Why Every Shelter Should Have Licking Mats
Every Shelter Should Have Licking Mats.
by Robert Hudson
Life as a shelter dog for most consists of a cement floor and walls with a bed for most of the day. We have all seen the sad lonely looking photos of a hunkered down dog in a corner- sulking, bored, depressed…
Licking mats provide a means of mental stimulation and purpose. It calms the dog and helps alleviate problem behaviors. Here is how it works: the mats or slow feeding bowls have grooves that you spread the dogs favorite wet food over. The dog then has to work at licking up the food that fills the cracks. It can occupy your dog for some time before he or she falls into a relaxing sleep. It is just that simple.
Every Shelter Should Have Licking Mats
Lick mats or licking mats come in different sizes, shapes, and groove patterns, but all licking mats are basically the same in how they work and the benefits they provide the dog. Some licking mats have suction cups while other licking mats are free standing on the floor. The larger the licking mat the longer the licking time.
Sodapups Jigsaw licking mat sits on the floor while the dog gets long licking time with the intricate jigsaw design. The mat washes easily by hand, and it remains in place on the floor while the dog goes to town on it. DIMENSIONS: 8” wide X 8” tall. .25” thick. Weight: 5.5 oz Licking mats from Sodapup are priced to be affordable and are made in the USA with quality materials. Best value licking mat that we have found.
Where do they go?
Licking mats are also made to attach to a wall or flat surface with suction cups. The main issue with these are the suction cups. The problem is most suction cups are not 100% reliable for sticking or eventually loose their sticking ability alltogether. You may end up having to super glue it to the wall.
The Bath Buddy from Pet Zone is a licking mat BOWL that adheres to a clean surface with one GIGANTIC high powered suction cup that is the size of the base of the unit. It fits nice and snug and should out perform those with multiple small suction cups. Your dog’s lickit buddy.
This may be used to keep your dog calm while being bathed in a tub or shower, at the groomer, or even at a vet check up. It works by the same principal as the flat licking mats, where the dog works at licking the food from the grooves in the bowl. As far as we can tell, this is the only brand of licking mats to use this type of suction cup.
Conclusion
So why aren’t shelters using these? Licking mats are still relatively new and many people have not heard of them, plus availability of these is often scarce. Let your shelter know these are available and ask them if they would take donated lickit mats. Online stores like Buster and Dickens offer quantity discounts to shelters and rescues and discounts to individuals who are donating product to shelters and rescues.