SodaPup vs. LickiMat vs. Hyper Pet vs. West Paw: Which Dog Enrichment Brand Is Right for You?

Quick answer: Choose SodaPup if you want lick mats, slow feeder bowls, and chew toys that are made in the USA and dishwasher safe. Choose LickiMat for the widest variety of lick textures (including cat-specific mats). Choose West Paw if a US-made, recyclable stuffable toy is the priority. Choose Hyper Pet or Outward Hound when price and availability matter most. Check the packaging for country of origin, because both make some products overseas.

The dog enrichment market has exploded. Lick mats, slow feeders, and puzzle tools have moved from niche specialty items to mainstream pet-care staples. But with a dozen brands competing for shelf space, how do you choose? This guide compares five brands — SodaPup, LickiMat, Hyper Pet, Outward Hound, and West Paw — across manufacturing origin, materials, cleaning, product range, and the question that matters most: which brand is actually built around your dog's enrichment needs?

Disclosure: SodaPup publishes this guide. We've tried to be fair, citing each brand's own published information where possible, and noting where a competitor is the better choice.

What Is Dog Enrichment, and Why Does Brand Matter?

Enrichment engages a dog's natural instincts — foraging, licking, chewing, problem-solving — through structured activities and tools. Licking and chewing are calming, self-soothing behaviors for many dogs, and food-based enrichment is one of the most widely recommended ways to keep dogs occupied when they're alone. The ASPCA suggests a food-stuffed puzzle toy that takes at least 20 to 30 minutes to finish for dogs with mild separation distress.

A product slows your dog down for ten minutes. An enrichment system builds a routine that shapes their behavior, health, and emotional state over time. That distinction is why brand matters: the brands below differ a lot in what they make, where they make it, and how well their products work together.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Brand	Where it's made	Main materials	Dishwasher safe?	Enrichment range	Best for
SodaPup	USA	Food-safe TPE (lick mats, bowls, trays); nylon and natural rubber (chews, treat dispensers)	Yes — eMats, eBowls, and eTrays	Lick mats, deep and shallow slow feeders, nylon chews, rubber treat dispensers	Owners who want a USA-made enrichment routine across licking, eating, and chewing
LickiMat	Australian brand; retailer listings show China as country of origin for many models	TPR rubber; polypropylene bases on Tuff and Slomo	Tuff, Slomo, Wobble, Splash, Deluxe: yes. Classics: hand wash	Very wide range of lick textures, plus cat models	Owners who want many lick-surface options, or a cat mat
Hyper Pet	Varies by product: some IQ Treat Mats list USA, other items list China	TPE (IQ Treat Mats)	IQ Treat Mats: yes	Lick mats, multipacks, general toys	Budget buyers and multi-dog households
West Paw	98.5% made in Bozeman, Montana	Zogoflex® and Seaflex® (recyclable)	Check each product page	Stuffable toys (Toppl, Tux, Qwizl), Feast Mat, fetch and tug toys	Eco-focused owners who want US-made stuffable toys
Outward Hound	Designed in Colorado; most products made in China	Food-grade plastic (Fun Feeder bowls)	Fun Feeders: top rack	Rigid slow feeders, puzzle games, plush and chew toys	Low-cost slow feeders and beginner puzzle toys

Sources: LickiMat FAQ, LickiMat company page, West Paw Help Center, Outward Hound FAQ, Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mat listing, and SodaPup product specifications. Brands change suppliers. Always confirm country of origin on the package or product page before you buy.

Brand Deep Dives

SodaPup

SodaPup is a Colorado-based brand that makes its enrichment line in the USA. The core of the range is the eMat lick mat family (dimensions vary by design; the Honeycomb eMat measures approximately 8" × 8" large and 5" × 7" small, in food-safe TPE, with suction cups available on selected other designs), the eBowl and eTray slow feeders, nylon chew toys for power chewers, and PUP-X synthetic rubber treat dispensers. The lick mats, bowls, and trays are dishwasher safe.

Where SodaPup stands out: one brand covers all three enrichment behaviors (licking, foraging at mealtime, and chewing), so you can build a full routine without mixing materials and quality levels. Shallow eTrays and Softie trays suit flat-faced breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs, who struggle with deep bowls. SodaPup also publishes a free SPICES enrichment framework and interactive tools like the Bowl & Lick Mat Finder and Toy Finder.

Trade-offs: USA manufacturing usually costs more than imported alternatives, and SodaPup's lick mats are made for licking, not chewing. Supervise dogs who try to chew mats, and pick up the mat when the food is gone.

LickiMat

LickiMat is the Australian company that helped popularize the lick mat. It describes itself as an Australian-owned company founded in 2012. Its range is the deepest in the category: Classic mats in several textures (Buddy, Soother, Playdate), sturdier Tuff models, Slomo and Wobble feeders, and cat-specific mats. LickiMat makes its products from TPR rubber, and the Tuff and Slomo lines use a polypropylene base. The Tuff, Slomo, Wobble, Splash, and Deluxe models are dishwasher safe. LickiMat recommends hand washing the Classic mats, which can warp in the dishwasher.

