Frozen enrichment for dogs is one of the easiest ways to help them settle, slow down, and enjoy a calming activity without adding more excitement. It is useful on hot days, but it is not just a summer idea. Frozen licking enrichment can be helpful all year round.
The LickiMat Yoggie Pot is a simple little enrichment product that can turn a tiny amount of food into a longer-lasting licking activity. In Bear’s very official test, two tablespoons of natural yoghurt gave him around 16 minutes of licking pleasure.
That took me about 30 seconds to make. Which is dangerously close to my preferred level of food prep.
Quick Answer: Fill a LickiMat Yoggie Pot with a small amount of natural yoghurt, Pooch & Mutt Wet Food, soaked kibble such as Akela Dog Food, or Bone Broth for Dogs, freeze it, and offer it as a calm enrichment activity when your dog needs help settling.
Why Frozen Enrichment Helps Dogs Settle
Licking is a naturally calming activity for many dogs. It gives them a simple, repetitive job to focus on, which can help lower arousal and encourage settling after excitement, walks, visitors, training sessions, or busy days.
This is especially useful when you want your dog to calm down without adding more movement. Instead of trying to “tire them out” with more running, chasing, or play, frozen enrichment gives their brain and mouth something quiet to do.
That makes it useful for hot weather, puppies, adolescent dogs, busy households, dogs who struggle to switch off, and those moments where everyone just needs five minutes of peace. The dog included.
If your dog finds it hard to switch off, you may also find How to Calm a Hyper Dog helpful.
Why the LickiMat Yoggie Pot Works So Well
The LickiMat Yoggie Pot has small nodules inside the pot, which help yoghurt, wet food, soaked kibble such as Akela Dog Food, or broth cling to the sides. That means your dog has to lick rather than gulp, turning a small amount of food into a longer-lasting enrichment activity.
It is also made from natural rubber, rather than cheaper silicone alternatives. As with any enrichment product, supervise your dog, remove it if it becomes damaged, and choose fillings that suit your dog’s diet and stomach.
Easy Frozen Yoggie Pot Recipe
This is about as simple as dog enrichment gets.
- Add 2 tablespoons of natural yoghurt to your LickiMat Yoggie Pot.
- Optional: add a few blueberries, mashed banana, Fettle Pumpkin Powder, or a little dog-safe fruit.
- Add a splash of Bone Broth for Dogs for extra moisture and flavour.
- Add a tiny drizzle of Bugalugs Scottish Salmon Oil if it suits your dog’s diet.
- Freeze for a few hours.
- Serve when your dog needs a calm, cooling, longer-lasting activity.
Those little bumps inside the pot are not just there to look fancy. They help keep the food in place, slow the licking down, and make the snack last longer. A tiny amount of food suddenly becomes a proper enrichment activity. Witchcraft? No. Clever design? Yes.
Frozen Enrichment Is Not Just for Hot Weather
Frozen enrichment is brilliant on hot days, but it is useful all year round. It can help after a walk, during a quiet afternoon, when visitors arrive, after training, or when your dog needs something calm to focus on.
In hot weather, frozen enrichment can help your dog stay calm without adding more heat and arousal. For wider hot-weather safety advice, read How to Keep Dogs Cool in Hot Weather. If you are worried about overheating signs, read Heatstroke in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms & What To Do.
You may also find Frozen Dog Treats for Hot Weather: Bone Broth Ice Cubes useful if you want another simple cooling enrichment idea.
For nervous, excited, adolescent, or easily overstimulated dogs, the goal is often not more exercise. It is better recovery, better rest, and calmer outlets.
LickiMat Yoggie Pot Filling Ideas
You do not need to overcomplicate it. Small amounts work best, especially if your dog is new to frozen enrichment.
- Natural yoghurt
- Pooch & Mutt Wet Food
- Bone Broth for Dogs
- Nature’s Deli Paste
- Arden Grange Liver Paste
- Purest Dog Peanut Butter
- Mashed banana
- Blueberries
- Fettle Pumpkin Powder
- Soaked kibble such as Akela Dog Food
- A tiny drizzle of Bugalugs Scottish Salmon Oil
- A small amount of dog-safe fruit or veg
Pastes, wet food, and softened kibble work especially well because they cling to the nodules inside the Yoggie Pot. That gives your dog more licking time from a small amount of food.
