Licking for dog enrichment. It's a thing.

Living with anxious dogs changes the way you look at dog care. You start to notice the small things that help them feel safe, the routines that calm them, the tiny moments in the day that help release tension instead of building more of it.

For us, one of those things has become licking.

Not obsessive stress licking, but intentional, calming enrichment through things like frozen LickiMat activities. In our house, LickiMats are part of our everyday rhythm, especially living in the UAE where there are long stretches of the year when the heat makes outdoor time difficult in the middle of the day. By early afternoon, even calm dogs can start to get restless. The morning walk is over, breakfast has been eaten, naps have been taken and the excitement of the day has settled. Everyone is feeling the slowdown that comes with extreme heat, and yet the dogs still need something mentally fulfilling to help break up the day. That’s usually when we pull out the LickiMats.

A Different Kind of Dog Enrichment

I think there’s a misconception sometimes that enrichment has to be elaborate or exciting all the time. But with anxious dogs, I’ve found the opposite is often true. Many anxious dogs don’t actually need more stimulation. They need help learning how to settle. Licking naturally encourages that.

There’s something deeply calming about the repetitive motion. You can almost watch the nervous system soften as they work slowly across the mat, focused, relaxed, content in the moment. For some dogs, especially rescue dogs or highly sensitive dogs, that ability to settle doesn’t come naturally. The world feels loud to them. Busy. and unpredictable. Simple activities like licking can help create moments of emotional regulation throughout the day.

Our Afternoon Routine

Most afternoons here are simply too hot for long outdoor adventures, especially during the peak summer months. We still do early morning and late evening walks, sniffing opportunities, training, and movement, but we also have to be realistic about the climate.

So we’ve built indoor enrichment into our routine instead of fighting against the season.

Early afternoon has become our reset period.

After the house has quieted from the morning rush and the dogs have had a solid block of time to settle into their beds and are waking up from naps, out come the LickiMats.

Sometimes they’re simple, just plain greek yogurt or a smear of organic peanut butter. Sometimes we use homemade chicken broth, rice and beef or sweet potato purée spread thinly across the surface and into the grooves.

Nothing fancy.

But the effect is noticeable. The dogs relax. The pacing stops. The restless wandering settles. It gives them something calming and predictable to focus on, and it helps break up the long indoor hours when the weather limits what we can safely do outside.

Honestly, it’s become less of a “special treat” and more of a wellness tool.

Licking Helps Dogs Decompress

One of the biggest things I’ve learned living with anxious dogs is that decompression matters just as much as exercise - sometimes more. A lot of anxious dogs spend their lives in a heightened state of alertness, constantly scanning their environment, reacting to sounds, movement, visitors, other dogs, or changes in routine. That can be exhausting.

Licking activities can help bring their arousal level back down. They encourage slower behaviour, quiet focus, and emotional recovery.

We sometimes use LickiMats after stimulating experiences too, after walks, after visitors, after stressful noises outside, or anytime a dog seems like they need help settling their nervous system. It’s a gentle transition back to calm.

Watching for Unhealthy Licking

Of course, context matters.

Healthy, calming licking is different from compulsive licking. If a dog is obsessively licking paws, creating sores, or unable to disengage from the behaviour, it’s important to investigate possible medical or behavioural causes with a veterinarian or qualified behaviour professional.

But when used intentionally and appropriately, licking can be an incredibly helpful tool in supporting anxious dogs.

Small Rituals Matter

I think when people imagine helping an anxious dog, they picture big training breakthroughs but honestly, so much of it comes down to tiny daily rituals and predictable routines. Calm handling. Soft places to rest. Sniffing opportunities. Choice. Quiet companionship. Moments of enrichment that help dogs feel safe in their bodies and environment.

For us, afternoon LickiMat time has become one of those rituals. Not because it magically “fixes” anxiety, but because it supports emotional balance in a very real way.

And with anxious dogs, those small supportive moments add up over time.

Disclaimer: This post is based entirely on our personal experience using LickiMat products with anxious dogs in our own home and care routines. We are not affiliated with LickiMat in any way, are not sponsored by them, and do not earn any commission or income whatsoever from the sale or recommendation of their products. We simply use and genuinely enjoy them as part of our dogs’ enrichment routine.