I Spread Peanut Butter on a Mat and Now My Dog Loves Bath Time

I’ve wrestled my 60-pound mutt into the bathtub more times than I care to admit. It’s a full-body workout that ends with me soaked, him traumatized, and my bathroom looking like a crime scene. Sound familiar?

Then I discovered something that made me feel like I’d cracked some ancient canine code: a simple mat with suction cups that you smear peanut butter on. That’s it. No bells, no batteries, no $200 price tag.

The Problem

Here’s the thing about dogs and baths — they hate them. Or at least mine does. The second I turn on the faucet, he becomes a 60-pound version of those “This is fine” memes. He’s not fine. Nothing is fine.

I’ve tried treats after the bath (too late, trauma already happened). I’ve tried bribery (he saw right through it). I’ve even tried just… accepting defeat and living with a dirty dog. But after a particularly muddy hike, that wasn’t really an option anymore.

The Product

Enter the Lickimat Classic Dog Lick Mat. It’s this flat, textured mat with suction cups on the back. You stick it to your bathtub wall, smear something delicious on it (peanut butter, yogurt, wet food — whatever your dog loses their mind over), and suddenly bath time becomes treat time.

The concept is stupidly simple: dogs lick, you wash. They’re so focused on getting every last bit of peanut butter out of the textured grooves that they barely notice the water. It’s like giving a toddler an iPad at a restaurant — total distraction magic.

Pros

• It actually works. Like, genuinely. My dog went from “I will die before entering this tub” to voluntarily hopping in because he knows the peanut butter mat is waiting.
• Cheap as hell. Around $15. That’s less than I spend on coffee in two days.
• Endless treat options. Peanut butter, cream cheese, yogurt, canned pumpkin, smashed banana — whatever your dog likes that’s spreadable.
• Dishwasher safe. Because the last thing I want to do after wrestling a wet dog is hand-wash something.

Cons

• Not for aggressive chewers. If your dog is the type to destroy a Kong in 10 minutes, they might tear this thing apart. It’s meant for licking, not gnawing.
• Prep required. You have to remember to stick it up BEFORE you get the dog near the tub. Learn from my mistakes.
• Can get messy. Peanut butter + water = slip hazard. Watch your step.

Who This Is For (And Who It’s NOT)

Perfect for: Dogs who hate baths but love food. Dogs who are anxious during grooming. Anyone who’s tired of the post-bath “I’m going to shake water all over your house” revenge ritual. It’s also great for nail trims, brushing sessions, or any time you need your dog to hold still for more than 3 seconds.

Skip it if: Your dog is a heavy chewer or resource guarder. Or if your dog has zero food motivation (do those exist?). Also, if you’re hoping this will work without any prep — you still need to actually set it up.

Speaking of keeping your dog comfortable, if you’re looking for other ways to make your pup’s life easier, check out our review of the cooling mat — another simple solution that actually works.

The Verdict

Look, I was skeptical. It’s a piece of rubber with suction cups. How revolutionary could it be? But here I am, writing a review about it, because it genuinely changed the bath time dynamic in my house. My dog is cleaner. I’m drier. My bathroom walls are intact.

Is it going to solve world hunger? No. But for $15, it solved MY problem — and that’s worth writing home about.

Grab yours on Amazon and thank me later when your dog actually walks toward the bathroom instead of away from it.