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Normie, a golden retriever service dog, looking up happily from his PuzzlePup SmartMat
5.0 · 4 reviews

Tire out their brain, not just their legs.

The SmartMat · Add any supplement jar for 50% off

Pick your jar · vet-recommended soft chews

✓ Vet recommended · Mat and chews recommended by Jenny Elsner at Helping Paws

Free U.S. shipping · Ships in 1–2 business days · Chews made in the USA

30-day money-back guarantee. If your dog doesn’t love it, I’ll refund you. — Mike, Normie’s dad

Last orders before our vacation break: Oct 30

Hide dinner or treats in the SmartMat and let their nose do the work. Made for bored, high-energy and fast-eating dogs, and machine washable.

  • Brain workout
  • Burns energy
  • Calmer dog
  • Slows fast eaters
  • Wet or dry food

As seen on local

ABC CBS NBC

Watch: KTTC story · ABC 6 story

What the research found

Same dinner.
A very different meal.

Bowl
Close-up of the SmartMat's fabric loops
Food puzzle

Time spent eating the meal

2.7× longer

to finish the same food

38%

stress hormone (cortisol) after a week of puzzle meals

The SmartMat turns every meal into a food puzzle.

Source: Boonhoh et al., Veterinary World, 2023: 4 dogs fed from a bowl or a feeding toy for a week. Cortisol didn’t change with the bowl.

Normie, a golden retriever, looking up from his PuzzlePup SmartMat

A busy nose is
a happy dog.

  • More optimistic

    Two weeks of daily sniffing games made dogs measurably more optimistic.

    Duranton & Horowitz, 2019
  • Calmer

    In a 61-dog field study, dogs’ pulse dropped while they sniffed.

    Field study, not peer-reviewed
  • Boredom is real

    Scientists say dogs really do get bored, and enrichment helps.

    Burn, Animal Behaviour, 2017

PuzzlePup SmartMat · brain work at dinnertime

Why the SmartMat

Not all dinners are equal.

Bowl Thin felt mat SmartMat
Turns dinner into brain work✕✓✓
Deep fabric loops that really hide food✕Shallow✓
Raised soft sides keep food on the mat–✕✓
Machine washable✓Often hand wash✓
Big enough for big dogs (23.6 × 19.7 in)–Varies✓
Built and tested with a working service dog✕✕✓
30-day money-back guarantee–Varies✓

“Treats will actually get buried in this mat compared to the carpet style ones.” — Amazon reviewer

Your stories, our prideSmartMat, in their words.

5.0 out of 5
★★★★★
“My dog loves the snuffle mat for his regular food, as well as treats. He much prefers eating from it, (digging through looking for food) over eating from his regular dish.”
Barbara Jerabek
★★★★★
“Both of our Labs love their new PuzzlePup Smart Snuffle Mat. Eating their meal has gone from seconds to minutes!”
Mark Kipp
★★★★★
“This is made very well and slowed my dog’s eating time from about a minute to closer to 15 min! So happy with this purchase!”
Becky Gentrup
★★★★★
“Great products, and story.”
Gabriel Arruda

Engage, Explore, Enjoy

1. Hide the food – Scatter kibble, small treats or a little wet food into the loops.
Normie sniffing between the navy loops of the SmartMat
2. Let them sniff – Sniffing is real brain work. Their nose does the searching.
Normie lying happily with his chin on the SmartMat after his food hunt
3. Hunt & enjoy – Every bite is a find. Then a calm, happy, tired-out dog.
1 / 3

Designed for the
Smartest and Strongest
Fur Babies

RAISED
SOFT SIDESMACHINE
WASHABLEWET OR
DRY FOODLARGE
BONE SHAPE

Dense fabric folds give their nose places to search. The large, sturdy Mat measures approximately 23.6 × 19.7 inches, with sides about 3 inches high. Hide a few bites of their usual wet or dry food, let them sniff, then machine wash cold and air dry flat.

We chose blue because dogs can see it as a distinct color.

SHOP NOW
Normie, a golden retriever service dog, nose-deep in the SmartMat’s fabric loops.
Normie pushing his nose into the loops to find hidden kibble.
Normie sitting behind his SmartMat, smiling up at the camera with kibble tucked in the loops.
Normie lying down beside the SmartMat after his food hunt.

Easy to Clean, Easier to
Use

A few simple steps keep their next food hunt fresh.

1. Clear leftover food.

Shake out dry crumbs after each game. Wash after every wet-food use.

2. Wash cold and gentle.

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle.

3. Air dry flat.

Let the folds and backing dry fully. Supervise every session and remove the Mat if damaged.

The SmartMat going into a front-loading washing machine while Normie watches: machine washable, cold gentle cycle, air dry flat.

Before the first game

Before your first food hunt

What food should I use?

Use your dog’s kibble, small treats or a little wet food. Start with visible food on top and tuck it deeper once your dog understands the game. Wash after every wet-food use and dry fully.

What size is the mat?

Approximately 23.6 × 19.7 inches overall. Fabric products can vary slightly.

How do I clean it?

Clear leftover food, machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, and air dry flat. Wash after every wet-food use. Let the folds and backing dry fully before using it again.

Is it a chew toy?

No. Supervise every session, put it away afterward, and remove it if damaged.

When will my mat arrive?

Orders ship in 1–2 business days, then typically arrive 3–7 business days later. Standard U.S. shipping is free. Carrier delays can affect arrival. See shipping details.

Can I try the mat and still use the guarantee?

Yes. SmartMats used as directed with kibble, small treats or a little wet food are eligible. Follow the care directions, including washing after wet-food use and drying fully. Contact PuzzlePup within 30 days of delivery with your order number. One satisfaction-guarantee claim per customer or household; eligibility terms apply. Read the guarantee terms.