Mental stimulation is just as important for dogs as physical activity. Dog mental stimulation is an extremely important yet underrated part of dog care. Proper mental stimulation increases the flow of blood, nutrients, and oxygen to your dog’s brain. The Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat offers an easy way to entertain and stimulate your pup.
More recent research has shown that with increased mental activity in dogs comes greater mental health, cognitive function and enrichment, learning capacity, and attention span in dogs (5, 6, 7, 8). Mentally stimulated dogs are also more attentive, they perform better in dog training and are quicker at solving problematic daily tasks (9, 10).
The messages between the neurons in a dog’s brain slow down if they’re not used, and this was observed to be particularly common in aging senior dogs (11, 12, 13). The good news is that activity in neuron pathways increases shortly after stimulation has been provided (14). So it’s never too late to wake up your dog's brain, even if they're a couch potato!
Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat Review
These mats have an extremely simple design. They are thin pieces of 100% food-grade thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). TPEs are a family of rubber-like materials that combine the characteristics of rubber with the processing advantages and recyclability of plastic.
As you can see from my photos, the mats are square-shaped. The squares are divided into 4 smaller square sections. Each section has small bumps and ridges. When you spread peanut butter on these bumps and ridges, the Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat becomes a tasty challenge for your pup.
As you'll see in my video review, there is a little movement as your dog licks the mat. It doesn't slide around a whole lot and ends up giving your dog a little more excitement while he licks.
If your dog isn't good about sitting still while you bathe him, brush his coat, clip his nails or perform any other necessary grooming task, the IQ Treat Mat will distract him and keep him still. I think this product would work for any dog that is food motivated. Of course, if your canine companion doesn't care much about treats, he may not be distracted by this tool.
Studies have shown that repetitive licking increases endorphins, which can calm stressed or anxious dogs. Some dogs lick their paws, carpeting, bedding, etc… If your pup is a compulsive licker, providing them with a lick mat like this may be a better solution.
I also love that the IQ Treat Mats can be cleaned in the dishwasher. They're available in 2 sizes. The smaller size measures 8″ x 8″. The larger size is 11″ x 11″. The smaller size is featured in my videos/photos.
This product is affordable on any budget. You can purchase them on Amazon for $7.95 or $13.95 depending on the size your dog needs. They're definitely a good value for the money.
READ NEXT: Dog Licking Carpet – Why and What To Do?
