Lick Mat Ideas for Dogs: Safe Toppings, Recipes and Tips

By Dog Gear Hub Editorial Team · Updated 1 November 2026

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Not veterinary advice. This article shares general information about dog gear only. It is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian. Check fit and supervise your dog with new gear, toys and chews, and ask your vet about health, diet, injuries or behaviour concerns.

A lick mat is a rubber or silicone mat with a textured surface. You spread soft food over it, and your dog licks it off slowly. Many owners use them during grooming, bath time, storms, fireworks or simply as a calm activity.

The toppings are where people get stuck. Below are simple ideas built from common dog-safe foods, a list of things to avoid, and tips for keeping portions sensible.

Check with your vet first. Every dog is different. Dogs with allergies, pancreatitis, kidney disease, diabetes, weight concerns or a sensitive stomach may need specific foods or limits. Introduce one new food at a time in a small amount.

Choosing a lick mat

• Material: food-grade silicone or natural rubber is common. Check the listing for food-safety information.
• Suction cups: let you stick the mat to a bath or tiled wall during grooming.
• Texture depth: shallow patterns are easier for beginners. Deeper patterns make food last longer.
• Dishwasher safe: much easier to clean.
• Size: larger mats for bigger dogs, so they don't fold or flip it.

Lick mats aren't chew toys. Take the mat away if your dog starts chewing pieces off. A suction lick mat for dogs works well for bath time.

Simple base toppings

Use one of these as a thin base layer:

• Your dog's usual wet food. The easiest and safest choice, as it's already part of your dog's diet.
• Soaked kibble. Soak your dog's regular kibble in warm water until soft, mash, and spread.
• Plain cooked pumpkin purée. Only plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and spices.
• Plain unsweetened yogurt. In small amounts for dogs that tolerate dairy. Check there's no added sweetener.
• Mashed banana. Small amounts only, as it's high in sugar.
• Peanut butter, carefully chosen. Only if the label shows no xylitol (sometimes listed as birch sugar), and with no added salt or sugar if possible. It's high in fat, so use a thin smear.

Lick mat combinations

Pumpkin and kibble

Spread a thin layer of plain pumpkin and press a few pieces of your dog's kibble into the grooves.

Wet food and blueberries

Spread your dog's wet food and dot with a few blueberries.

Yogurt and banana

Mix a spoonful of plain yogurt with a little mashed banana. Freeze for a longer-lasting treat.

Soaked kibble and carrot

Mash soaked kibble and sprinkle with finely grated raw carrot.

Plain cooked chicken

Shred a little plain cooked chicken (no skin, bones, salt or seasoning) and press it into wet food on the mat.

Foods to avoid on a lick mat

Never use these, as they can be harmful to dogs:

• Anything containing xylitol or artificial sweeteners
• Chocolate, cocoa or coffee
• Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants
• Onion, garlic, chives and leeks, including powders in stocks and sauces
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol and raw dough
• Heavily salted, spiced or fatty foods such as gravy, bacon grease or seasoned meat
• Cooked bones

If you think your dog has eaten something toxic, call your vet or an animal poison helpline straight away.

Freezing for longer sessions

Freezing a lick mat makes it last much longer. Spread the topping, put the mat flat on a tray and freeze for a few hours. For a beginner, start unfrozen so your dog learns the game, then try semi-frozen.

Freezing works well on hot days and for teething puppies, under supervision. For more frozen ideas, see our guide to frozen treat toys.

Making it easier or harder

• Easier: a thin, soft layer on a shallow pattern, served at room temperature.
• Harder: a thicker layer pressed into deep grooves and frozen flat.
• Even harder: two layers, with a frozen base and a fresh top layer added just before serving.

Keep portions small

Lick mat food counts toward your dog's daily calories. A common rule of thumb is to keep treats to a small share of daily food, often quoted as around 10 percent, but your vet can tell you what's right for your dog. Use part of a meal on the mat rather than adding extra.

Cleaning a lick mat

Food left in the grooves can grow bacteria quickly.

1. Rinse straight after use.
2. Wash with hot soapy water and a stiff brush, or in the dishwasher if the mat is dishwasher safe.
3. Let it dry fully before storing.

A bottle brush or small cleaning brush helps reach deep textures.

When lick mats help most

• Bath and grooming time. Stick the mat to the bath or wall. See our grooming tools guide.
• Nail trims, with a helper holding the mat.
• Busy times at home, such as when guests arrive.
• Cold, rainy days as part of an indoor enrichment routine.

Read next: Frozen Dog Treat Toys: How to Choose One and What to Fill It With →