Our Final Verdict
We give Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat a rating of 4.85 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 4.9/5
Effectiveness: 4.8/5
Ease of Use: 4.8/5
Value: 4.9/5
Are you looking for a fun and simple way to enrich your dog’s dining experience? Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat is a great option for many dogs.
This quality snuffle mat makes it easy to turn dinner time into playtime. The deep folds and endless hiding places allow dogs to use their nose to find their food, engaging the brain, slowing their pace, and providing some fun challenges to their otherwise straightforward mealtimes. Best of all, it’s machine washable, easy to use, and comes with some neat features that other snuffle mats don’t.
My Chihuahua, Papyrus, and I had the opportunity to test out this colorful snuffle mat. Find out what makes this enrichment feeder different from others and if it’s the right choice for your pup by reading my full Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat review, below.
Overview
| Product Type: | Enrichment feeder |
| Best Suited For: | Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and rodents not prone to chewing on soft things |
| Price Range: | Moderately priced |
| Contents: | One snuffle mat |
| Specs: | Base is 9 inches by 9 inches, total length with fringe is about 15 inches |
| Options: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
| Cleaning: | Machine wash cold, tumble dry |
Our Experience
I first discovered snuffle mats while my dogs and I were at a friend’s house. My Chihuahua, Papyrus, was immediately enamored with her dog’s snuffle mat. He spent an hour sniffing around that clump of fleece digging out all the treats her dog had failed to find.
I knew I had to find a snuffle mat of my own for Papyrus. At fifteen, he can’t walk as far as he used to, so giving him enough enrichment to calm his mind can be a challenge. I figured an enrichment feeder like this one would be perfect to keep him busy, especially on those cold Colorado days when he’s trapped inside.
I chose the Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat because it’s not too big and is machine washable. And I know from previous experience that this company makes quality products.
As soon as it arrived, I took it out of the packaging and filled it with treats so Papyrus could test it out.
What We Liked
This snuffle mat works very much like the first one we encountered. It has strips of fleece about 4 inches long and ¾ inch wide. These pieces are sewn into the base, forming a dense layer of hiding places that the dog must push their muzzles into to get the treats or kibble out.
The fleece pieces are soft and easy to maneuver, even for my dog’s tiny muzzle. They are well-secured to the base, which is important to prevent overeager dogs from pulling them out to get at the food below.
I am also a big fan of the size of this mat. It is nice and compact but still has plenty of surface area to accommodate up to about a cup of food. It is the perfect size for my seven-pound Chihuahua but also works well for my 30-pound Dalmatian mix. This smaller size also makes it easier to store.
I am also a big fan of the color! The orange, teal, and gray scheme is cheerful without being too loud.
Of course, the most important factor is how well it entertains. And this, it does very well! It takes Papyrus about ten minutes to extract a small handful of treats from it and about half an hour to eat a full meal’s worth of kibble.
Another major plus about this snuffle mat is that it’s machine washable. I found out why this is so important that day at my friend’s house. After the dogs played with the mat for a while we discovered that it had maggots crawling around in it! The greasy kibble residue had built up over time and provided flies a place to lay eggs. Eww!
Luckily, I can ensure that doesn’t happen to my Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat by tossing it in the washer regularly.
Where We Saw Room for Improvement
This mat has four large suction cups on the bottom to help keep it in place. This is important if your dog is clever enough to pick the mat up and shake it or flip it over to get the treats out.
Unfortunately, the suction cups only work well on very flat surfaces like granite tiles. Most of my flooring is slightly textured vinyl plank. The suction cups only stick to this for about five seconds before coming unstuck.
Beyond this issue, I don’t have any other complaints about this mat. It provides wonderful enrichment for my food-motivated Chihuahua and makes his meals last much longer to keep him feeling satiated.
It’s easy to use, easy to care for, and provides a much more enriching feeding experience than a boring old bowl.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- Well-made
- Machine washable
- Compact size
- Fun colors
Cons
- Not the strongest suctions cups
Key Features
How to Use
This snuffle mat is super easy to use. It works well with hard and soft treats as well as kibble and freeze-dried food. Although, if you opt for those, remember to be extra careful with the cleaning. For best results, I recommend using small treats or kibbles that can be easily buried in the fleece.
Pour the treats or kibble over the top of the mat, then use your fingers to ruffle up the strips and shake the kibbles deeper into the fabric. Then secure the mat to the floor and let your pup get sniffing!
How to Care For
The soft surfaces of these kinds of enrichment feeders mean they do require some special care. Luckily, this Round Forage Mat from Messy Mutts makes it easy.
When your dog finishes using the mat, be sure to shake out any remaining treats. This will help keep the mat cleaner between uses and avoid attracting bugs. Remember to be careful and avoid bacterial contamination and health-related problems by regularly washing this mat on cold in your washing machine. On the plus side, this mat is also dryer-friendly, although hang drying is recommended for durability.
What Makes It Different
There are a few key differences between this mat and other snuffle mats I’ve tried.
For one, it is very well made, which means it won’t fall apart even if your dog digs or pulls at it. This mat is also pretty dense compared to most. The long strips of fleece provide more hiding places for food and make the dog work harder to find it.
The suction cups on the bottom and the tightly woven base help add stability. And the compact size makes it easy to store. And of course, it is machine washable for easy care.
About Messy Mutts
Messy Mutts has been making functional and fabulous-looking pet products that help reduce pet mess since 2014.
| Manufacturing: | Designed in Canada, made in China |
| Warranty: | One-year manufacturer warranty |
| Shipping: | Free shipping on orders over $50 |
| Other Products: | Slow feeders, puzzle feeders, travel accessories, grooming products, and more |
Is Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat a Good Value?
The price range for snuffle mats is fairly wide, with cheaper options often available under $10. However, quality mats like this one tend to be priced in the upper twenty-dollar range. Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat costs less than this, making it a great value.
How We Tested
I tested this snuffle mat with the help of my Chihuahua, Papyrus. My larger dog, Ragz, also got in on the testing process to ensure this mat can stand up to dogs both big and small.
I started out by using this as any owner would, by adding treats! I tested it using a variety of treat types and kibble sizes. During this time, I made sure to note the effectiveness of the different features.
While my dogs used the mat, I timed how long they kept at it before they gave up, got bored, or finished. Luckily, they never called it quits before all the food was gone.
I also washed the mat a few times to make sure it could stand up to the process. In the same vein, I made notes about its durability as my dogs played with it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the benefits of using this snuffle mat?
Snuffle mats like this one increase enrichment, improve digestion by slowing feeding, and provide stress relief.
Who might benefit from this snuffle mat?
Anxious and hyperactive dogs can benefit from using interactive feeders like this one. Older dogs with cognitive disorders can also benefit from this stimulating feeding solution.
Are there any other sizes available?
No, this is the only option for this type of mat. However, Messy Mutts offers many other interactive feeding options including a forage/snuffle mat that includes a ruffle area as well as a licking pad and hidey-holes.
Conclusion
If you’ve been considering a snuffle mat for your dog, I highly suggest looking into the Round Forage Mat from Messy Mutts.
This well-made interactive feeder is compact while providing plenty of hiding spaces for kibble and treats. It’s machine washable, easy to care for, and comes with great extra features like suction cups and a sturdy base for added stability.