Keep it simple if your dog has a sensitive stomach. A tiny snack that agrees with them is far better than a dramatic frozen masterpiece followed by an emergency garden visit at 2am.
If your dog is prone to loose stools or stomach upsets, introduce new fillings slowly and keep portions small. You may also find Does Your Dog Have Loose Motions? useful.
Trainer Tips for the LickiMat Yoggie Pot
- Use it after walks, training sessions, visitors, or exciting outings to encourage settling.
- Keep a few frozen and ready for hot days or busy moments.
- Use small amounts of food, especially for puppies or dogs watching their weight.
- Supervise your dog while they use it.
- Remove it if your dog tries to chew pieces off rather than lick it.
- Wash it thoroughly between uses.
- Choose fillings that suit your dog’s diet and tolerance.
Used thoughtfully, frozen enrichment can become part of your dog’s daily routine. Not as a bribe. Not as a distraction from unmet needs. Just as one useful way to provide calm, appropriate enrichment.
For a broader look at what dogs need before training can really work, read Dog Training: 6 Essentials Before Training Works.
If you want to try another longer-lasting freezer option, the Toppl Ideas for Dogs article has more frozen enrichment ideas using wet food, soaked kibble, bone broth, and pastes.
Useful Products for Frozen Dog Enrichment
If you want to build a small frozen enrichment kit, these are useful products to have ready:
- LickiMat Yoggie Pot for frozen yoghurt, broth, wet food, or soaked kibble
- Pooch & Mutt Wet Food for stuffing, spreading, and freezing
- Nature’s Deli Paste for smearing into enrichment toys
- Arden Grange Liver Paste for higher-value smearing
- Purest Dog Peanut Butter for dog-safe frozen enrichment
- Bone Broth for Dogs for frozen snacks and moisture-rich enrichment
- Fettle Pumpkin Powder for simple pumpkin-based fillings
- Bugalugs Scottish Salmon Oil for adding a tiny drizzle of flavour
- Akela Dog Food for soaked kibble enrichment
- LickiMat for flatter licking enrichment
- Toppl for stuffed frozen meals
- Kong Classic for longer-lasting frozen enrichment
- Insulated Lunch Box for LickiMats for taking frozen enrichment out with you
You do not need every product at once, but the LickiMat Yoggie Pot is a brilliant place to start if you want a quick, easy, freezer-friendly enrichment option.
FAQ
What can I put in a LickiMat Yoggie Pot?
You can use natural yoghurt, wet food, bone broth, soaked kibble, mashed banana, blueberries, pumpkin, dog-safe paste, dog-safe peanut butter, or other suitable fillings. Start with small amounts and choose ingredients that suit your dog’s stomach.
Can dogs have frozen yoghurt?
Many dogs can have small amounts of plain natural yoghurt, but not all dogs tolerate dairy well. Avoid sweetened yoghurt, flavoured yoghurt, or anything containing xylitol. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, start tiny or choose a different filling.
Is frozen enrichment good for dogs?
Yes, frozen enrichment can be useful for many dogs because it encourages licking, slows eating down, and gives them a calm activity. It is especially helpful when you want mental stimulation without adding more running or excitement.
Is a frozen LickiMat good for hot weather?
Yes, frozen licking enrichment can be useful in hot weather because it gives dogs a calm, cooling activity without adding more running, chasing, or arousal. It should support sensible hot-weather management, not replace shade, water, and rest.
How long does a frozen Yoggie Pot last?
It depends on the dog and the filling. In Bear’s test, two tablespoons of yoghurt lasted around 16 minutes. Some dogs may finish faster, while others take longer.
Should I supervise my dog with a LickiMat Yoggie Pot?
Yes. Always supervise enrichment products, especially if your dog is a chewer. Remove the pot if your dog tries to chew pieces off instead of licking it.
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