Right, so maybe you have heard (or read) the ‘drama’ that went on about Lickimat at Crufts 2024 and their invite of a certain dog trainer | dog training company. Maybe you haven’t.
Lickimat Crufts 2024 Controversy
Here’s a quick ‘what happened’ for you: Lickimat invited a dog trainer to their stall at Crufts. So, far so good. Lots of brands do this and have dog trainers to help out. (I helped out two days at Tug-E-Nuff’s stall). However, here’s what the whole Lickimat controversy is about though. The invited dog trainer is the founder of a dog training company that is pretty well-known with a wide reach and also well known for the use of aversive training tools. There has been video proof shared of this trainer using aversives.
The presence of this dog trainer has been advertised by Lickimat and it was advertised that he would also do a book signing and promote his dog training brand (and philosophy). This lead to a massive out cry of the Do No Harm | R+ | Positive Reinforcement Dog Training community as the Lickimat products are mostly been used, promoted and sold within this group and that the Lickimat brand would not choose a trainer that supports these values but with different ethics. The controversy didn’t stop there when the post on Instagram was then simply deleted (with all the comments) on the Lickimat’s Instagram Account and the community felt that the brand did not own their mistake. Long story short, there was a lot of emotionality and the boycott of Lickimat products.
Lick Mats for Dogs
Whether you found this post because you were curious what it was all about or you want to follow along, or simply look for alternatives and different products for your dog … you’re welcome. I have been doing comparison posts for a while and wanted to do one for Lickimats for a while, so this seems like a good time to do it.
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Let’s dive in:
Lickimat Classic Alternatives
Before we dive into alternatives, I’d like to offer you some insights into the designs, so you know what we’re looking for in our alternatives! Designs will vary (alternatives, not dupes!), so understanding the purpose before purchasing can be helpful. Whilst they are all made for different types of food (raw, wet etc.), some designs are better suited for different types of foods and liquids.
Lickimat Classics Overview
The Lickimat Classics are all 20 x 20 cm/ 8″ x 8″, can be put in the freezer, microwave and are hand washable.
- Made from non-toxic food grade TPR
- No BPA, No PVC, No Silicone, No Phthalates
- Recyclable
If you go for an alternative, make sure they’re safe to use for your dog! Your dog will lick them and take food off from them, so avoid toxic materials.
Lickimat Playdate
Lickimat Playdate™ has compartments to keep foods and liquids in place and allow to be separated.
Alternatives to the Lickimat Playdate that I like are the ones from Sodapup. They all come in the same size as the traditional Lickimats – are a bit more ‘stable’ and have a hole that allows for hanging them up (great for drying). Some of these are also available in smaller sizes (about half the size).
Lickimat Playdate Alternatives
From left to right:
- Sodapup Honeycomb Lick Mat – available in large and small.
- Sodapup Bone Lick Mat – one of my absolute favourites and not too difficult! The bone shape is not too deep and my dogs really love this one. Available in two colours and you can see the depth on the purple bone pic.
- Small Sodapup Lick Mat Love. Whilst this is smaller, I chose it as it has pretty big compartments, so it should be relatively easy for your dog to use and fun to fill for you!
- Sodapup Autumn Lick Mat
You can buy them with different retailers. If you order directly from Sodapup.com you can use my Discount Code BULLYCO for 10% off.
If you buy in large amounts, you can also find Bundles of Seconds for a reduced price on the Sodapup page. They are usually about 20 pieces or so with cosmetic flaws. Great for Doggy Day Cares, Shelters etc. These are also available for their Rubber Toys and Nylon Toys!
If you’re in the US, you can shop them here:
My favourite shops to buy Sodapup in the UK from:
If you use NoFussFill (my favourite small retailer and her Plunger tool is a life saver for filling Enrichment Toys!!), you can use this link to save 10% (and I get a store credit).
You can also save £10 (if spend more than £50) at Wooof.co.uk with my friends referral link.
