Mats

Here are my go-to licking enrichment tools that I recommend to my clients for thier dogs with Big Feelings—whether they need help with calming, confidence building, or just a fun way to pass the time. These aren’t sponsored or affiliate links—just products I truly love and use regularly in training and consulting.

West Paw Toppl

Okay—this isn’t technically a lick mat, but it absolutely earns a top spot on this list because it’s my all-time favorite enrichment tool. You can smear soft food inside, stuff it with kibble and goodies, or freeze it for a long-lasting snack. Want to level it up? Grab two different sizes and hook them together to turn it into a wobbly, brain-boosting treat puzzle.

This is how Oona eats most of her meals—and after a year of daily use, our Toppls are still going strong. (I supervise, and once the goodies are gone, I pick them up—Toppls aren’t indestructible, especially if your pup is more than a moderate chewer.)

They’re made in Montana from recycled dog toys (how cool is that?), and yes—they're dishwasher-safe.

Add a Toppl Stopper to plug the hole while freezing things like bone broth or kefir, and boom: you’ve got a gourmet dog popsicle situation. Total enrichment goldmine.

Lukito Licking Mats

Blue and green dog lick mats on a metal surface. The blue mat has varied textures; the green mat shows suction cups — ✨**Pro tip:** *Prep these on wax paper so all the goodness doesn’t fly off when you're peeling them off the counter.*

An affordable option (it’s a 2-pack with a spatula—and honestly, who doesn’t need another spatula?). Each mat features four different textures on one surface and is made from food-grade silicone. There are two size options and some fun colors to choose from.

Tons of suction cups on the back help it stick to smooth surfaces—floors, placemats, bathtubs, shower walls, even your fridge if you’re feeling wild. These suction cups mean business.

And yes, my friends—you can put them in the dishwasher. But I usually just soak them in warm, soapy water and scrub with a dish brush, because I use them more often than I run the dishwasher.

Mighty Paw Lick Mat

Two orange textured silicone mats with varied patterns. One is stacked on another. "Mighty Paw" text is visible. Bright and vibrant. — *Made in the USA*

This one is made in the USA with a more rectangular shape, this is another solid option. Like the Lukito, it has four different textures for longer-lasting licking fun and has suction cups all over the back to help it stay put.

It’s made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone, and while it only comes in one size and two colors, it totally gets the job done. And yes, you can toss it in the dishwasher.

Lickimat Soother

LickiMat makes a whole line of fabulous mats with different textures and shapes. The Soother is perfect for beginners—it’s covered in tiny dot “nubbins” that are ideal for runny foods like yogurt or applesauce.

It doesn’t have suction cups, so it may slide around a bit with overzealous lickers (I’m looking at you, Oona). But it’s made from human-grade rubber, BPA- and silicone-free, and yep—dishwasher-safe.

It’s also super easy to clean by hand with warm water and a dish brush if you're not up for the dishwasher shuffle.

Lickimat UFO

Purple round silicone lick mat bowl hangs on beige tiled shower wall. — *Bath time enrichment with less mess.*

This one’s more bowl than mat—a shallow dish lined with little nubbins, perfect for soft, mushy, or liquidy goodness. Bonus: it does have suction cups, so it sticks beautifully to smooth surfaces. Especially handy if your dog is an exuberant licker (still looking at you, Oona).

It helps keep crumbs, clumps, and drool from sliding off when you stick it on vertical surfaces. Because let’s be real—who wants a relaxing bubble bath with peanut butter slime melting into the tub?

It comes in four fun colors, is made from human-grade rubber, and yes—into the dishwasher it goes.

What to Put on a Lick Mat

You can get pretty creative with lick mat enrichment, but in the beginning, I'd start simple (and safe). Always consider your pup's dietary restrictions, and check with your vet if you're unsure about a particular food.

