13 Lick Mat Recipes I Actually Use
Updated March 24, 2026
My own dogs get lick mats on grooming days — mostly because it buys me ten uninterrupted minutes to work on paws and ears without a wiggling dog underneath me. That's the practical side. The bigger picture is that lick mats slow eating, add mental stimulation, and give a dog something calm to focus on instead of bouncing off the walls. Rotate through a few recipes and boredom stops being a daily battle.
One thing worth mentioning: dogs getting frequent treats like this tend to need a more consistent grooming routine, since food and face fur don't always mix. If you're not sure what that routine should look like, here's a simple breakdown by coat type.
1. Pumpkin Pie Delish
Pumpkin purée plus plain, unsweetened yogurt, a light dusting of cinnamon on top. Freeze it — the cold makes it last longer and it's genuinely calming for anxious dogs.
2. Sweet Potato & Tuna Blend
Canned tuna in water, mashed with sweet potato. The smell is strong, which is exactly why it works on picky eaters who ignore everything else.
3. Yogurt & Berry Base
Plain yogurt spread thin, chopped blueberries or strawberries pressed in, then frozen for something that lasts longer and cools the dog down on a hot day.
4. Meat & Sweet Potato
Cooked lean ground chicken or turkey mixed with mashed sweet potato — higher protein, and it can double as a small meal topper if your dog needs the extra calories.
5. Fruity Freeze
Mashed blueberries, strawberries, and apple together, spread and frozen. This one's my go-to after a hot day outside or a training session.
6. Peanut Butter & Banana
Natural peanut butter (double check it's xylitol-free) mixed with mashed banana or pumpkin. Freezing this one matters more than most — it stretches out the time and keeps the mess contained.
7. Cheese & Savory Mix
Soft, dog-safe cheese with a little cooked meat mixed in if you want. Go easy here, especially with dogs that don't handle dairy well.
8. Apple Crunch
Grated apple and peanut butter, topped with crushed dog biscuits or oats for texture. The added crunch keeps dogs engaged noticeably longer than a smooth mix.
9. Carrot & Coconut
Grated carrot with a small amount of coconut oil. Simple, clean, and easy on the stomach — a good one when you're not sure how a dog will react to richer ingredients.
10. Minty Fresh
Plain yogurt with a very small amount of dog-safe mint, spread thin and frozen. Less about heavy feeding, more about a light bit of enrichment.
11. Egg Scramble Spread
Unseasoned scrambled egg, cooled and mashed lightly. Good for dogs that do best on simple, whole foods without much added to them.
12. Sardine Boost
A mashed sardine (packed in water, no added salt) mixed with a little plain yogurt. Strong smell, high reward — this one rarely fails with picky dogs.
13. Kibble Binder Mix
Regular kibble mixed with warm water, yogurt, or pumpkin until it forms a paste, then frozen. Probably the easiest way to turn an ordinary meal into enrichment without buying anything new.
Keeping the Mat Itself Clean
Stick to mats made from food-grade silicone or rubber — they actually clean up properly. Warm water and mild soap after every use, dried completely before storing. Rotate recipes rather than repeating the same one daily, so you're not overfeeding any single ingredient, and keep portions sized to your dog's actual size and activity level.
Dogs that get messy around the face during enrichment need a more consistent grooming routine than dogs that don't — it matters more than people realize. Coat type drives which products actually help here. This guide breaks that down clearly.
One note: adjust any of these based on your own dog's dietary needs, and check with your vet first if there are sensitivities or medical concerns to consider.
By Tasha Mesina
Cindra Grooming Products
Tasha Mesina is the owner of Cindra Grooming Products, a USA-made brand built on show-dog standards and coat-correct grooming. With over two decades of hands-on experience as a groomer, breeder, and handler, she focuses on routines that support real coat health, structure, and long-term condition rather than quick cosmetic fixes.