Three compartments instead of one open face is the useful difference here. You can put a different filling in each, yoghurt in one, meat paste in another, something new in the third, which keeps a pet working across the whole plate rather than clearing the middle and wandering off. For fussy eaters it also lets you introduce an unfamiliar food right beside one they already trust, which is how most of them are talked round.

The plate measures 20.6 cm across and 2.5 cm deep, carved in flexible food-grade silicone with a raised rim so wetter fillings stay put rather than running off onto the floor. A suction cup underneath holds it to tile, laminate or the side of a bath. Fill it and freeze it and the same portion takes several times as long to clear, which is the version worth preparing before a fireworks night or before you leave the house.

• 20.6 cm diameter, 2.5 cm thick
• Three separate carved licking sections
• Raised rim to keep wet food contained
• Suction cup base for smooth surfaces
• Freezer safe and dishwasher safe
• Coral red or yellow, 180 g

Kibble does not work on a lick mat. The manufacturer says so in their own notes and they are right: dry food sits on the surface and is gone in seconds, achieving nothing at all. Use wet food, meat paste, yoghurt, jam or peanut butter, and check any peanut butter is free from xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Supervise early sessions with a heavy chewer, because silicone is soft and a biter can take a piece out of it.

Who it's for: Owners wanting a larger, multi-section mat for freezing ahead, coaxing fussy eaters, and longer distraction sessions.