The No. 1 Item I'd Recommend to Any Dog Owner During the Pandemic (and Beyond)

LickiMats are rubber mats or bowls with textured tops that can fit all kinds of pet-safe foods. The licking releases endorphins that can help calm anxious dogs during distressing times like thunderstorms and baths, and it also reduces the boredom that can turn destructive or distracting in everyday life.

Offering this also redirects inappropriate chewing and licking to something safe instead, and, when frozen as seen here, it really keeps pets occupied for long stretches of time. (I prefer this to other toys with a small opening that can be filled with treats, as those are very hard to clean and, if your dog is like mine, they're only gonna try so long before deeming it not worth it when they can't get their tongue to any actual peanut butter inside.)

Also, while this isn't an issue for Beau, these can be used to force pets to slow down their dinnertime if you've got a gobbler on your hands (and can help reduce the risk of bloat, too).

As a special treat, I offer small portions of human foods my vet has approved for Beau's diet. Since today I had nonfat plain yogurt and a banana for breakfast, I put a little bit of both on his LickiMat and popped it in the freezer as an afternoon snack. I've even used this to serve baby food my vet recommended as a bland diet during a past parasitic infection, or filled the whole tray with his regular Ollie meal and served it unfrozen, too. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to the concoctions you serve.*

While I use the classic Soother most often, I've also rounded up the other styles that serve important purposes, including one just for bath time. (Oh, and if you have a cat, there are even a couple specifically for your kitty pals, too.)

*Please always check with a veterinarian before serving foods not explicitly made for dogs to your own pets.

The LickiMat Classic Soother For Dogs ($8) has tiny nubs to calm a pup, as their repeated licking motion releases endorphins to help with anxiety or boredom. It works especially well with runny foods like yogurt, and the tray can be frozen to last even longer (but don't put this one in the dishwasher when your pet's done).

The nubs on this LickiMat Classic Buddy For Dogs ($8) are spaced out more, so it's easier to spread chunkier treats. Plus, this design makes it easier to clean, which is another bonus because this one shouldn't go in the dishwasher either.

Or, grab both of these popular styles in the LickiMat Soother and LickiMat Buddy 2-Pack For Dogs ($15), and save money in the process.

You don't need to have a bigger pooch to pick this LickiMat Classic Buddy Large For Dogs ($15). It's exactly the same as the classic Buddy, just this one is an 11-inch square (versus 7.87 inches) so it serves up more and distracts them for even longer.

If your dog is a strong chewer, they may decide to dine on the mat after they're done licking out their food. This LickiMat Tuff, Heavy-Duty Soother For Dogs ($15) work for pups who like to gnaw on things, and it can safely be placed in the dishwasher, too.

This LickiMat Slomo For Dogs ($14) is a good pick if you're trying to get a dog to eat slower (and the anxiety-reduction is an added bonus). The two quadrants with larger holes can serve up kibble, and wet food can be smeared in the other sections as a mealtime bonus. Or, I especially love this for a special treat with blueberries in the larger holes and soft human foods like pureed pumpkin smeared in the other two.

Really make pups work with this LickiMat Wobble For Dogs ($16) which, as you may have guessed, teeters as they eat. Wet food can be smeared on the bottom and then topped with their regular dry food in order to make dinnertime last longer for dogs who are prone to gulping all their food down in seemingly a few bites.

If you've ever wrestled with a dog at bath time, this LickiMat Splash For Dogs ($16) is your new savior. It features a large suction cup that can be attached to the tub, so they can lick away at a special treat like peanut butter or cream cheese while you scrub. This also can be used on glass car windows (to distract on car trips) and on tile or floor (to distract during grooming or nail cutting) as well.

If you have a cat, this LickiMat Casper For Cats ($8) is great for adult cats. The LickiMat Felix For Cats ($8) can be used by kittens or adult cats, as it has a less intricate pattern that makes it easier to get to food. (Neither of these should be placed in the dishwasher though.)