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Review · Toys · enrichment lick mat
LickiMat (Buddy / Soother) — review & rating
Is LickiMat (Buddy / Soother) a good choice?
A UK-founded brand and a cheap, effective way to settle a dog: repetitive licking lowers arousal, which helps at vet visits, during grooming, alone time or fireworks. It also slows fast eaters. It's enrichment, not a chew — for chewers pick the Tuff version and supervise.
Specification
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | food-grade rubber/TPR; freezable |
| Variants | Soother (fine texture), Buddy (deeper), Tuff (heavy-duty for strong lickers) |
| Function | spread paste/yoghurt/wet food — slows eating, calms; ~20cm |
| Safety | supervise — determined chewers can bite off pieces (use Tuff) |
| Price | ~£5–12 |
Score across 4 pillars
| Pillar | Score | Max |
|---|---|---|
| A · Materials & build | 27 | 35 |
| B · Safety & evidence | 21 | 25 |
| C · Manufacturer credibility | 21 | 25 |
| D · Ergonomics & value | 12 | 15 |
Pros
- Calming — licking lowers stress
- Slows fast eaters, aids digestion
- Food-grade, freezable, dishwasher-friendly
- Cheap and effective enrichment
- Not a chew — chewers can bite off and swallow TPR (use Tuff)
- Needs regular washing (mould in grooves)
- Mind the calories in the spread
📋 Hands-on test pending — this rating is based on label analysis and public manufacturer data (that is always how we score; a hands-on test adds photos, our own measurements and Bekon’s verdict, but never changes the score).
Frequently asked questions
What can I spread on a lick mat?
Wet food, meat paste, plain unsweetened yoghurt, mashed banana, or xylitol-FREE peanut butter (xylitol is toxic to dogs). Freeze it to make the session last longer.
Why does licking calm a dog?
Repetitive licking promotes saliva flow and occupies the dog in a soothing, monotonous task, which helps lower arousal — hence its use around fireworks, travel and nail trims.
Where to buy
LickiMat UK →Amazon.co.uk →Pets at Home →
The links above are affiliate links — we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The rating was finalised before we checked where the product can be bought.