Planning is a huge part of behavior management. Though we can't plan for everything, having a general plan can be a life saver. But now that you have started planning, you are probably exploring all the options you have for things your dog can interact with that can be helpful behavior management tools. To help you out, in this article and next week's article, I will be exploring two of my favorite behavior management tools. In this article I will cover snuffle mats.
What Is a Snuffle Mat?
A snuffle mat is a mat that hides treats. There are various kinds of these brain game mats that you can get. The typical snuffle mat is a simple mat with long pieces of fabric tied to the mats base (as seen in the photos above). Other versions can be large and covered in compartments and flaps that treats can hidden in, while still others can be homemade with a pile of your dog's favorite blankets and toys strewn out on the floor or in its crate. Whatever the form of the "mat" you simply hide a collection of treats within the folds of fabric or inside compartments and let your dog have fun finding the delicious treasures!
How Do I Use a Snuffle Mat?
To use a snuffle mat you simple lay it out and hide treats in the fabric and/or compartments. However, there are a couple guidelines you need to make sure you follow.
Use the snuffle mat indoors. Snuffle mats are typically used indoors as you can hide treats in the grass or around the yard for an outdoor version.
Make sure your dog knows how to use the snuffle mat. When you get the mat, take some time to introduce your dog to it. Start by putting treats on top where your dog can easily find them. When your dog is finished, toss some treats away from the mat, pick it up and put it away. Repeat this again later in the day. Once your dog sees the mat as a good place to get treats, gradually increase the difficulty level by hiding some of the treats in hard-to-find locations.
Supervise your dog. Once your dog knows how to use the snuffle mat, you can begin to let your dog use the mat more independently. However, you still need to make sure that you set up the snuffle mat in a location where you can supervise your dog to prevent unwanted situations such as choking on treats and chewing on the mat itself.
Use the right treats. I would suggest using solid treats that do not smear as this will make clean up much easier. Also, I would suggest using mid-level treats (in reference to how much the dog values them). If your dog is highly food motivated, you might even use a slightly lower value treat. This is because high value treats can create more hyperactivity in some dogs, rather than helping your dog calm down and focus. Experiment with a few different treats until you find the ones that keep your dog engaged and happy, but calm and focused.
When Do I Use a Snuffle Mat?
So now that you know what a snuffle mat is and how to use it, let go over when you should use it. The snuffle mat is designed to exercise your dog's mind and help it calm down through the self-soothing behavior of sniffing. As a result, this tool is great for situations where your dog has energy, but you don't have time. Below are a few situations that a snuffle mat may come in handy:
When you are too tired to do training, but your dog needs mental stimulation (e.g., at the end of a long day in which you couldn't take your dog out for its usual amount of exercise).
When your dog is still excitable after exercise (e.g., when you come back from a walk and your dog is still worked up and not settling).
When you need to get something done, but your dog is full of energy (e.g., when you need to make dinner, but your dog wants to do something fun).
When your dog is bored and starting to look for entertainment on its own (e.g., chasing the cat or finding things around the house to chew on).
There are other situations that snuffle mats may come in handy, but these are a few common ones for which I have found the mats to be good management tools. Always remember that your dog must have supervision when using a sniffle mat. So, if you have to get something done, such as cooking dinner, place the mat in a location you can see it and check on your dog periodically.
Closing Thoughts
Snuffle mats are a great way to entertain your dog and get out some of their mental energy, which is often the culprit for hyper behavior. That is why the mat can be so helpful. It is designed to challenge your dog's mind. So, remember, when your dog is hyper or not tiring out, it probably needs more mental stimulation. Grab your snuffle mat or a pile of your dog's favorite toys and blankets and hide treats for your dog to find. Then kick back and watch them have fun!
Photo Credits
Photo 1 - Ayla Verschueren - Unsplash
Photo 2 - Ron Fung - Unsplash
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