Lickimat Wobble

A dog that clears its bowl quickly is not being greedy, it is being efficient — and the problem that leaves you with is the rest of the evening. Spreading a small amount of something over a textured surface is the cheapest way to buy time back, because licking takes as long as it takes.

The Wobble is a bowl-shaped mat on a rounded base, so it rocks rather than sits flat and cannot simply be pinned down and licked clean in one pass. The surface is covered in rubber teeth that trap soft food between them, which is what forces the repetitive licking Lickimat describe as calming — they credit it with releasing soothing endorphins, and suggest it for storms, being home alone, or the wait at a vet or groomer. It is natural rubber, measures 8 x 16.5cm, and comes in green, purple and turquoise.

• 8 x 16.5cm (3" x 6 1/2")
• Made from natural rubber
• Wobble base, so it cannot be held flat easily
• Rubber teeth that trap soft food
• Suitable for cats, puppies, and small and medium dogs
• Three colours: green, purple and turquoise

Lickimat's own instruction is to supervise the first few sessions. It is a lick mat, not a chew toy, and a dog that decides to bite lumps out of one has turned it into a swallowing hazard. Their stated suitability also stops at small and medium dogs — a big-jawed dog is outside it, which is a real limit rather than a cautious footnote. No dishwasher instruction has been supplied, and no figure for how much food the surface actually holds, so the portion is your judgement rather than a measured one.

Who it's for: owners of a fast eater, a bored dog or an anxious cat who want something small and cheap to slow a meal down — and anyone looking for a way to occupy an animal while the vacuum is out.