Beyond Plastic: The Sniff’s Sustainable Take on Dog Enrichment
With environmental sustainability front of mind, we’re looking at a new local brand helping us swap 'plastic-heavy' for more considered choices.
Discover The Sniff’s Foundational Edit: a curated collection of food-grade silicone slow feeders, lick mats, and eco-friendly coffee wood chews for dogs.
When Sunshine Coast mum of two Yvette Page was preparing to bring home her Labradoodle puppy, Rumi, she assumed finding a few high-quality dog essentials would be a simple task. It wasn't.
Like so many new puppy owners, she found herself scrolling through endless options: chew toys, feeders, bowls, and enrichment tools—the vast majority of which were made from generic plastics. Some were labelled "natural," some looked stylish, and others made grand promises, but very little felt genuinely reassuring to a parent looking for safety and longevity.
“I wanted one place I could go where the research had already been done,” says Yvette. “Somewhere I could feel confident about what I was buying for my dog. I couldn’t find it, so I decided to build it.”
As she looked more closely into the category, Yvette uncovered peer-reviewed research showing that the concern was not limited to plastic alone.
Across different product types, the literature pointed to a mix of chemical and physical risks, confirming that more caution is needed when choosing the items dogs chew, lick, and use daily.
It also reinforced that labels like “natural” weren't always enough to guarantee a product was clear or trustworthy.
A Better Filter for Dog Owners
That search became The Sniff, a Sunshine Coast-based dog enrichment brand built on a simple premise: if something goes in a dog’s mouth regularly, it should meet a higher standard.
For Yvette, this was never about creating more products for the sake of it; it was about creating a "better filter"—a calmer, more reliable option for owners who want essentials made from materials they feel good about bringing into their homes.
“The deeper I looked, the more I realised how hard it was to get clear information,” she says.
“I didn’t want a cart full of random products. I wanted fewer things, chosen properly.”
The Foundational Edit: A Simpler Way to Choose Well
The Sniff launches with its debut release, The Foundational Edit—a tightly curated collection of dog essentials selected for both function and material integrity. Rather than overwhelming owners with dozens of choices, this edit is designed to take the guesswork out of "choosing well," whether for new puppy owners or those looking to replace everyday items with better-considered options.
At its core, The Foundational Edit focuses on the routines dogs return to again and again: feeding, licking, chewing, and play.
It speaks to a growing number of dog owners who are tired of plastic-heavy pet products and want a reliable alternative without spending hours conducting their own research.
What’s Inside the Collection?
Food-Grade Silicone Slow Feeder: Designed with deep grooves and a suction base, this feeder is a practical solution for dogs that tend to 'inhale' their food. As we recently covered in our look at tackling Australia’s pet obesity crisis, extending mealtimes is a key step in supporting better digestion and making daily feeding a more engaging, healthy routine.
Matching Lick Mat: Made from the same food-grade silicone, this mat can be used alone or paired with the bowl. It’s ideal for spreadable treats or meal toppers, tapping into a dog’s natural repetitive licking behaviour to promote a calmer routine.
Coffee Wood Chew: Sourced from retired coffee trees that have reached the end of their productive life as plantation crops, these are upcycled into durable chews. Unlike garden sticks, this dense wood is designed to fray gradually into soft fibres rather than breaking into sharp splinters.
FSC-Certified Natural Rubber Ring: A solid, natural rubber option for fetch and interactive play. Sourced from responsibly managed forests, it was selected because the available evidence on natural rubber is significantly more favourable than many conventional plastic toys.
Giving Back Locally
Alongside its launch, The Sniff is supporting rescue dogs closer to home. For every Foundational Edit sold, $1 is donated to the Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge (SCARS), helping support the rescue and rehoming of dogs and cats across the region. It’s a small but meaningful part of the business that reflects the values behind the brand: thoughtful choices, local connection, and a genuine love of dogs.
Price & Where to Buy
Special Launch Offer:
For early supporters, The Foundational Edit is available at the special launch price of $99 AUD until midnight 27 March 2026 at
Shipping is included Australia-wide. Orders will ship from 30 March 2026.
Connect with The Sniff on Facebook or on Instagram: @thesniff.au
Safety Disclaimer: While The Sniff focuses on safer material choices, no chew toy is indestructible. Australian Dog Lover recommends that all enrichment activities—particularly involving wood or rubber chews—be conducted under supervision to ensure your dog’s specific chewing style remains safe.
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