FOFOS Owl Snuffle Mat Dog Toy

The FOFOS Owl Snuffle Mat Dog Toy is an owl-shaped fleece mat with layered strips across the body. Dry food pushed down into them disappears, and the dog has to work it back out with its nose.

Key Features

• Layered fleece strips across the body that hold dry food at different depths
• Owl shape with a wide flat surface, so more than one dog can use it side by side
• Non-slip backing to stop it sliding across tile
• Machine washable on a cool gentle cycle

Why Make A Dog Work For Food

• A dog that has to solve something for its dinner gets tired in a way a walk does not achieve. Ten minutes of sniffing and problem-solving settles most dogs better than another lap of the block
• It also slows eating down, which matters for dogs that bolt their food and for deep-chested breeds where fast eating and gulped air are a risk factor
• Feed part of the daily ration this way rather than adding treats on top. The food is the same, the effort is what changes

How To Introduce It

• Scatter treats on top where the dog can see them for the first few goes, so they learn the mat is worth investigating
• Only then start tucking food down into the folds. Build the difficulty up rather than starting on hard mode
• Five to ten minutes is a full session. Most dogs are genuinely tired afterwards
• Take it up between sessions. A mat left down all day becomes furniture

Good To Know

• Machine wash cool on a gentle cycle and air dry. Do not tumble dry the backing
• It is a foraging mat, not a chew toy. A dog that starts pulling the fleece strips out should not be left alone with it
• Use dry food only. Anything greasy or wet soaks into the fleece and will not wash out cleanly
• Supervise play and take the toy away once it starts to come apart. No dog toy is indestructible, and swallowed pieces can cause a blockage