Sniffing tires a dog out in a way that walking does not. Twenty minutes spent searching through fabric for scattered kibble leaves most dogs ready to sleep, which is why snuffle mats have become the standard answer for rainy afternoons, crate rest, and dogs recovering from an operation who cannot have their usual exercise. It is the nose doing the work rather than the legs, and the nose gets tired first.

The mat is round and built from dense fleece strips packed close enough that a treat dropped in disappears rather than sitting on top — that density is the difference between a mat that occupies a dog for twenty minutes and one solved in thirty seconds. A drawstring runs round the edge so the whole thing gathers up for storage, and it doubles as a slow feeder: tip a full meal in and a dog who normally inhales dinner has to work through it mouthful by mouthful.

• Round fleece mat with dense fabric strips
• Drawstring edge for gathering and storing
• Hides kibble, treats or a whole meal
• Slows fast eaters and settles anxious pets
• Works for cats as well as dogs
• Shakes out and refills in seconds

On cleaning and supervision. Fabric strips hold crumbs and grease, so shake it out after every use and wash it once it starts to smell. Stay with your pet throughout, too — some dogs will chew the fabric rather than search it, and a snuffle mat is not a chew toy.

Who it's for: High-energy dogs stuck indoors, fast eaters, nervous pets who need a job to do, and cats who would rather hunt their dinner than find it waiting in a bowl.