Does your dog eat like he's never going to be fed again? Our chocolate Labrador, Saddie, does. She gets 2.5 cups of dog food per day, and we split it between two meals. If I put her kibble in a traditional dog bowl she can suck up 1.25 cups in under a minute. That's why I wanted to give the slow dog feeder a try and do a PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat review.
I've tried other slow feeders for dogs with my Saddie, and most of them have worked fairly well. Of course, some work better than others. The trouble we've had with many puzzle dog feeders and other slow pet feeders is that Saddie is very intelligent and can usually figure them out after just a few uses, which defeats the purpose of feeders.
Yes, many slow pet feeders do slow her down, but nevertheless after a few feedings she figures out how to get the dog food out of them as quickly as possible. On average, most slow feeders for dogs can extend her eating time to about 5-7 min for 1.25 cups of food.
The PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat has definitely a very unique design I've never seen before, which you probably noticed as soon as you saw the photo or my video review. It definitely attracted my attention too, but I was curious to see if it worked as well as it claims to.
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PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat Slow Feeder for Dogs Review
As you'll notice in my video review above, this slow dog feeder is very effective! It takes about 12 minutes to eat 1.25 cups of food now, and my dog really seems to enjoy her meal time. She gets the nutrients that she needs from her dog food, but foraging through the PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat is also mentally stimulating for her.
The Wooly was created to mimic a dog's natural desire to forage through grass and fields for food. The design is so simple, while still being extremely effective. Every Wooly is handmade with safe, non-toxic materials, according to the manufacturer PAW5.
As you can see, it looks like a very shaggy rub with extra large fibers. All you have to do is sprinkle treats or dog food over the top of the snuffle mat. The kibbles fall between the large fibers and your dog has to root around in the mat to retrieve his dinner.
Although we really only use this for our Labrador, it's suitable for any breed or size.
Our little Beagle mix enjoys using it sometimes, but her food drive isn't nearly as strong as Saddie's.
Our boxer, who has a scrunchy face, could also use this mat if she wanted to. One of the downsides to traditional slow feeders is that they often don't accommodate brachycephalic breeds (dogs with scrunchy noses).
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I'm always looking for products that are easy to clean and maintain, and the Wooly falls into that category. It's machine washable and can be dried in the dryer. I've washed our snuffle mat more than 15 times, and it's still holding up very well. It's well made and very durable.
With that being said, you'll need to wash the PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat often. I try to wash mine every 3-5 days. Between the dog food and all the saliva, this mat gets very smelly. It's not an odor that will waft through your home, but when you pick up the mat you'll notice a very bad odor after a few days.
Saddie is a drooler, so your mat may only need to be washed once every 7-10 days. Either way, you'll want to be sure to keep it clean and hygienic because your dog is going to eat off of it.
You can purchase the PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat on Amazon for $39.95. That's near the top of the price range for slow feeders. You can definitely find other slow feeders cheaper, but as I mentioned, the Wooly is definitely unique in design.
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Summary of the PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat Review
PROS:
Prevents your dog from guzzling food- Allows your dog to forage for his food as his natural instincts desire
- Hand-made with safe and non-toxic materials
- Machine washable and dryable; holds up well even after many washings – very durable
- accommodates brachycephalic breeds (dogs with scrunchy noses), which many similar products do not
CONS:
- Between the dog food and all the saliva, this mat gets very smelly
- Affordable, but more expensive than many other slow feeder options on the market
Now it’s your turn to review the PAW5 Wooly Snuffle Mat
Do you have one of these snuffle mats for your dog? Have you ever used one? Did it slow down your fast eater? Did you notice the same odor that I did? Your review could help other dog owners thinking about purchasing a Wooly. Let us know your opinions in the comments below or share your own reviews on our Facebook page.
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