What to Put on a Lick Mat for Dogs: 20 Safe, Easy Ideas

Good lick mat toppings are soft, spreadable, dog-safe foods you already have in: plain natural yoghurt, mashed banana, a thin smear of dog-safe peanut butter, or wet dog food. Keep portions small, count them as part of the day's food, and freeze the mat for a longer-lasting calming session.

The whole point of a lick mat is the slow, repetitive licking, which most dogs find genuinely settling. You don't need anything fancy or expensive to get that effect.

20 safe lick mat toppings

Mix and match from this list. Most spread straight onto the mat; the thicker ones are better thinned with a splash of water or stock.

• Plain natural yoghurt (no added sugar or sweetener)
• Mashed banana
• Dog-safe peanut butter (xylitol-free only)
• Wet dog food or a sachet of your dog's usual food
• Soaked, mashed kibble
• Plain pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
• Mashed sweet potato or carrot
• Unsweetened plain applesauce
• Cottage cheese in small amounts
• Mashed boiled egg
• A thin layer of cream cheese
• Bone broth, frozen into the grooves
• Tinned sardines in spring water, mashed (occasional treat)
• Plain cooked, mashed white fish
• Blended cucumber or courgette
• Mashed blueberries or raspberries
• A little wet tripe (smelly but popular)
• Goat's milk for dogs, frozen
• Soft, soaked dog treats blended to a paste
• Plain mashed peas

What to avoid

Some human foods are genuinely dangerous to dogs, and a lick mat shouldn't become a way to sneak them in. Never use chocolate, grapes or raisins, onion, garlic, leek, anything containing the sweetener xylitol (often labelled as birch sugar), macadamia nuts, or very salty foods. Check peanut butter jars carefully, as more brands now add xylitol.

Go easy on dairy, too. Many dogs handle a spoon of plain yoghurt fine, but a mat coated in cheese can cause a loose tummy.

How much should you put on

Less than you'd think. A thin, even smear pressed into the grooves lasts longer than a thick blob, because the dog has to work the food out rather than scooping it. Treat whatever you use as part of the day's food allowance, not an extra, especially if your dog is watching their weight.

For a first try, aim for roughly a tablespoon spread thin. You can always add more next time.

Freezing for a longer session

Freezing is the single best trick. Spread your topping, pop the mat flat in the freezer for two to four hours, and you'll turn a five-minute snack into twenty or thirty minutes of calm. Frozen mats are brilliant for hot days, crate settling, or keeping a dog busy during fireworks.

Layer different toppings for a bit of variety, or press a few soft treats into the mix before freezing.

Keeping it safe and clean

Always supervise, particularly with strong chewers who might try to bite chunks off the mat itself. Most silicone mats are top-rack dishwasher safe, but a quick scrub with hot soapy water and a brush gets into the grooves better than a rinse.

If your dog finds licking soothing, you might also enjoy a puzzle feeder on busier days for a different kind of mental workout. For nervous dogs, our guide to using lick mats for calming, vet visits and grooming goes further into timing and technique, and the dog feeding hub covers portions and enrichment more broadly.

If your dog is on a prescription diet or has a sensitive stomach, run your topping choices past your vet before making lick mats a daily habit.