Lickimat Buddy
Lickimat Buddy™ has a more complex surface, so I picked Lick Mats that match this. Here’s my choice:
Lickimat Buddy Alternatives
Again, from left to right:
- Sodapup Zombie Lick Mat for Dogs – available in Orange and Black
- Sodapup Flower Lick Mat for Dogs – available in large and small. I gifted my friend the small one for his Frenchie and she loves it!
- Sodapup Heart Lick Mat for Dogs – available in large and small. We have the small one (the larger one is new) and I wouldn’t recommend the small one for medium to large sized dogs. Go for the bigger one
- Sodapup Jigsaw Lick Mat for Dogs – available in different colours: pink, green, blue. They are often part of a bundle, where you can save money – in comparison to buying them as singles.
You can buy them with different retailers. If you order directly from Sodapup.com you can use my Discount Code BULLYCO for 10% off.
If you’re in the US, you can shop them here:
My favourite shops to buy Sodapup in the UK from:
If you use NoFussFill (my favourite small retailer and her Plunger tool is a life saver for filling Enrichment Toys!!), you can use this link to save 10% (and I get a store credit).
You can also save £10 (if spend more than £50) at Wooof.co.uk with my friends referral link.
Lickimat Soother
The Lickimat Soother™ for anxious dogs with extra tongue simulation.
Lickimat Soother Alternatives
From left to right:
- K9 Connectables Super Sticker – they can be used on its own but also in combination with their other enrichment toys. So, you basically buy one set of toys and add them together (like doggy Lego) and let your dog have fun and fun again. You can put them together in lots of different combinations.
- Sodapup Garden of Eatin’ Tipsy Bowl – available in green and pomegranate.
- Super cute PetDreamHouse Universe Licky Mats for Dogs, with built-in Suction Cups. Available in baby pink, baby blue and green.
- Avont Lick Pad | Soothing Calming Mat for Crate Training and Grooming. It has a bone on the back, which you can twist to secure the pad on the crate. We haven’t tried it but it has lots of positive reviews on Amazon.
- PetDreamHouse SPIN Accessories Lick Flying Disc, BPA-free. You can find it in the ‘spare parts’ section. It’s part of their whole ‘slow feeder bowl’ product range.
You can buy them with different retailers. If you order directly from Sodapup.com you can use my Discount Code BULLYCO for 10% off.
You can get 10% off your order of K9 Connectables with my Discount Code BULLYCO.
Lickimat Tuff and SloMo Alternatives
What’s the Lickimat Tuff and SloMo
The Lickimat Tuff‘s range is more sturdy and dishwasher safe. So, basically the Lickimat that can go into the dishwasher. You can get the same designs as you can get the classics in, but it’s more ‘chew resistant’. Having said this though, Lick Mats (whichever ones) are NO chew toys! So, if your dog chews the lick mats, then you might wanna read this blog post: how to introduce the Lick Mat to your Dog and prevent chewing.
Lickimat SloMo’s are designed to mix wet and dry food in one ‘bowl’ but keep them separate. They are pretty sturdy and they now (super recently and not always available yet) in an XL version (pic).
My American Bully loves the XL SloMo and I haven’t found another plate in the size that I would love as much but here are some recommendations for sturdy Lick Mats for your dog – and bowls! Because I think that some slow feeder bowls are actually a similar great choice. And in the end both are slow feeding solutions – whether it’s in the form of a bowl, a plate or a mat.
Lickimat Tuff and SloMo Alternatives
From left to right:
- Trixie Lick’n Snack Licking Plate – dishwasher safe, 20cm x 20cm (7.9″x7.9″). We us the oval one and my dogs really enjoy it. It’s 28 x 21 cm, dishwasher and freezer safe.
