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Top 5 Lick Mats for Dogs in Canada — 2025 Expert Guide to Calming, Slow-Feed and Freeze-Safe Options

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

Lick mats are flat, textured pads designed for spreading soft foods or pastes so dogs can lick them repeatedly — a simple, low-effort way to calm dogs, extend feeding time, and provide sensory enrichment. In Canada, owners pick lick mats for a mix of practical reasons: they help manage anxiety during storms or fireworks, slow down fast eaters, entertain dogs while owners commute or work, and offer cold or warm treats that suit seasonal needs. Popular features among Canadian buyers include food-grade silicone for safety and durability, inventive surface textures that hold soft food better and lengthen engagement, and oven- or freezer-safe designs that let users switch between chilled, frozen or warmed fillings. Urban apartment dwellers appreciate compact, easy-to-clean mats that reduce sloppy floors; rural and multi-dog households value toughness and dishwasher-safe convenience. Overall, consumers choose lick mats when they want an evidence-informed enrichment tool that fits everyday routines and seasonal life in Canada.

Quick Menu

1. Best Classic Lick Mat

2. Best Flexible Therapeutic

3. Best Honeycomb Design

4. Best Interactive IQ Mat

5. Best Heavy-Duty Soother

1
BEST CLASSIC LICK MAT

LickiMat Classic Buddy

LICKIMAT

The LickiMat Classic Buddy is a best-in-class entry-level lick mat known for its simple, proven textured surface that calms dogs and slows snacking. It holds its position by balancing effective enrichment with an accessible price point compared with premium silicone options like SodaPup, while being less heavy-duty than the Soother Tuff for households that don’t need chew-resistant materials. Its broad availability and familiar design make it a cost-effective choice for owners seeking reliable licking therapy without specialty features.

4.5
★★★★☆
  • Calming licks

  • Dishwasher-safe

  • Calming licks

  • Dishwasher-safe

Review Summary

90%

"Most users report the Classic Buddy calms anxious dogs and extends feeding time; it’s easy to spread food on and clean, and durable for normal licking but not indestructible against heavy chewers."

  • Buddy-shaped grin

  • Soft textured surface encourages licking to reduce anxiety and boredom.

  • Buddy-shaped grin

  • Soft textured surface encourages licking to reduce anxiety and boredom.

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

The LickiMat Classic Buddy is a best-in-class entry-level lick mat known for its simple, proven textured surface that calms dogs and slows snacking. It holds its position by balancing effective enrichment with an accessible price point compared with premium silicone options like SodaPup, while being less heavy-duty than the Soother Tuff for households that don’t need chew-resistant materials. Its broad availability and familiar design make it a cost-effective choice for owners seeking reliable licking therapy without specialty features.

  • Calming licks

  • Dishwasher-safe

  • Buddy-shaped grin

  • Soft textured surface encourages licking to reduce anxiety and boredom.

  • Large Buddy size fits most spreads like peanut butter and yogurt.

  • Calming licks

  • Dishwasher-safe

  • Buddy-shaped grin

  • Soft textured surface encourages licking to reduce anxiety and boredom.

  • Large Buddy size fits most spreads like peanut butter and yogurt.

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From 18.47$
2
BEST FLEXIBLE THERAPEUTIC

Messy Mutts Silicone Therapeutic Licking Mat

Messy Mutts

The Messy Mutts Silicone Therapeutic Licking Mat stands out for its soft, food-grade silicone and easy-clean profile, making it a technical favorite for people who prioritize hygiene and dishwasher-safe convenience. It competes on price and flexibility against firmer products like the LickiMat Classic Buddy and the thicker SodaPup Honeycomb, offering a gentle texture that’s ideal for sensitive mouths or therapeutic use. For owners looking for a mid-price, low-maintenance option, its silicone construction delivers measurable cleaning and longevity advantages.

4.3
★★★★☆
  • Therapeutic texture

  • Non-slip base

  • Therapeutic texture

  • Non-slip base

Review Summary

86%

"Buyers appreciate the Messy Mutts silicone mat for its soft, non-slip surface and easy cleaning, though some note the ridged pattern can be fiddly to fill and it’s less durable for aggressive chewers."

  • Stretchy silicone joy

  • Flexible silicone design sticks to flat surfaces for stability during use.

  • Stretchy silicone joy

  • Flexible silicone design sticks to flat surfaces for stability during use.

