DIY snuffle mat for dogs: how to make one with fleece

Key points

• It's made with a rubber mat full of holes and knotted fleece strips about 3 x 15 cm (1 x 6 in).
• Fleece doesn't fray when you cut it, which makes it the most practical material for the strips.
• Always use it with you nearby: if your dog starts chewing or pulling out strips, take it away.
• The treats you hide count toward their daily food allowance.
• Wash it every few uses and throw it out when strips come loose or tear.

A DIY snuffle mat for dogs is a rubber base full of holes with dozens of fleece strips knotted through it. You hide kibble or small treats between the strips and your dog has to find them with their nose. All it takes is an afternoon, a pair of scissors and an old fleece blanket, and it costs far less than a store-bought one.

Sniffing is genuinely tiring: ten minutes of tracking down kibble in the fabric leaves many dogs calmer than a short, rushed walk. It's useful on rainy days, for dogs that eat too fast, for dogs on rest after an injury, and for older dogs that can't run anymore but still have a great nose.

What a snuffle mat is for

Smell is the sense dogs use to understand the world, and using it on purpose is mental exercise that both tires and calms them. A snuffle mat turns a meal into a search: instead of emptying the bowl in thirty seconds, your dog spends several minutes finding each piece of kibble.

• Dogs that eat too fast: you can serve part of their kibble allowance on the mat.
• Days without a long walk: rain, a heat wave or an owner with the flu.
• Vet-ordered rest: after surgery or an injury, when they can't run but get bored.
• Older dogs: it's a low-intensity game that's easy on the joints.
• Anxious dogs: sniffing tends to bring them down a notch; it doesn't replace working with a trainer when there's real anxiety, but it helps.

Safety: what to watch for

A snuffle mat is a sniffing toy, not a chew toy. Fleece strips are polyester, and if a dog pulls them out and swallows them they can form a ball in the stomach or a linear foreign body in the intestine, two emergencies that often end in surgery.

• Always supervised. Put it down, stay close and put it away when they're done.
• Take it away if they chew the strips instead of sniffing between them. For some dogs this just isn't the right toy, and that's fine.
• Tight double knots. A strip that comes loose is a strip that can be swallowed.
• Check the base: if the rubber cracks or breaks into pieces, throw it out.
• Throw it out when it wears out: loose, torn or chewed strips are the sign.
• If you think your dog has swallowed a strip and they're vomiting, not eating or seem lethargic, call your vet.

What to hide and how much

The easiest option is to use some of their daily kibble: it adds no calories and dry pieces stay put between the strips. If your dog eats homemade food, use small, dry treats cut to the size of a chickpea or smaller:

• Sweet potato chews broken into little pieces.
• Oat and chicken treats.
• Crumbled apple and carrot biscuits.
• Diced raw carrot, for dogs that like it.

Avoid wet or sticky food: it soaks into the fabric and makes a mess. Treats shouldn't go over 10% of the day's calories, so if you give a lot on the mat, take them out of their meals.

How to teach your dog to use it

The first time, leave several treats in plain sight on top of the strips so your dog understands there's food there. Once they grab them without hesitating, start tucking them a little way into the fabric, and then deeper. Sessions of 5-10 minutes are plenty; it's better to stop while they're still keen than when they get frustrated and start digging or chewing. If you use it every day, move it to a different spot and alternate with other nose games like the cup game or the cardboard box puzzle.

What you need

• A rubber mat with holes (a sink mat, non-slip shower mat or garden mat), about 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 in)
• Fleece fabric: an old fleece blanket or jacket, or 1 m (about 1 yard) of new fleece
• Large scissors
• A ruler or tape measure

Step by step

1. Prepare the base

   Wash the mat with soap and water, rinse it well and let it dry. If it's very large, trim it to about 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 in) for a small or medium dog, or leave it bigger for a large dog. Round off the corners so there are no sharp points.

2. Cut the fleece strips

   Cut strips about 3 cm (1 in) wide and 15 cm (6 in) long. For a 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 in) mat you'll need between 150 and 200 strips. If you mix two or three colors, it's easier to spot when one is missing.

3. Thread the strips through the holes

   Push each strip down through one hole and back up through the next, so you have two equal ends on top.

4. Tie a double knot

   Tie the two ends in a double knot and pull it tight. Fill every hole, row by row, until the base is hidden: the denser it is, the harder the search.

5. Check it before the first use

   Tug on a few strips at random. Retie any that come loose. Trim any ends that are much longer than the rest.

6. Wash it often

   Shake it out after each use and wash it every few uses by hand or in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, inside a pillowcase. Air-dry it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a snuffle mat for dogs used for?

It lets your dog search for food with their nose instead of wolfing it down. It's mental exercise that tires and calms them, slows down dogs that eat very fast, and is useful when they can't get out much: rainy days, rest after an injury or older dogs. Sessions of 5-10 minutes are enough.

What fabric is used for a snuffle mat?

Fleece is the most practical, because it doesn't fray when cut and holds up well to washing. You can reuse an old fleece blanket or jacket. Avoid knit or cotton fabrics that shed threads when cut, and anything with fringe, sequins or buttons that your dog could pull off and swallow.

How long should my dog use a snuffle mat each day?

Between 5 and 15 minutes per session, once or twice a day, is typical. The key is to stop before they get frustrated and start digging or chewing the strips. Always supervise, put it away afterward, and remember to subtract the food or treats you hide from their daily allowance.

Are snuffle mats good for puppies?

Yes, they can be, with two precautions. Puppies chew everything, so make sure they don't pull out strips and take the mat away as soon as they start chewing it. And start very easy, with treats almost in plain sight, so the game is a success. Using their own kibble keeps them from overdoing calories or getting diarrhea.