Alright, alright, let’s talk about these here lick mats for dogs. You know, the things them city folks are always goin’ on about. Never had nothin’ like that when I was growin’ up, but I guess times change, eh? Anyways, they say these mats are good for keepin’ your dog busy and happy, so let’s see what all the fuss is about.
What are lick mats anyway? Well, from what I gather, they’re just flat things, like a plate but with a bunch of bumps and grooves on ’em. You smear some food on it, and the dog spends a good long while lickin’ it off. Keeps ’em outta trouble, I reckon.
Why use a lick mat? Seems like there’s a few good reasons. First off, it keeps them dogs busy. You know how some dogs, especially the young’uns, are always gettin’ into mischief? Well, a lick mat gives ’em somethin’ to do, somethin’ to focus on. Kinda like givin’ a kid a puzzle, I guess.
And then there’s the calming part. I hear tell that lickin’ releases some kinda feel-good stuff in their brains. Makes ’em relax. Like when you rock a baby to sleep. It’s the same kinda thing, only for dogs.
- Kepp them busy.
- Calms them down.
- Helps with digestion.
Oh, and somethin’ about digestion too. Apparently, eatin’ slow is good for their bellies. And when they gotta lick the food off the mat, they can’t just gobble it down all at once. Makes sense to me. My old Bess used to eat so fast she’d get the hiccups somethin’ fierce.
So, what kind of lick mat recipes are there? Well, that’s the fun part, ain’t it? You can use all sorts of things. The main thing is to make it somethin’ your dog likes, and somethin’ that’s good for ’em. No use givin’ ’em a bunch of sugary junk, now is there?
Peanut butter is a good place to start. Most dogs love it, just like kids love candy. But don’t give ’em too much, you hear? A little dab’ll do ya. You can mix it with some plain yogurt, or maybe a little bit of mashed banana. Just make sure it’s not the kind of peanut butter with that fake sugar stuff in it, the one that’s called xylitol. That’s bad for dogs, real bad.
Pumpkin is another good one. Not the pie kind, mind you, the plain canned stuff. It’s good for their digestion, or so I’ve heard. Mix it with some peanut butter, or maybe a little bit of cooked sweet potato. Your dog’ll be lickin’ that mat clean, I betcha.
Plain yogurt is good too. Just make sure it doesn’t have any of that fake sugar in it neither. You can add some fruit, like blueberries or strawberries, or even a little bit of honey. But not too much honey, you don’t want to give your dog the zoomies right before bedtime.
And don’t forget about meat! You can use cooked ground beef, chicken, or even fish. Just make sure it’s plain, no seasonings or nothin’. Dogs don’t need all that fancy stuff. You can mix it with some broth, or maybe a little bit of cooked rice. That’ll make a real hearty meal for ’em.
Here are a few simple recipes you can try:
Recipe 1: The Peanut Butter Delight
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter (xylitol-free!)
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
Mix ’em together and smear it on the mat. Easy peasy.
Recipe 2: The Pumpkin Patch
- 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon peanut butter (xylitol-free!)
Mix it up and spread it on. Your dog will thank you.
Recipe 3: The Fruity Yogurt Treat
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup blueberries (or other dog-safe fruit)
Mash it up a bit and slather it on the lick mat.
Recipe 4: The Meaty Meal
- 1/4 cup cooked ground beef (or chicken, or fish)
- 2 tablespoons broth
- 1 tablespoon cooked rice (optional)
Mix it all together and make sure it’s not too hot before giving it to your dog.
A Few Extra Tips: Don’t freeze the lick mat solid, makes it too hard for the dog to lick. Start with a little bit of food on the mat, and gradually increase the amount as your dog gets used to it. And always supervise your dog when they’re using a lick mat, just to be safe. You don’t want ’em swallowin’ the whole thing, now do ya?
So there you have it. Lick mats for dogs. They seem like a good way to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. And who doesn’t want that? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go make sure my own supper ain’t burnin’ on the stove.
Original article by the Author:Wei,If you intend to republish this content, please attribute the source accordingly:https://www.jaynscott.com/best-lick-mat-recipes-for-dogs-keep-your-dog-happy/