Where LickiMat stands out: variety of textures, cat options, and broad retail availability. Trade-offs: the thin Classic mats are easy for strong chewers to destroy, and several retailer listings show China as the country of origin.

Hyper Pet

Hyper Pet's IQ Treat Mats are a popular budget lick mat. The Amazon listing describes them as TPE, dishwasher safe, and made in the USA. Country of origin varies across Hyper Pet's wider catalog, though: some listings show China, and Chewy shoppers have reported "Made in China" packaging on certain feeders. Hyper Pet's strength is value. Multipacks make it easy to rotate mats or feed several dogs at once.

Trade-offs: smaller enrichment range than SodaPup or LickiMat, and you'll need to check origin item by item if USA manufacturing matters to you.

West Paw

West Paw is a Montana manufacturer. The company says 98.5% of its products are made in Bozeman, Montana. Its toys use Zogoflex® and Seaflex® materials, which West Paw says are BPA-, phthalate-, and latex-free, FDA-compliant to the food-packaging standard 21 CFR 177, and recyclable through its take-back program. Its best-known enrichment pieces are the stuffable Toppl, Tux, and Qwizl toys, plus the Feast Mat, which works as both a lick mat and a slow feeder.

Where West Paw stands out: sustainability and long-lasting stuffable toys. Trade-offs: a narrower lick mat and slow feeder range, and premium pricing.

Outward Hound

Outward Hound designs its products in Colorado. Its FAQ says most are manufactured in China, with some chews and treats made in the USA. The Fun Feeder slow bowls are rigid food-grade plastic and top-rack dishwasher safe. The brand also makes a wide range of beginner puzzle games.

Where Outward Hound stands out: low price, wide availability, and many puzzle styles. Trade-offs: rigid plastic is harder on teeth and gums than flexible TPE, and it can be chewed into sharp edges by determined dogs.

Who Should Choose Each Brand?

• You want USA-made products across lick mats, bowls, and chews: SodaPup. Start with an eMat and an eBowl.
• You have a flat-faced breed (Pug, Frenchie, Shih Tzu): a shallow tray, like SodaPup's eTray or Softie, beats a deep maze bowl. See our brachycephalic enrichment guide.
• You want the most lick textures or a cat mat: LickiMat.
• Recyclability and stuffable toys are your top priority: West Paw.
• You're on a tight budget or feeding several dogs: Hyper Pet multipacks or Outward Hound Fun Feeders.
• You have a power chewer: skip thin lick mats entirely for unsupervised use. Pair a heavy-duty nylon chew with supervised lick sessions. Our chew toy guide for aggressive chewers goes deeper.

How to Choose: Five Questions to Ask

1. Where is it made? Check the package or product page, not just the brand's headquarters. "Designed in" and "made in" are different claims.
2. What's it made of? Flexible TPE and natural rubber are gentle on teeth and tongues. Rigid plastic is durable but less forgiving. Look for BPA- and phthalate-free materials.
3. How will you clean it? If you'll use it daily, dishwasher-safe matters. Some thin rubber mats warp in the dishwasher.
4. Does it fit your dog's face and chewing style? Deep grooves suit long muzzles, shallow trays suit flat faces, and thin mats are not for power chewers.
5. Does it fit a routine? One product is a novelty. A rotation of licking, foraging, and chewing tools is enrichment. Our daily enrichment routine guide shows how to put it together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SodaPup better than LickiMat?
It depends on what you value. SodaPup makes its lick mats, slow feeders, and chews in the USA, and its mats, bowls, and trays are dishwasher safe. LickiMat offers more lick textures and cat-specific models, and many listings show China as the country of origin. If USA manufacturing and one matched routine matter most, choose SodaPup. If you want the most texture options, LickiMat is a strong pick.

Which lick mat brands are made in the USA?
SodaPup eMats are made in the USA. West Paw makes most of its products in Montana, including the Feast Mat. Some Hyper Pet IQ Treat Mats are listed as made in the USA, but origin varies across its catalog. Always check the package.

Are TPE lick mats safe for dogs?
Food-safe TPE is a common lick mat material because it's flexible, non-toxic, and free of BPA and phthalates. As with any lick mat, supervise your dog and remove the mat if it's being chewed. Our lick mat material safety guide compares TPE, silicone, and rubber.

Which brand is best for a dog that eats too fast?
Any well-designed slow feeder helps. Flexible TPE bowls like the SodaPup eBowl are gentle on teeth, and rigid plastic bowls like Outward Hound's Fun Feeders are a low-cost option. Flat-faced dogs do better with shallow trays. See What Is a Slow Feeder Bowl? for help choosing.

What's the best enrichment brand for a power chewer?
For unsupervised chewing, choose products built for chewing: heavy-duty nylon chews like SodaPup's, or West Paw's Zogoflex toys. Lick mats from any brand, SodaPup included, are for licking under supervision, not for chewing.

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