Increased Safety & Security

Recreational Enjoyment

The Messy Mutts Silicone Therapeutic Licking Mat stands out for its soft, food-grade silicone and easy-clean profile, making it a technical favorite for people who prioritize hygiene and dishwasher-safe convenience. It competes on price and flexibility against firmer products like the LickiMat Classic Buddy and the thicker SodaPup Honeycomb, offering a gentle texture that’s ideal for sensitive mouths or therapeutic use. For owners looking for a mid-price, low-maintenance option, its silicone construction delivers measurable cleaning and longevity advantages.

  • Therapeutic texture

  • Non-slip base

  • Stretchy silicone joy

  • Flexible silicone design sticks to flat surfaces for stability during use.

  • Deep ridges hold soft treats and slow down eating for a calming effect.

  • Therapeutic texture

  • Non-slip base

  • Stretchy silicone joy

  • Flexible silicone design sticks to flat surfaces for stability during use.

  • Deep ridges hold soft treats and slow down eating for a calming effect.

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From 22.99$
3
BEST HONEYCOMB DESIGN

SodaPup Honeycomb eMat

SodaPup

The SodaPup Honeycomb eMat is designed as a durable, high-performance silicone mat with a honeycomb pattern that maximizes spreadable treats and freezing for longer-lasting enrichment. It commands a premium position thanks to thicker material and a robust texture that outlasts many basic mats, making it a better investment for frequent use than budget mats like Hyper Pet. While it’s pricier, the technical advantages in durability and freeze-ability can lower replacement costs over time for heavy users.

4.6
★★★★☆
  • Honeycomb grooves

  • Textured slow-feed

  • Honeycomb grooves

  • Textured slow-feed

Review Summary

92%

"Reviewers praise the SodaPup Honeycomb eMat for its deep honeycomb texture that holds soft foods well and soothes anxious pets; it’s considered very effective and durable with occasional complaints about suction on rough floors."

  • Sturdy chew-proof

  • Honeycomb pattern distributes treats evenly to promote prolonged licking.

  • Sturdy chew-proof

  • Honeycomb pattern distributes treats evenly to promote prolonged licking.

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

The SodaPup Honeycomb eMat is designed as a durable, high-performance silicone mat with a honeycomb pattern that maximizes spreadable treats and freezing for longer-lasting enrichment. It commands a premium position thanks to thicker material and a robust texture that outlasts many basic mats, making it a better investment for frequent use than budget mats like Hyper Pet. While it’s pricier, the technical advantages in durability and freeze-ability can lower replacement costs over time for heavy users.

  • Honeycomb grooves

  • Textured slow-feed

  • Sturdy chew-proof

  • Honeycomb pattern distributes treats evenly to promote prolonged licking.

  • Non-slip backing keeps the mat in place on floors or crate walls.

  • Honeycomb grooves

  • Textured slow-feed

  • Sturdy chew-proof

  • Honeycomb pattern distributes treats evenly to promote prolonged licking.

  • Non-slip backing keeps the mat in place on floors or crate walls.

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From 21.76$
4
BEST INTERACTIVE IQ MAT

Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat

Hyper Pet

The Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat is a value-focused option that delivers simple textured enrichment at a lower upfront cost, making it appealing for multi-dog households or travel kits. It trades some of the advanced materials and patterns found in SodaPup or LickiMat models for affordability and lightweight convenience, so owners get decent calming and slow-feeding benefits without a big investment. For buyers prioritizing cost per unit and portability, it provides strong financial value even if it lacks the long-term durability of premium mats.

4.1
★★★★☆
  • Puzzle stimulation

  • Easy-clean surface

  • Puzzle stimulation

  • Easy-clean surface

Review Summary

83%

"The Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat is seen as a good budget, interactive option with fun patterns that engage dogs, but many users find the material thinner and more prone to sliding or folding during use."

  • Boredom buster

  • Textured puzzle-like surface challenges dogs and extends treat time.

  • Boredom buster

  • Textured puzzle-like surface challenges dogs and extends treat time.

Self-Improvement & Personal Growth

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

The Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat is a value-focused option that delivers simple textured enrichment at a lower upfront cost, making it appealing for multi-dog households or travel kits. It trades some of the advanced materials and patterns found in SodaPup or LickiMat models for affordability and lightweight convenience, so owners get decent calming and slow-feeding benefits without a big investment. For buyers prioritizing cost per unit and portability, it provides strong financial value even if it lacks the long-term durability of premium mats.

  • Puzzle stimulation

  • Easy-clean surface

  • Boredom buster

  • Textured puzzle-like surface challenges dogs and extends treat time.

  • Suction-cup base allows mounting on hard surfaces for interactive play.

