Dog’s (and even cats) will have to use their nose and brains to solve the puzzle and find hidden treats within.
A snuffle mat is simply a web of fleece strips that we hide yummy treats in. The strips are tied into a heavy rubber platform to keep them in place. Dog’s (and even cats) will have to use their nose and brains to solve the puzzle and find hidden treats within. The mat is an excellent tool for encouraging nose work. A study by dog researcher Alexandra Horowitz of the Dog Cognition Lab suggests dogs were more willing to investigate a stimulus of uncertainty, and may experience optimism in doing so. It allows dogs to work for their food. It wasn’t too long ago that dogs ( and even humans) had to work for their meal in the form of hunting. To quickly sum up: snuffle mats are fun, challenging, makes dogs smarter, and keeps them occupied for a short time. Great for a rainy day activity. For a 12×12 mat you will need a minimum of **116 individual strips. Each strip will be 1.5 inches wide. Length is determined by the level of difficulty of the puzzle.
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