25 lick mat recipes your dog will lose it over

If your dog inhales dinner like it's a race they might lose, you already know the feeling: bowl down, bowl empty, dog now staring at you like that was supposed to be an event. A lick mat turns that same meal (or a tiny extra) into ten unhurried minutes of working, sniffing, and licking. Same food, completely different experience.

Below are 25 dog-safe combinations to spread across a lick mat, organised by when you'll actually reach for them: everyday basics, frozen sessions for longer calm, gentler options for puppies and seniors, hot-day coolers, and a few for special occasions.

Quick answer: the best lick mat fillings are soft, spreadable, and dog-safe — think plain yoghurt, mashed pumpkin, or xylitol-free peanut butter. Spread thin for a quick ten-minute session, or freeze for a longer one. Skip anything from the never-feed list further down, especially xylitol, chocolate, grapes, onion, and garlic.

Everyday recipes (using what's already in your fridge)

These five are the ones most LickBloom families fall back on, because the ingredients are already in the house.

• Plain yoghurt swirl — a spoon of plain, unsweetened yoghurt spread into the grooves. Cool, creamy, and gut-friendly.
• Mashed banana and oats — half a ripe banana mashed with a spoonful of cooked plain oats for texture.
• Pumpkin purée — plain tinned pumpkin (not pie filling). A favourite for sensitive tummies.
• Cottage cheese and blueberries — a smear of cottage cheese with two or three blueberries pressed in.
• Wet food spread — your dog's usual wet food, spread thin instead of plopped in a bowl. Same dinner, longer ritual.

Tip: if your dog is brand new to lick mats, start with one of these unfrozen so the first session is an easy win.

Frozen recipes for longer sessions

Freezing roughly doubles the session length, which makes these the go-to before you leave for work, hop in the shower, or sit down for a call.

• Frozen peanut butter and banana layers — a thin layer of xylitol-free peanut butter, banana slices pressed in, frozen for at least two hours.
• Bone broth ice — unsalted bone broth poured into the grooves and frozen until solid.
• Yoghurt and pumpkin swirl — equal parts plain yoghurt and pumpkin purée, swirled together and frozen.
• Frozen berry bark — a yoghurt base studded with mashed blueberries and strawberries, frozen flat.
• Mat-sicle — a small handful of your dog's regular kibble pressed into broth, then frozen solid.

However you fill it, the LickBloom mat's suction base holds steady on tile, the inside of a tub, or the fridge door, so a frozen mat doesn't go sliding across the kitchen.

Recipes for puppies and seniors

Puppies and older dogs often do better with softer textures, smaller portions, and nothing too rich. These five keep things gentle.

• Plain boiled chicken and rice mash — finely shredded chicken mixed with well-cooked rice, mashed until soft.
• Goat's milk drizzle — a small splash of plain goat's milk over a thin layer of pumpkin or yoghurt.
• Soft scrambled egg — unseasoned, cooked through, mashed into the grooves while warm (let it cool before serving).
• Mashed sweet potato — plain cooked sweet potato, mashed smooth, skin off.
• Warm broth soak — a little warm (not hot) bone broth poured over the mat, gentle on older teeth and gums.

For very young puppies or dogs recovering from illness, check with your vet before introducing new foods, even gentle ones.

Hot-day recipes

On warm days, a frozen mat does double duty: enrichment and cooling.

• Frozen watermelon purée — seedless watermelon flesh (no rind), blended and frozen flat.
• Coconut yoghurt freeze — plain coconut yoghurt (check the label for xylitol), frozen in a thin layer.
• Cucumber and mint purée — a small amount of blended cucumber with a pinch of fresh mint, frozen.
• Frozen broth cubes — unsalted broth frozen in an ice tray, then pressed into the grooves.
• Iced pumpkin pup-sicle — pumpkin purée frozen solid, served straight from the freezer on the hottest part of the day.

A frozen mat on the bathroom floor or by a paddling pool can turn a too-hot afternoon into a slow, settled one.

Seasonal and special-occasion recipes

These five are for the calendar moments: holidays, birthdays, and the nights that need a little extra calm.

• Roast dinner leftovers mash — plain turkey or chicken with mashed sweet potato and pumpkin. No gravy, stuffing, or onion.
• Birthday "cake" mash — mashed banana with a thin smear of peanut butter and a sprinkle of carob (never chocolate).
• Spiced pumpkin — pumpkin purée with the faintest pinch of cinnamon, for a cosy autumn version.
• Fireworks-night mix — plain yoghurt and pumpkin, frozen and given just before the noise starts as part of a calm-down routine.
• New-pup welcome mat — a thin layer of plain yoghurt with a few pieces of their usual kibble pressed in, for a gentle first introduction to a new home.

What to avoid: the never-feed list

Before you improvise your own combinations, keep this list somewhere visible. None of the following should ever go on a lick mat, or anywhere else:

• Xylitol (common in peanut butter, "sugar-free" products, and some baked goods)
• Chocolate, including cocoa powder
• Grapes and raisins
• Onion and garlic, including powders
• Alcohol and anything containing it
• Caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks)
• Macadamia nuts

If you're ever unsure about an ingredient, check the ASPCA's toxic food list before serving it, or ask your vet.

A few other things to get right

• Don't overfill. A thin layer dries out slower and lasts the full session. Thick blobs get demolished in thirty seconds.
• Supervise the first few sessions. Most dogs lick happily, but if your dog starts chewing the mat itself, take it away and try again later.
• Wash between uses. The LickBloom mat is dishwasher safe on the top rack, so this takes thirty seconds, not a scrubbing session.
• Don't refreeze the same portion twice. Treat it like any other food: fresh each time.

How to build your own recipe

Once you've tried a few of the above, building your own is easy. The formula is:

1. A spreadable base — yoghurt, pumpkin, mashed banana, or wet food.
2. A protein boost (optional) — a little shredded chicken, cottage cheese, or xylitol-free peanut butter.
3. A texture topper (optional) — a few blueberries, a sprinkle of kibble, or a thin slice of carrot.
4. Freeze it, or don't — unfrozen for a quick ten-minute session, frozen for roughly double.

If your dog has allergies or a sensitive stomach, stick to one new ingredient at a time so you can spot anything that doesn't agree with them.

Ready to start the ritual?

Every LickBloom Lick Mat ships with the Recipe & Routine Guide, 25-plus vet-informed combinations and a freeze plan, so you'll always have a recipe on hand. The mat itself is food-grade silicone, dishwasher and freezer safe, with a suction base that holds on tile, glass, the tub, or the fridge door.

If your dog doesn't take to it, the 30-day Love-It-or-It's-Free guarantee means you're not stuck with it. Take a look at the LickBloom Lick Mat and find your dog's new ten minutes.

Curious about why licking is so calming in the first place? Read why do dogs lick? The science of self-soothing.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a lick mat session last?

Most dogs settle in for ten to twenty minutes with an unfrozen mat. Frozen sessions often run twice as long.

Can I leave my dog alone with a frozen lick mat?

Many pet parents do for short stretches, like a shower or a work call, but it's worth supervising the first few times to see how your dog uses it. If they start chewing the mat itself rather than licking, take it away.

How often can I use a lick mat?

Once a day is common, often around a moment that's usually stressful, like leaving the house, bath time, or grooming. Some families use it more, especially with frozen options on hot days.

Can puppies use a lick mat?

Yes, with gentler fillings and smaller portions. Check with your vet before introducing new foods, especially for very young puppies.

What if my dog ignores the lick mat at first?

Start with something they already love, like plain yoghurt or peanut butter, served unfrozen so it's an easy first win. Most dogs warm up within a session or two.