Some of my go to (and Oona's favorites) ingredients include:

Plain Yogurt (non-fat & unsweetened)
Peanut butter (make sure there's no xylitol added)
Pumpkin puree (just plain canned pumpkin- no sugar added)
Canned dog food (Oona prefers pate for her lick mats)
Plain cottage cheese
Squeezy cheese (use sparingly)
Applesauce (no sugar added- I like the GoGo Squeez AppleApple)
Baby food works in a pinch—as long as you check the ingredients!

When to Pull out the Lick Mat

A German Shepherd attempting to climb over the side of a couch . The dog's posture suggests worry and over arousal

At my house, when the Texas skies open up and start throwing lightning parties, Oona goes full Tasmanian Devil—like, honey badger-on-caffeine chaos. I'm talking barking, frantic pacing, attempting to climb into my skin... the whole “I’m losing my mind and taking you and the furniture with me” vibe.

Now, I don’t expect her to chill with a lick mat while the thunder's cracking—that’s a huge ask. (For that, I mask the noise with some calming background tunes, think spa music for dogs.) But once the worst of the storm passes and she’s starting to come down from the cliff of panic, I bring out the frozen lick mat (or Toppl)

German Shepherd with her nose in an orange Toppl laying rug in a cozy indoor setting. The dog's posture suggests calmness and focus. — *Oona finding tranquility in her Toppl*

This gives her something predictable, soothing, and tasty to focus on—helping her shift out of fight-or-flight mode and back into rest-and-digest land. Watching her lay down and slowly work through her mat is a sweet sigh of relief. It’s not magic, but it does help her nervous system recover and reset… and lets me get back to work with a little less chaos echoing through the house.

Thunderstorms aren’t the only time a lick mat can save the day. Here are a few other moments when pulling one out can make a world of difference:

When teaching relaxation or building a safe space –A lick mat can reinforce that good things happen in those calm, cozy spots. It’s a gentle way to encourage your dog to settle in and feel secure.
After a walk or training session – Think of it as a canine cooldown: a way to shift from “go-go-go” to “mmm, peanut butter…”
To counter-condition scary sounds – Like fireworks, leaf blowers, or your neighbor’s inexplicably loud motorcycle hobby.
Following stressful events – Vet visits, grooming, the dreaded vacuum… a lick mat can be a soft landing after the stressors of life with humans
Just because. Because your dog is awesome. Because they’re cute. Because it’s Tuesday. Because you love them. You don’t need a reason to make their day a little brighter with a frozen delight on a rubber mat. Sometimes joy comes in the form of yogurt and banana squished into grooves

Pro Tips from Me and Oona

Freeze your mats to make them last longer. Oona gets 10–20 minutes with frozen goodies and visibly settles into ooey gooey-ness
Timing matters: Don’t expect zen during peak chaos (e.g., lawn mowers). Use it after the trigger to help them complete the stress cycle.
Know your dog’s preferences: Not every dog finds licking calming. And not every food will be a hit. Trial and eval is key. (Oona’s ok with applesauce, but canned food? Oh heck yeah please.)
Supervise, there is no such thing as an indestructible dog toy!
Regularly inspect to make sure your lick mat/ toy is still in good condition- replace if it starts falling apart or your dog has chewed pieces off
Avoid unsafe ingredients like xylitol, onions, grapes, raisins, etc.
Separate dogs in multi-dog households.

Final Thoughts

A large tan dog deeply relaxed, sprawled halfway off a large gray dog bed with his head resting on a second cushion. — Arlo's example of relaxation.

Lick mats aren’t just trendy—they’re truly useful tools for helping dogs self-regulate, build confidence, and decompress. Whether your dog has Big Feelings, has a hard time settling down, or just because … there's likely a mat (or Toppl!) with their name on it.

And remember: licking may not be your dog’s go-to calming activity, and that’s okay. Dogs are quirky individuals. We just have to meet them where they are and explore what works.

Happy licking (I know that sounds weird... but you get it).

– Angela 🐶