No need to buy expensive enrichment toys . Kibble mixed into the flaps of this washable DIY mat will slow up down your ducky ’s pinch and make meals feel more like a game .
My hound is a snarfer . She use up her meals firm and enraged , as if she ’ll bring home the bacon a prize if she ’s the first member of the clean plate ( er … dish ) club . But loyal eating is n’t always healthy for pets . It ’s even considered one of the potential factors forbloat , a experimental condition that can be life - threatening for dogs .
Eating tardily can be salubrious , and it can be more fun . A andiron or African tea who has to run around for their foodgets to work their brainand their senses with the reward of favorite yummies . There are a mickle of interestingdog puzzle feedersyou can purchase to encourage tiresome feeding . Or , you’re able to make your own — like an easy - to - make snuffle mat .
Photo: Courtesy of Abbie Harrison
What Is a Snuffle Mat Exactly?
A DIY sniffle gym mat is essentially a pad with lots of minuscule fabric flaps or tags that obscure kibble . When you exploit dry dog orcat fooddown between the flap , it hides the bits so your positron emission tomography gets to scent around searching for the goodies . It ’s called a sniffle flatness because dogs " snuffle " with their noses to find the food . ( Cats run to be a little quieter when they wipe out . )
Although you may buy snuffle mats , you may also create one with just a few simple materials and an hour or two of your time . Making a DIY snivel mat lets you produce it in yourfavorite colorsmatch it to your pet’sother accessories , or just be assured you know precisely what material are equal your dearie ’s food . Here are simple step - by - step instruction for making a DIY sniffle matting for your dog or African tea .
Materials Needed for a DIY Snuffle Mat
Here’s How to Make a DIY Snuffle Mat for Dogs or Cats
If your mat material is larger than 12x12 inches , cut the mat to about that size . Autility knifemight be the good tool for this .
Cut the fleece into strips that are about 7 in prospicient and 1 to 1.5 inches wide-cut . The pieces do n’t have to be exactly the same size ; a little variation will make your flatness more interesting . If you have access to arotary cutting tool , ruler , and ego - cure matting , that ’s a straightaway way to reduce the strip . Otherwise , you could certainly cut down the sheepskin with any sharp , retentive - bladed scissors .
Count the number of holes in your rubber mat . Multiply this by two . That ’s about how many 7 - column inch strips of fleece you ’ll want .
Jason Donnelly
Starting in one corner of your mat , thread one strip of sheepskin through two adjacent hole . Work from the back and agitate the oddment of the strip to the front / top . bind the ends into a knot on the front of the mat .
Move to the next hole and tie another strip . preserve tying strips in the pickle along that row . Then move to the next row . When you ’ve filled the mat , turn it 90 degrees and begin tying Calidris canutus in the other way , to get across the part of the mat that are still indicate .
Tip : As the mat have fuller , it ’s easy to crop from the back , poking the ends through to the front ; add several strips , then flex the matting over and tie all the on the loose ends .
When you ’ve filled the mat , you ’re done !
How to Feed Your Pet Using a Homemade Snuffle Mat
repose the mat on the floor . Use kibble or treats that are on the smallish side , so they are more easily hidden among the sheepskin flaps . Working with a few pieces of kibble at a clip , lay them on the fleece and rub the ties around so that the kibble pieces get hidden among the flaps . The total amount of food should be based on whether you ’re using the gym mat to serve well a meal or just a snack .
Let your pet go Nut , sniffing around to find their solid food .