- New West Paw Feast Mats in Waves & Bubbles! Both of the mats have two sides! One is a Slow Feeder that the other side is a Lick Mat that helps reduce stress and anxiety. They come in three different colours (purple, blue, green), are non-toxic: BPA Free, Phthalate Free, Latex Free, & FDA Compliant. And here’s what I love most: made (in the US) with Seaflex! Seaflex is a blend of recycled ocean-bound plastic and zero-waste Zogoflex. I looooove this! (If you’d like to learn more about their Zogoflex recycling loop, check out this post: West Paw Toppl Worth the Hype?). Both plates are dishwasher safe on the top racks.
- Outward Hound Fun Feeder Large Purple. One of our go to’s in our household and has been in the dishwasher more times than I can count. I love this one and it’s Big A’s normal bowl! It also comes in a medium size.
- Nina Ottosson | Outward Hound Lickin’ Layers – we LOVE this one! It’s a puzzle feeder and slow feeder in one. Comes with 3 Lick Mat plates and over 100 compartments.
Lickimat Wobble Alternatives
Lickimat Wobble
The Lickimat Wobble is, as the name suggests ,a slow feeder bowl that wobbles around when the dog licks the food The bowl from the Lickimat brand comes with the soother design (soft bumps). If Here’s what the Lickimat Wobble looks like – and some ideas to fill the Lickimat Wobble or any simular bowl.
Lickimat Wobble Alternatives
From left to right:
- Trixie Lick’n Snack Bowl. I love this one especially for more liquid foods like goat milk or joghurt as it tends to stay better in place. It’s sometimes a bit tougher to get your paws on though.
- Outward Hound | Nina Ottosson Wobble Bowl Dog Game – Interactive Slow Feeder, Level 1 (for a full overview of the Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzles, click here). This is obviously a slightly different design (it’s an interactive puzzle feeder) and it’s only for dry food or kibble as other food would get stuck and make a mess.
- Mighty Paw Enrichment Bowl has 4 different textures (easy, fun, anxiety relief & distraction) within one bowl and you can also use it ‘inside out’ like the Lickimat Wobble.
Lickimat with Suction Cups Alternatives
Lickimat Splash and Ufo
The Lickimat Splash has a slightly bowed lick plat and suction cups that can stick to all sorts of surfaces. It’s designed for grooming, bath times etc. Most of the alternatives are actually ‘competing’ with this one as I don’t think there is anything on the market that really does compete with the Lickimat Ufo! It’s designed to capture the food and saliva and is amazing for avoiding the mess! Unbeatable in my opinion!
Lick Mat Alternatives with Suction Cups
- K9 Connectables Super Sticker – they can be used on its own but also in combination with their other enrichment toys. So, you basically buy one set of toys and add them together (like doggy Lego) and let your dog have fun and fun again. You can put them together in lots of different combinations.
- Sodapup Suction Cup Lick Mats: Camping, LightHouse, Whale and Duckies.
- Kong Licks. We use the large one and it’s relatively small but the ridges are pretty deep and it’s very differently shaped than all others (Kong shaped!)
You can get 10% off your order of K9 Connectables with my Discount Code BULLYCO.
If you order directly from Sodapup.com you can use my Discount Code BULLYCO for 10% off.
Alternatives to Lickimat Sprinkles
Lickimat Sprinkles
Lickimat Sprinkles are food toppers (crushed biscuits) made to be sprinkled onto Lickimats – dry or wet for an additional challenge. They come in four flavours and my dogs favourite is the Liver and Turmeric one.
Alternative ‘Ready to Use’ Food Toppers
- Coya Dog Food Toppers. My dogs love the Beef one.
- Applaws 100% Natural Wet Dog Food Topper
- Liver Paste – also great for a mess free reward on dog walks and for training
- Pumpkin Puree | Powder
Lickimat Yoggie Pot Alternatives
I covered this part in this post – where you can find 4 alternatives to the Lickimat Yoggie Pot.
I hope you found this post helpful and liked it. I’d love to hear from you which lick mat brands and products you like to use best for your dog.
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