DIY Snuffle Mat For Dogs

It is absolutely no secret that I love finding and making new dog enrichment ideas and activities! Keeping my dogs stimulated is not only very fun to do but also rewarding when you see how much they enjoy it. One of my favorite dog enrichment activities that I do with my dogs throughout the week are dog enrichment mats, also known as dog snuffle mats.

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of DIY snuffle mats for dogs and thought to myself, you know what, I kind of want to try making one of those! I have always been a huge crafter, especially in my sorority days, and so I was up for the challenge. I looked up multiple DIY snuffle mats for dogs and wanted to share the easiest way to make your very own DIY dog snuffle mat!

In this post, not only will I be sharing how to make your own DIY dog snuffle mat, I’ll also be sharing my current dog treat obsession from a brand called Ava’s Pet Palace! This treat company is run by Ava herself (now a teen who actually started the company when she was 8!) with the support of her incredible family. Having the opportunity to meet them in person at the Global Pet Expo and try their treats was so amazing! Let’s get into how to make your very own DIY snuffle mat for dogs.

What Is A Snuffle Mat?

If you’re newer to dog enrichment and are initially wondering what is a snuffle mat, I can help! A snuffle mat for dogs (also known as an enrichment mat for dogs, dog puzzle mat, dog foraging mat, dog sniff mat, etc.) is essentially a mat covered in felt or fleece that you can hide your dog’s treats or food in to encourage your dog to use their natural sense of smell to search and find the delicious food inside!

Snuffle mats for dogs come in all shapes, sizes and themes/patterns and we have many different kinds! 

P.S. Check out my post featuring 3 fun snuffle toys for dogs and my YouTube video which features a bonus snuffle toy for dogs! 

Ava’s Pet Palace Dog Treats

At the 2023 Global Pet Expo I was able to meet Ava herself from Ava’s Pet Palace and some of her incredibly kind family! I discovered Ava’s Pet Palace a little over a year ago when she was launching her treats at many PetSmart stores, and was beyond impressed that a young teen had launched her own organic dog treat line. Ava even created her first business plan at six years old. I mean come on, that’s incredible! 

What I love about her organic dog treats, is that they are made from only a few, high quality ingredients which is something I always look for. If I can’t pronounce what’s in the treats, I don’t want them for my dog! Ava’s Pet Palace currently has three organic dog biscuit flavors: Gone Bananas, Cheeze Pleeze and Peanutty Paws. She also has a single ingredient fish dog treat, their Snappin Salmon, salmon jerky dog treats. I LOVE fish dog treats, especially single ingredient fish dog treats because of all of the benefits fish have for dogs.

In this post, I’m using Ava’s Pet Palace Snappin Salmon single ingredient dog treats because they have the strongest smell out of all of them, and will be the easiest treats to find in this DIY snuffle mat for dogs!

DIY Snuffle Mat For Dogs Tools & Items

To make this DIY snuffle mat for dogs, you’ll need the following tools & items:

• 1 rubber sink mat of your size choice
  • I got this clear 16″ X 12.5″ sink mat off Amazon for $10! Also, this size is great for medium/large/XL dogs!
• 1 yard of medium weight anti-pill fleece fabric or an old blanket
  • I know that was pretty specific, but this weight and fleece type both ensure that the fabric won’t rip and fray as your dog uses it! The day I bought the fabric at Joann’s it was on sale, but this fabric usually runs anywhere from $10-$15 a yard I believe, but one yard will do this mat and leave you with a little extra. This DIY dog snuffle mat features two different colors, which you don’t have to do.
• 1 pair of scissors
  • I actually got a pair of nice Fiskers fabric scissors as recommended by my mom. She’s been sewing her whole life and said these high quality scissors are definitely worth the investment (I got the ones featured here for under $10!).
• 1 small screwdriver (if using 2 colors/sets of fabric)

How To Make: DIY Snuffle Mat For Dogs:

Now that we’ve gathered all of our tools and items needed, here’s how to make a DIY snuffle mat for dogs!

Step 1: Start by counting the amount of holes you have in your sink mat vertically by row. This will be the amount of fabric strips needed to make the mat.

Step 2: Start cutting as many strips that you need that are around 1″ thick and 6-8″ long. 

Note: You might be surprised by the amount of strips you will need, I definitely was, ha! Know that the bigger the sink mat, the more strips you will need. However, out of all of the steps, this is the one that takes the most time but once it’s done, you’re done!

Pro Tip: Once you’ve seen how many strips you need, this might also determine if you want to use a second color or not since it will be double the fabric. In the steps below I show what it will look like with and without both so you can see how it turns out!

Step 3: Once you have all of your strips cut, start looping them through each hole of your sink mat and secure them on one side by tying a quick knot. 

Note: Once you put your first fabric piece through the hole, every piece after will have one side in the previous hole. See photos below for a step-by-step guide. 

Step 4: Repeat step 3 until all of your rows on your DIY dog snuffle mat are filled with one color of your anti-pill midweight fleece fabric. 

Now, if you want to end it there and completely fill your mat with just one fabric color, you totally can! It will still be nice and fluffy and make a great DIY dog snuffle mat. The first photo below shows a preview of what one section would look like from the top with only one color.

If you want to take it to the next level and make an extra good DIY dog snuffle mat, you can add a second fabric color, which is featured in the steps and photos below.

Step 5: Similar to what you did in step 3, you will now do the same but in the opposite direction that you previously went (i.e. instead of going across horizontally, you will now do the same steps vertically). 

Pro Tip: This is where your tiny screwdriver comes in handy! When you add in the second layer of fabric, having this tool makes it easiest to push the fabric through to the other side since there is already a layer there. It goes through super easily though!

Step 6: Repeat step 5 until your entire mat is filled with both fabrics and secured.

Below is what your completed DIY snuffle mat for dogs will look like from the front and back!

Step 7: Grab your dog’s food or their favorite treats (we’re using Ava’s Pet Palace Snappin Salmon, single ingredient salmon jerky fish dog treats) and fill your DIY dog snuffle mat.

Pro Tip: When you’re first introducing a snuffle mat to your dog, or any DIY dog enrichment idea/DIY dog nose work game, I recommend using fish dog treats. You want something very high-value (smelly, good texture, mouth-watering) that will immediately capture their attention, which single ingredient fish treats do! 

Step 8: Once your DIY snuffle mat for dogs is filled with treats, give to your dog and watch them solve!

What did you think of this DIY snuffle mat for dogs tutorial? Super easy right! DIY dog snuffle mats are not only fun dog enrichment ideas for your dogs, but they also make great gifts for other dog parents too! There truly is something special about getting something homemade for your birthday or the holidays. Plus, make sure to check out all of the delicious organic dog treats from Ava’s Pet Palace! My dogs absolutely love every single flavor and I love that they’re getting only the best from such an awesome family-run company!

Want more dog enrichment ideas? Check out some of my favorite posts featuring some more fun DIY puzzle toys for dogs, Lickimat recipes, KONG filling ideas, and more:

• 3 Easy Dog Lick Mat Ideas
• 3 DIY Dog Treat Dispensers
• 3 DIY Dog Enrichment Ideas To Combat Dog Cabin Fever
• 3 Dog Enrichment Activities Using Toilet Paper Rolls
• 3 DIY Puzzle Toys For Dogs
• 3 Easy Scenting Games For Dogs
• 3 Ingredient Yogurt Dog Treat Recipe With Lickimat Soother
• 3 Snuffle Toys For Dogs
• DIY Snuffle Mat Ball: JW HOLEE Roller Ball Dog Toy Idea

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Photography: Kate Kelley Collection