Licking is a self-soothing behaviour in dogs, which is why a lick mat settles a dog while a puzzle winds one up, and having both on the same board lets you pick which you want at any given moment. Spread something soft across the licking sections for a nervous dog before the fireworks start, or load the treat holes and let a bored one work properly for a handful of food.

It is 23 centimetres across and only 2 centimetres high, with four treat holes, two moveable points and two textured licking areas on one round board. Four anti-slip pads underneath stop it travelling across the kitchen floor, which is the usual failure of light plastic feeders, where the dog ends up chasing the board around instead of solving it. The material is durable PP, so it wipes and rinses clean without warping out of shape.

• 23 cm across and 2 cm high
• Four treat holes, two moveable points and two licking areas
• Durable PP construction
• Four anti-slip pads on the base
• Clips onto a crate or cage as well as sitting on the floor
• Available in grey, in blue, and as a blue set

Two things worth knowing. Lick mats work best with something soft and slightly sticky, and it is very easy to turn enrichment into an extra meal, so count whatever goes on it as part of the day's food. And rinse it straight after use, because wet food dries hard in the textured sections and is far harder to shift the next morning.

Who it's for: Owners of fast eaters and of dogs who need settling, whether before a vet visit, during grooming, or on an evening when the house is noisy.