We bought the Hyper Pet’s LickiMat to try out on a Sheltie pup to help boost her confidence. The results of our test with the mat and our gentle pup weren’t favorable.
Here are the claims of the Hyper Pet’s LickiMat Line.
1. Hyper Pet’s LickiMat Line is designed to deliver a medical free way to promote calm behavior in your pet while home alone or during stressful times, like storms.
We say that dogs should not be left alone with the Hyper Pet’s LickiMat. As you will see and hear from the video below, a small and gentle Sheltie puppy nips off the green nubs of her Hyper Pet’s LickiMat trying to get the rest of her food. Soon after, she grips the mat between front paws so she can chew off the corners.
2. Hyper Pet’s LickiMat Line is a challenge/reward based treat delivery system that engages pets over a long period of time while only delivering small portions of their favorite treat.
We say that as a food toy for dogs, the period of time it takes to lick the food off then get to destroying the toy is a fast period of time, not a long period of time. And the portions are dependent on how quickly the dog can eat the mat when she wants the rest of her food in a timely manner.
3. All the products are designed to be filled with the dogs favorite treat, it can also be frozen to extend the period of engagement.
We say that the food used on this mat must be soft and squishy. We agree it could be frozen, and made into a hot-weather popsicle for your dog to crunch on and consume. Danger!
4. LickiMats promote fresh breath, healthy teeth & gums!
We say, where’s the proof on that? Fresh breath from licking a rubbery toy? Healthy teeth and gums? So many dog foods, treats, and chews suggest they are a salvation to dogs’ teeth and gums. But I have yet to see where the tests and results are posted to back up these claims.
5. They also stimulate saliva to aid in digestive health.
We say, Pavlov. Dog sees or smells food, or sees the usual delivery system for that food – bowl, mat, food toy – and THAT activates the salivary glands to produce saliva so the dog can digest. If you drop one of these mats down in front of a dog for the first time, that dog will not be salivating. It’s a rubery thing and not the least bit appetizing on its own and definitely not for consumption.
Conclusion: we spent the money on the Hyper Pet’s LickiMat, did the test, and the mat didn’t even pass the first round as a food toy with our meek Sheltie puppy. We do not recommend anyone spending the money on this mat. It is not durable and do not live up to the claims made by the manufacturer. We are especially adamant about not leaving a dog or puppy alone with the Hyper Pet’s LickiMat food toy unsupervised. This Hyper Pet’s LickiMat is not digestible.
To send your dog to the Love Wags A Tail board-and-train camp for motivational learning with our cast of characters, contact us with your dog training, behavior modification wish list to get started.
Helen Verte Schwarzmann
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Certified in Training and Counseling
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed
Certified Trick Dog Instructor
AKC STAR Puppy, CGC, and Trick Dog Trainer and Evaluator
Your Board-and-Train Dog Trainer for south and southwest Florida, Southwest Ranches, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Broward, Collier, Lee county
