Ancol Advent Snuffle Mat – Christmas Scent Game for Dogs

A festive snuffle mat — a fabric mat with folds and pockets you hide treats in, so your dog has to find them by nose rather than being handed them.

Of all the Christmas toys, this is the one with the most use in it. Scatter a handful of kibble or small treats into the folds and most dogs will work at it for ten or fifteen minutes.

• Hide treats in the folds — Scatter, ruffle the fabric over the top, and let them find it.
• Works with their normal food — Use a portion of their daily kibble rather than extra treats, and it costs nothing in calories.
• Genuinely useful on Christmas Day — A dog with a job is a dog not circling the dinner table.
• Advent design — Festive, but there's no reason to put it away in January.

How to use it

Scatter a small handful of dry treats or kibble across the mat, work the fabric over them, and put it down. Start easy so your dog works out the game, then hide things deeper as they get the hang of it. Pick it up between sessions rather than leaving it down.

Safety

Supervise throughout. A snuffle mat is for sniffing and searching, not chewing — take it away if your dog starts pulling at the fabric, and don't leave it with them unattended. Count whatever you hide in it as part of their daily food.

From Ancol Pet Products, stocked at Hairy Dogs.