The FOFOS Fox Snuffle Mat Dog Toy is a round fleece mat with a fox face, and the layered petals around it are where the work happens. Push dry food down between them and the dog has to use its nose rather than its eyes.

Key Features

• Layered fleece strips that hide dry food at several depths
• Round mat with a fox face worked into the design
• Non-slip backing so it stays put while the dog pushes at it
• Machine washable, which matters more than it sounds with a food toy

Why Make A Dog Work For Food

• A dog that has to solve something for its dinner gets tired in a way a walk does not achieve. Ten minutes of sniffing and problem-solving settles most dogs better than another lap of the block
• It also slows eating down, which matters for dogs that bolt their food and for deep-chested breeds where fast eating and gulped air are a risk factor
• Feed part of the daily ration this way rather than adding treats on top. The food is the same, the effort is what changes

How To Introduce It

• Scatter treats on top where the dog can see them for the first few goes, so they learn the mat is worth investigating
• Only then start tucking food down into the folds. Build the difficulty up rather than starting on hard mode
• Five to ten minutes is a full session. Most dogs are genuinely tired afterwards
• Take it up between sessions. A mat left down all day becomes furniture

Good To Know

• Machine wash cool on a gentle cycle and air dry. Do not tumble dry the backing
• It is a foraging mat, not a chew toy. A dog that starts pulling the fleece strips out should not be left alone with it
• Use dry food only. Anything greasy or wet soaks into the fleece and will not wash out cleanly
• Supervise play and take the toy away once it starts to come apart. No dog toy is indestructible, and swallowed pieces can cause a blockage