Chewie has learned how to use her snuffle mat!
(Scroll to the bottom of this page for a short video.)
Initially, Chewie wasn’t sure what to think about the snuffle mat. She wasn’t afraid of it, but she didn’t know what to do with it.
So, we ditched the snuffle mat and played the “Anything can be a plate” game for a couple of weeks. You can read more about those training sessions in this post.
Recently, I have re-introduced the snuffle mat.
And, Chewie now looks like a professional, as she snuffles through the mat looking for treats. (The “treats” I use for this activity are hay pellets.)
Chewie’s current snuffle mat is an inexpensive canine snuffle mat that I purchased from eBay.
As you may notice in the video, I cut off some of the plastic pieces on one side of the mat. This modification makes it easier for Chewie to snuffle successfully.
My goal is for the snuffle mat to be a fun challenge, not a frustrating challenge.
Later on, when Chewie is more of an expert, we may try a slightly harder snuffle mat. But, this snuffle mat works quite well, for now!
My current challenge is figuring out exactly where or how to set up the snuffle mat.
If the snuffle mat is on the bare ground, Chewie is likely to put her big muddy hooves on the mat. Which makes a mess!
We’ve tried several raised surfaces and a medium-sized water trough. None of these solutions is perfect, but they work okay.
We are going to keep playing around with other options. Later on, I’ll post another update and share more about our snuffle mat adventures.
Watch on YouTube: Chewie the horse loves her snuffle mat!
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