  • Puzzle stimulation

  • Easy-clean surface

  • Boredom buster

  • Textured puzzle-like surface challenges dogs and extends treat time.

  • Suction-cup base allows mounting on hard surfaces for interactive play.

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From 19.55$
5
BEST HEAVY-DUTY SOOTHER

LickiMat Soother Tuff

LickiMat

The LickiMat Soother Tuff occupies the market-leader role for heavy-duty lick mats by using a rugged, chew-resistant material aimed at strong lickers and dogs that can destroy thinner mats. It justifies a higher price through extended lifespan and toughness compared with the Classic Buddy and silicone alternatives like Messy Mutts and SodaPup, reducing total replacement expense for aggressive users. When durability is the priority, the Soother Tuff’s construction offers clear technical and economic advantages for owners needing a long-lasting enrichment solution.

4.4
★★★★☆
  • Super tough

  • Soothing ridges

  • Super tough

  • Soothing ridges

Review Summary

88%

"LickiMat Soother Tuff is widely regarded as a tougher, more chew-resistant version that holds spreads well and lasts longer for stronger lickers, though a few very determined chewers can still damage it."

  • Long-lasting chew

  • Heavy-duty, ultra-durable material designed for strong chewers.

  • Long-lasting chew

  • Heavy-duty, ultra-durable material designed for strong chewers.

Increased Safety & Security

Recreational Enjoyment

The LickiMat Soother Tuff occupies the market-leader role for heavy-duty lick mats by using a rugged, chew-resistant material aimed at strong lickers and dogs that can destroy thinner mats. It justifies a higher price through extended lifespan and toughness compared with the Classic Buddy and silicone alternatives like Messy Mutts and SodaPup, reducing total replacement expense for aggressive users. When durability is the priority, the Soother Tuff’s construction offers clear technical and economic advantages for owners needing a long-lasting enrichment solution.

  • Super tough

  • Soothing ridges

  • Long-lasting chew

  • Heavy-duty, ultra-durable material designed for strong chewers.

  • Deep grooves and ridges accommodate a variety of spreads and freeze well.

  • Super tough

  • Soothing ridges

  • Long-lasting chew

  • Heavy-duty, ultra-durable material designed for strong chewers.

  • Deep grooves and ridges accommodate a variety of spreads and freeze well.

Order Now

$25-40 CAD

What the Research Says About Licking and Enrichment

Multiple peer-reviewed studies and review articles in animal behavior and veterinary journals have examined how focused, repetitive behaviors like licking and planned environmental enrichment affect canine welfare. The research is consistent that appropriate enrichment reduces stress-related behaviors, supports mental engagement, and can make routine care (feeding, grooming, travel) less stressful for many dogs. Below are clear, beginner-friendly takeaways from that body of work.

Calming effect: Controlled, repetitive behaviors such as licking are associated with reductions in physiological stress markers (for example, lower cortisol levels) and increases in affiliative hormones in some studies; this is one reason lick mats can help anxious dogs feel calmer.

Behavioral enrichment reduces problem behaviors: Studies in applied animal behavior show that regular, appropriate enrichment decreases pacing, destructive chewing, and vocalization in many dogs by providing an outlet for foraging instincts and mental effort.

Slower eating and digestive benefits: Research into feeding behavior shows that spreading food across a textured surface reliably slows eating pace compared with bowl feeding, which can lower gulping and the immediate overeating response (though owners of dogs at risk of gastric torsion should consult their veterinarian about all feeding strategies).

Cognitive engagement and welfare: Enrichment that challenges dogs’ senses and problem-solving — including scent and lick-based tasks — is linked to improved welfare indicators and better adaptability in new environments.

Material safety matters: Veterinary and product-safety guidance recommend food-grade, BPA-free silicone or approved plastics for lick mats, and emphasize ease of cleaning (dishwasher-safe) to reduce bacterial buildup.

In Canada the right lick mat depends on your dog’s needs and household routines. The five leading options here — LickiMat Classic Buddy, Messy Mutts Silicone Therapeutic Licking Mat, SodaPup Honeycomb eMat, Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat, and LickiMat Soother Tuff — cover most use cases from gentle calming and slow-feeding to freezer-ready enrichment and tougher options for more active chewers. For most Canadian homes looking for a reliable, widely compatible solution, the LickiMat Classic Buddy is the best overall pick thanks to its proven texture designs, broad availability, and vet-friendly reputation. We hope you found what you were looking for; use the site search to refine by features like “freezer-safe,” “dishwasher-safe,” or “heavy chewer” to expand or narrow results.

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