Lick mat recipes for dogs built on single ingredient treats
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The best lick mat spreads use the fewest ingredients. Our freeze-dried treats are single ingredient by themselves, so combining them with peanut butter or yogurt is as simple as it gets.
Recipe one: Beef liver and peanut butter
Crumble a small handful of freeze-dried beef liver into a bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter until the pieces are coated. Spread across the mat in a thin layer, then freeze for at least 2 hours. Serve straight from the freezer. Your dog gets beef protein and fat from liver, plus the binding power of peanut butter. The mix stays together as it thaws.
Recipe two: Beef tripe and yogurt
Crumble freeze-dried beef tripe (about a tablespoon) into plain yogurt (2 to 3 tablespoons). Stir well so the tripe pieces are distributed evenly. Spread onto the mat and freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Tripe is naturally rich and flavored, so the yogurt mostly acts as a freezable carrier. Dogs who get raw-fed diets recognize tripe as familiar.
Recipe three: Layered beef and freezing
Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the mat. Sprinkle crumbled beef liver over it. Add another thin layer of peanut butter on top. Scatter more crumbled tripe on the second layer. Freeze overnight. This gives your dog multiple textures as they work through the mat: peanut butter, then liver, then more peanut butter, then tripe. Each layer thaws at a different rate, extending the session.
Portion sizes that work
Start small. A tablespoon of crumbled freeze-dried treats and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter load a standard 8-inch mat. Adjust based on your dog's size and how fast they lick. Bigger dogs eat faster, so don't overload thinking more will keep them busy longer; they'll just finish it sooner.
Prep ahead for the week
Prep three or four mats on a Sunday, freeze them, and pull one out each day. Store them in a plastic bag in the freezer so they don't absorb freezer odors. A frozen mat kept in a bag stays fresh for weeks.
Why single ingredient?
Our freeze-dried beef liver and tripe are 100% meat with no fillers or additives. When you mix them with peanut butter or yogurt, you know exactly what's in the mat. No mystery ingredients or shelf-stable chemicals.
In the Toys aisle
Sky eMat, SodaPup, light blue, cloud pattern, $16.99. Zombie eMat, SodaPup, black or orange, $15.99 each. It's a Birthday Pawty Lick Mat, Modern Dog Company, $20.00. Disco Cowgirl Lick Mat, Modern Dog Company, $20.00.
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
Can I make these recipes without freezing?
Yes. Serve them fresh and unfrozen. A fresh mat with peanut butter and beef liver crumbles lasts 5 to 10 minutes depending on your dog's pace. Frozen mats last much longer.
Do I need to thaw the mat before serving?
No. Serve straight from the freezer. Your dog's tongue will thaw the first layer as they lick. If it's extremely hard, run it under warm water for 30 seconds to loosen the top.
Can I substitute the yogurt for something else?
Peanut butter works as a carrier for beef tripe. Coconut oil works too if your dog tolerates it. Keep the base something that freezes and holds the freeze-dried pieces in place.
My dog reacts to peanuts. What can I use instead?
Try coconut oil, plain yogurt, or a small amount of wet food mixed with the crumbled tripe or liver. Coconut oil freezes well and binds the spread together. Test a new carrier on a small scale before loading a full mat.
How much beef liver should I use?
A tablespoon crumbled is a good starting point. If your dog finishes it in 5 minutes, add more next time. If you have leftovers in the mat after 30 minutes, use less.
Use single-ingredient freeze-dried beef liver to build reliable mats. Find more treat flavors and mat options on our Explore page.
