Our coaches at dogs trust dog school recommend using these tactile creations to keep dogs content and occupied.
Make your own snuffle mat uk.
Tie your strips to onto your mat in a single knot like you would when tying a shoelace.
A sink mat will be fine though.
Get your dog s favourite dry treats and place a couple on the top of the fabric letting your dog sniff and take them.
To make a homemade dog snuffle mat you will need.
This will allow them to build an understanding that the mat is used for rewards.
Cutting these at different widths and lengths will make the snuffle mat a bit more of a challenge for your dog.
I bought the sink mat and fleece fabric from an ebay shop the cost was 3 49 for the mat and 4 99 for the fleece per metre.
Cut your fleece blankets into strips using scissors.
Good luck and enjoy getting creative.
Dogs are social intelligent and active animals so it is important to provide them with safe and suitable opportunities to exercise their bodies and minds.
Making the snuffle mat.
One fairly solid rubber door mat with lots of holes in.
To make the snuffle mat you ll take one strip and push one end through a hole in the rubber mat and then take the other end of the strip and push it through the hole next to the first one.
This made two mats so cost 8 48 per mat.
How to make the snuffle mats.
In fact you can make your own snuffle mat in just a couple of steps.
This will form the base of your snuffle mat.
Here s my attempt at making one for genie.
Snuffle mats retail online for about 20 30 so i decided it s got to be cheaper to make your own.
The first time you give a snuffle mat to your dog place the treats kibble on top then progressively make it harder by burying the treats kibble further into the snuffle mat so that they really have to use their noses and snuffle to find the goodies.
Flip the rubber mat over and tie the strips once.
An old t shirt and or jumper a jumper or polo shirt is best as some t shirts can be a little too stretchy a pair of scissors.
Start by placing your snuffle mat on the floor and letting your dog have a sniff and explore.
You will need about 1 metre of fleece per mat or 2 x 0 5m of two different colours.
After all they re only rag rugs nothing fancy.
Gather the necessary materials.
A snuffle mat is an enrichment toy that encourages your dog to sniff and search out hidden treats amongst the strands of the mat.
For this project you ll need.
Introducing your snuffle mat to your dog.
At least a yard of fleece depending on the size of your pup a rubber sink or anti fatigue mat basically any mat that has equidistant holes large enough for fleece strips to go through.