Guides

Snuffle Mat & Dog Enrichment Guides

Plain guides to nose-work and enrichment by canine enrichment trainer Erin Walsh: what works, and what to watch for.

A shaggy sandy-colored dog resting in a plush bed, watching the Sunny snuffle mat laid flat on the floor in front of it

September 4, 2026 · Erin Walsh

Snuffle Mats and Crate Rest: Occupying a Dog That Has to Stay Still

What your vet decides, why the days get long once the walks stop, how to set the mat up in or beside the crate, and how the ration goes through it.

Top-down view of the Sunny yellow snuffle mat on a wood floor, showing the dense orange fleece flower, the petal layers and the corner pockets

August 10, 2026 · Erin Walsh

How to Use a Snuffle Mat: A Step-by-Step Guide

The first session, how much food goes in, building difficulty, when to end a session, why the mat is never left out, and how to store it between meals.

Golden retriever with its head lowered, nose pushed into a yellow snuffle mat on a wood floor

July 27, 2026 · Erin Walsh

Snuffle Mats for Puppies and Senior Dogs: What to Adjust

What to change at both ends of a dog’s life: how deep to hide the food, where to put the mat, session length, teeth, and when to stop.

Three fleece snuffle mats in yellow, blue and brown colorways side by side

July 2, 2026 · Erin Walsh

12 Dog Enrichment Ideas That Actually Work

A trainer’s menu of twelve activities across nose-work, food, mental, physical, social and environmental play, plus a simple weekly routine.

A cocker spaniel with its ears hanging forward, nose down in the Sunny snuffle mat on a wood floor

June 9, 2026 · Erin Walsh

Are Snuffle Mats Good for Dogs? A Look

The real benefits, what it covers, what the research shows, and how to introduce a snuffle mat safely, cautions included.

Yellow-based snuffle mat with a dense fleece flower on a wood floor

May 14, 2026 · Erin Walsh

How to Make a Snuffle Mat: A DIY Guide

Real materials, the tying method, true time and cost, common mistakes, and a straight take on what a homemade mat cannot do.

Square snuffle mat with a green trim and a multi-layered fleece flower on a tiled floor

April 22, 2026 · Erin Walsh

What Is a Snuffle Mat? A Plain-English Guide

How these fleece foraging mats work, where nose-work came from, which dogs benefit, and how long a typical session lasts.

Looking for a mat? Compare options in the best snuffle mat guide, read verified feedback on the reviews page, or see the Sniffgrove snuffle mat.