Using a lick mat during nail trims and brushing sessions
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Nail trims and brushing sessions can be tense. Your dog sees a tool coming, hears scissors or clippers, and feels pressure. A lick mat loaded with freeze-dried treats placed at eye level keeps your dog occupied while grooming happens. The best lick mat for grooming has suction cups so it stays in place and doesn't slide around mid-brush.
Suction-cup mats for grooming rooms
A mat with strong suction cups sticks to the tile wall in a bathroom, the glass door of a shower, or a grooming table. Your dog licks from below or at eye level while you work on their other end. The mat doesn't slip, doesn't tip, and your dog stays in one spot.
Sizing for your dog's reach
A smaller mat works well for puppies and small dogs who stand at your grooming station. A medium or larger mat suits bigger dogs who stand higher. Mount the mat at mouth level so your dog licks comfortably without climbing or straining.
What to load into a grooming mat
Press crumbled freeze-dried treats into the mat grooves before your dog arrives at the grooming station. Our single-ingredient treats crumble easily and stick to the textured surface. A mat stays busy for five to ten minutes, which covers most nail trims and a light brushing.
Building the grooming routine
Before the first clippers or brush come out, set your dog up at the lick mat. Let them lick for a minute or two so they're occupied. Then start your grooming work while they focus on the mat. Most dogs forget to worry when their mouth is busy.
In the Toys aisle
Citrus Design eMat from SodaPup has suction cups and comes in lime green, orange, or pink, $15.99. It measures 8 by 8 inches and sticks firmly to tile or glass.
Turtle eMat Mini, also from SodaPup, is $15.99 and built for small dogs. Its compact size works well for puppies during their first grooming sessions.
Tree of Life eMat from SodaPup, $15.99, features a branching tree pattern and suction cups. It anchors to a bathroom wall or grooming space without shifting.
It's a Birthday Pawty Lick Mat from The Modern Dog Company, $20, is silicone and holds spreads in its textured grooves. Many groomers use mats like this at their stations.
Disco Cowgirl Lick Mat, also from The Modern Dog Company at $20, works as well for grooming setup as it does for occupying your dog at home.
How it ships
SodaPup products are sold through Shopify Collective and shipped to you directly by SodaPup in Longmont, Colorado, usually within one business day, with their own tracking. Not made or shipped by Sniff and Shift.
Sold through Shopify Collective and shipped to you directly by The Modern Dog Company in Nashville, Tennessee, usually within five business days, with its own tracking. Not made or shipped by Sniff and Shift.
Our freeze-dried treats are made in Malvern, Pennsylvania and ship separately from us.
Questions
How long does a loaded lick mat keep a dog busy?
A mat loaded with crumbled freeze-dried treats keeps most dogs engaged for five to ten minutes. Nail trims usually take that long, so the mat covers the whole session. For longer grooming sessions, reload the mat or switch to a second one halfway through.
Can I use a lick mat without suction cups?
A mat without suction cups can work on a grooming table if it doesn't slide easily. Some tables have a textured surface that grips the mat. Test it first on an empty table before your dog arrives, and make sure the mat won't tip if your dog leans or shifts weight.
Should I freeze the mat before grooming?
A frozen mat keeps your dog working longer than an unfrozen one. If your grooming session is short, a regular mat is fine. For longer sessions or more fidgety dogs, freeze it ahead so the cold also engages your dog and the treat stays put.
What if my groomer wants to use their own lick mat?
Talk to your groomer about bringing your own mat or letting them use theirs. A groomer who's done this before may already have a setup that works in their space. Providing freeze-dried treats for their mat shows you support the routine, even if the mat itself stays at their salon.
Load your grooming mat with our freeze-dried treats and find the right size at /pages/explore.
