A sniffing mat is an educational puzzle for dogs. It was invented in the Netherlands, and thanks to its ease of making at home, it is now popular with dog owners worldwide. The toy is designed to stimulate the brain activity of four-legged friends.
What you will need for work
To make two types of sniffing trainers you will need:
- Multi-colored scraps of fleece fabric (or any other fabric that doesn’t fray).
- Scissors.
- Sewing machine or thread and needle.
Making the base
The base of the mat can be any dense fabric, preferably one that doesn't slip or bunch up too much. The shape of the toy is free, and the size should be appropriate for the pet's size to ensure comfortable use. For example, a 40 x 60 cm (16 x 24 in) mat would be suitable for a small dog.
For the second option, you can use a PVC mesh sink or a rubber mat under the doors with holes.
Filling the sniffing mat with educational elements
First, you need to come up with the elements and even draw a diagram of how they'll be placed on the base. This is where your imagination comes in. Cut out intricate pockets, fringe, and compartments from scraps and sew them onto the base in any order you like. There are as many possible arrangements for the pieces on the base as you can imagine.
In the second case, you need to cut strips of fabric 2 x 3 cm wide and 25 x 30 cm long. Then tie them to the mesh base so that the knot is in the middle of the strip. Make the knots more often, to create a fluffy rug.
How to use a sniffing mat
The owner should place the treats in the pockets, hide them under the multi-layered fringe, and place them in hiding places. Dogs eagerly search for the treats, sometimes taking up to 15 minutes to complete the "quest." This is beneficial for pets who like to devour their food greedily and quickly. They enjoy the process of searching for food.
The second option involves "hiding treasure" in the thick pile of strips of fabric. Experts recommend first placing the food on the surface of the mat, hiding a few pieces, so the dog learns to use its ingenuity and nose to find it. Otherwise, it will rip the toy apart with its paws and find everything easily.
A sniffing mat not only adds variety to your pet's life, but also provides benefits such as:
- satisfaction of the hunting instinct;
- development of logical thinking and sense of smell;
- improving the ability to concentrate.
