Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat Review 2024: Pros and Cons of this Interactive Feeder

quality: 4.9/5

effect: 4.8/5

Ease of use: 4.8/5

value: 4.9/5

Looking for a fun and easy way to enrich your dog’s eating experience? The Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat is a great option for many dogs.

Easily turn dinner time into playtime with this high quality snuffle mat. Deep folds and endless hiding places allow dogs to use their noses to find food, which engages their brains, slows down the pace, and provides a fun challenge to simple mealtimes. Best of all, it’s machine washable, easy to use, and comes with some great features that other snuffle mats don’t have.

My Chihuahua, Papyrus, and I had a chance to try out this colorful snuffle mat. Read my full Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat review below to find out what makes this enrichment feeder different from others and whether it’s the right choice for your pup.

overview

our experience

I first discovered snuffle mats when I was at a friend’s house with my dogs. My Chihuahua, Papyrus, instantly fell in love with the dog snuffle mat. He spent an hour sniffing the clumps of wool and digging out all the treats the dog couldn’t find.

I knew I had to find my own snuffle mat for Papyrus. At 15, he can’t walk as far as he used to, so it can be difficult to give him enough enrichment to keep him calm. I thought an enrichment feeder like this would be perfect to keep him busy, especially when we’re stuck at home on those cold Colorado days.

I chose the Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat because it’s not too big and it’s machine washable. And I know from previous experience that this company makes quality products.

As soon as it arrived, I took it out of the package and stuffed it with treats so Papyrus could test it.

what we liked

This snuffle mat is very similar to the first one we encountered. It has a strip of fleece that is approximately 4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. These pieces are sewn into the base and form a dense layer of hiding spots into which the dog must push the muzzle to retrieve treats and grains.

The fleece part is soft and easy to handle even with my dog’s small muzzle. It is securely attached to the base to prevent your dog from pulling it out to get to the food underneath.

I’m also a big fan of the size of this mat. It’s nice and compact, yet has enough surface area to hold about 1 cup of food. It’s the perfect size for my 7 pound Chihuahua, but also suitable for my 30 pound Dalmatian mix. This small size also makes it easy to store.

I’m also a big fan of this color! The orange, teal, and gray color scheme is cheerful without being too flashy.

Of course, the most important factor is how funny it is. And this works very well! It takes about 10 minutes to get a small treat out of Papyrus, and about 30 minutes to eat a meal’s worth of kibble.

Another great advantage of this snuffle mat is that it is machine washable. I learned why this is so important that day at a friend’s house. After the dogs played on the mat for a while, I noticed maggots crawling inside the mat. The oily pellet residue accumulated over time and provided the flies with a place to lay their eggs. Wow!

Luckily, you can prevent that from happening by putting my Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat in the washing machine regularly.

Points where I felt there was room for improvement

There are four large suction cups on the bottom of this mat to keep it in place. This is important if your dog is smart enough to pick up the mat and shake it, or flip it over to retrieve the treat.

Unfortunately, suction cups only work well on very flat surfaces like granite tiles. Most of my floors are slightly textured vinyl planks. The suction cup will only stick for about 5 seconds before releasing.

Other than this issue, I have no other complaints about this mat. It provides great enrichment for my food curious Chihuahua and makes his meals last much longer and keeps him feeling full.

Easy to use, easy to clean, and provides a much richer eating experience than boring old bowls.

Advantages and disadvantages

Main features

How to use

This snuffle mat is very easy to use. Works well with hard and soft treats, as well as kibble and freeze-dried foods. However, if you choose these, be extra careful when cleaning them. For best results, we recommend using small treats or kibble that can be easily embedded inside the fleece.

Pour the treats or grains onto the mat and use your fingers to ruffle the strips and shake the grains deep into the dough. Next, secure the mat to the floor and let your puppy sniff it.

How to care

This type of concentrate feeder has a soft surface and requires special care. Luckily, this round feed mat from Messy Mutts makes it easy.

Once your dog has finished using the mat, be sure to shake off any leftover treats. This will keep the mat clean and free of insects between uses. Please be careful to wash this mat regularly in the washing machine in cold water to avoid bacterial contamination and health-related issues. On the plus side, this mat is also dryer safe, but we recommend hanging it to dry for added durability.

What’s the difference?

There are some important differences between this mat and other snuffle mats I’ve tried.

First, it’s so well made that it won’t fall apart when your dog digs or pulls at it. This mat is quite dense compared to other mats. Long fleece provides more hiding places for food and makes it harder for your dog to find it.

A suction cup at the bottom and a tightly woven base provide added stability. And its compact size makes it easy to store. Of course, it is machine washable, so it is easy to care for.

About Messy Mutts

Since 2014, Messy Mutts has been making functional and great-looking pet products that help reduce mess for your pet.

Is the Messy Mutts Round Feed Mat a good deal?

The price range for snuffle mats is quite wide, with cheaper options sometimes available for less than $10. However, prices for quality mats like this tend to be in the low $20s. The Messy Mutts Round Forage Mat costs less than this, so it’s a great deal.

Test method

I tested this snuffle mat with the help of my Chihuahua Papyrus. My large dog, Rags, also participated in the testing process to ensure this mat would hold up to both large and small dogs.

I started using this as any pet owner would do by adding treats. We tested using different snack types and grain sizes. During this time, we made sure to check the effectiveness of various features.

While my dogs were using the mat, I measured how long they continued to use it before they gave up, got bored, or quit. Luckily they didn’t quit before they ran out of food.

I also washed the mat a few times to see if it would hold up to the process. As well, I made a note of its durability when my dog ​​was playing with it.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What are the benefits of using this snuffle mat?

Snuffle mats like this increase nutrition, improve digestion by slowing down feeding, and reduce stress.

Who can benefit from this snuffle mat?

Anxious and hyperactive dogs can benefit from using an interactive feeder like this one. Older dogs with cognitive impairments can also benefit from this stimulating feeding solution.

Do you have other sizes?

No, this is the only option for this type of mat. However, Messy Mutts offers many other interactive feeding options, including a feed/sniff mat that includes frilled areas, licking pads, and hiding holes.

conclusion

If you are considering a sniffing nose mat for your dog, we highly recommend you consider the Round Forage Mat by Messy Mutts.

This well-made interactive feeder is compact yet provides plenty of hidden space for grains and treats. It’s machine washable, easy to clean, and comes with great extra features like suction cups and a sturdy base for added stability.