Do Lick Mats Help With Anxiety? How and When to Use Them

Yes, lick mats genuinely help many anxious dogs. The slow, repetitive licking is naturally soothing, releasing calming brain chemicals and giving a stressed dog a focused, achievable task. They won't cure deep-seated anxiety, but as a quick, cheap and drug-free tool for taking the edge off stressful moments, they earn their place in almost any anxious dog's routine.

Why licking calms dogs

Licking is a self-soothing behaviour for dogs, much like a child sucking a thumb. The repetitive action is thought to release endorphins and reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, while the focus required pulls the dog's attention away from whatever's worrying them.

A lick mat works on the same principle as a fidget toy for an anxious person: it occupies the body and mind with a calming, rhythmic task, leaving less room for stress.

It's a form of enrichment as well as calming. A bored, under-stimulated dog is often an anxious one, and giving the brain a job is half the battle. Browse the range of lick mats to get started, or see the wider calming and anxiety collection.

When to use a lick mat

Timing is where lick mats really shine. Use one just before or during a predictable stressor.

• Vet visits and car journeys, smeared and ready to redirect nerves.
• Fireworks and thunderstorms, given as the noise starts to keep your dog occupied.
• Bath time, grooming and nail trims, stuck to a tile or the bath wall to make handling easier.
• Brief departures, as one part of helping a dog cope when left, though not a standalone fix for true separation anxiety.
• General wind-down in the evening, slowing a restless dog before sleep.

What to spread on it (safely)

The topping matters, both for safety and for how long it keeps your dog busy. Spread it thin and into the grooves so the mat lasts.

• Good options: plain natural yoghurt, a thin layer of dog-safe peanut butter, mashed banana, wet dog food, pumpkin puree or soaked kibble.
• Make it last: freeze the loaded mat for a longer, cooler, more demanding session, ideal on a hot day or for a longer absence.
• Avoid completely: xylitol (a sweetener toxic to dogs and hidden in many "sugar-free" peanut butters), chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion and excessive salt.
• Mind the calories. Use toppings as part of the daily food allowance, not on top of it, especially for a dog watching their weight.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, food allergies or a health condition, check suitable toppings with your vet about your dog's diet before introducing rich new foods.

Choosing the right mat

Not all lick mats are equal, and the details affect both safety and usefulness.

• Food-grade silicone is the standard. Check it's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
• Suction backing holds the mat to a tile, floor or bath so determined dogs can't flip it, useful for grooming and bath time.
• Texture depth: deeper grooves hold more topping and make the task last longer.
• Size: match it to your dog, larger mats for bigger dogs and longer sessions.
• Always supervise, and replace any mat that's chewed or damaged, as silicone pieces shouldn't be swallowed.

Lick mats as part of a calming toolkit

A lick mat is one excellent tool, but it works best alongside others. Sniffing is just as soothing as licking, and many owners alternate a lick mat with a snuffle mat; our guide on whether snuffle mats calm dogs explains why nose work is so settling. Puzzle feeders extend the same calm-through-focus principle.

You'll find lick mats, puzzle feeders and slow feeders together in our calming and anxiety collection, and broader strategies in the Dog Anxiety & Calming hub. For mild, situational anxiety, a lick mat is one of the simplest things to try first. For severe or worsening anxiety, it's a helpful support rather than a substitute for behavioural work or veterinary advice.