Ten minutes of sniffing tires a dog more thoroughly than twice that long on a lead, because scenting is genuinely hard work for the brain. That is the whole idea behind a foraging mat. You scatter part of the daily kibble through the fabric, and the dog has to work nose-first through flaps, folds and pockets to find it, which turns a bowl emptied in forty seconds into a proper occupation.

The bone-shaped mat mixes flap lengths, pocket depths and textures on purpose, so the food is not all equally easy to reach and the dog has to keep problem-solving rather than sweeping a paw across it once. That variety is what stops a snuffle mat becoming boring by the third use. It slows fast eaters, which eases gulping and the bloated discomfort that follows, and the search-and-find rhythm settles anxious and high-energy dogs in a way that another ball throw does not. It shakes out, folds flat and washes.

• Bone-shaped snuffle and foraging mat
• Mixed flaps, pockets and textures across the surface
• Slows fast eaters at mealtimes
• Folds away for storage
• Shake out and wash between uses
• Two colour styles available
• Priced at GBP 8.99

Two things worth knowing. It is also a feeding tool, not a chew toy, so dogs who eat fabric need supervising with it.

Who it's for: Owners of fast eaters, bored dogs or nervous dogs who need indoor mental work on days when a long walk is not happening.