What is mental enrichment and why a lick mat can be a great tool for your cavoodles enrichment?

Mental Enrichment is a way to keep your cavoodle’s mind and body stimulated and healthy by allowing them to demonstrate species-typical behaviour. This helps to satisfy both the physical and psychological needs of your cavoodle by allowing them to perform natural behaviours such as sniffing, problem-solving, and foraging for food.

Just like humans, cavoodles like to be kept entertained and can easily become bored without enough to do. Boredom can lead to destructive behaviour like chewing homewares, over-eating, over-grooming, compulsive behaviour and even separation anxiety. 

Forms of enrichment to help with the boredom includes using a lick mat with some of their favourite treats, puzzle feeders, sniff matts, ball pits, tug of war, supervised access outside of the yard to sniff around, going for a walk, or to the dog park to socialise.

What is a lick mat and why is it good enrichment for your cavoodle? 

A lick mat is a silicone mat with shapes or elements to make it more interesting for your cavoodle to indulge their treats! 

Food plays a big part of your cavoodle’s daily routine and can be used to reduce boredom. With a lick mat you can make their routine fascinating by trying treats on the mat to stimulate their mind and their curiosity. Some food ideas to try on a lick mat include:

• Wet food
• Plain Greek Yoghurt
• Minced meat
• Peanut butter
• Banana
• Canned fish (sardines, salmon)
• Pureed vegetables (pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots)
• Bone broth

Other reasons why lickmats are so effective are because they can:

• Reduced anxiety, boredom and destructive behaviour - can help calm and soothe your cavoodle during bath time and distract them! Also great for stressful times such vet visits, injections, nail clipping, injury recovery as well as thunderstorms and fireworks. 

• Enhances the sense of taste - allowing your cavoodle to enjoy just a small amount of food. Perfect for adding supplements and medications to make it interesting.

• Promotes licking - The licking action generates saliva that helps protect your cavoodles teeth and gums, and can aid digestion as saliva contains enzymes such as Amylase. The natural rubber surface also scrapes food particles and odour causing bacteria off your cavoodles tongue, promoting fresher breath.

• Can double as a slow feeder -  used to promote slower eating, which in turn reduces bloating and improves digestion. A great alternative to slow feed bowls. You can even freeze food and treats on the mat for slower and more enjoyable feeding.

Lick mats like the mycavoodle lick mat are food safe, freezer & dishwasher safe making clean up easy and will leave your cavoodle mentally enriched!