Getting a puppy soon? Give them a calm first night home.
The First Nights Kit — Heartbeat Plush + 2-in-1 Lick Mat.
The first night in a quiet new home is the hardest one. A steady heartbeat to settle against when the lights go off, and a lick mat that gives daytime jitters a job — everything for night one, in one box ($5 less than separately).
✓ Free US shipping · ✓ 30-day happiness guarantee
🎁 Free with every kit: The First Nights Guide — an honest, hour-by-hour plan for their first night home.
📦 Order ahead of pickup day — ships in 1–2 days, arrives in about 1–2 weeks, tracked.
Prefer just the plush? It's $34.99 on its own →
🐾 Meet MellowPaw — we started with two pets of our own: Jinx, a tabby who only settles with something to chew, and Romeo, an anxious Brittany who’s happiest with a job to do. They taught us the one idea this store is built on: a calmer pet isn’t a pet with more toys — it’s a pet with the right outlet. Read our story →
A new pet's stress has two shapes: the quiet-house nights and the too-much-energy days. The kit covers both — the Heartbeat Plush is the warm body with a pulse they curl into after lights-out, and the 2-in-1 Lick Mat turns restless daytime energy into a calm, licking wind-down. Comfort and company, not a cure — one box, one guarantee, $5 saved.
Heartbeat Plush ($34.99 alone): 35 cm snuggle-soft body with a removable, battery-powered heartbeat module. 2-in-1 Lick Mat & Treat Puzzle ($19.99 alone): textured mat that soothes through licking and doubles as a slow feeder. Together: $49.99 — you save $5.
Daytime: spread something lickable on the mat (peanut butter, wet food — freeze it for longer sessions) and let licking do its calming work. Night: pop the heartbeat module into the plush and tuck it into the crate or bed. Mat rinses clean; module pops out. That's the whole system.
Bringing your puppy home soon? Order before pickup day — the kit ships in 1–2 days and arrives in about 1–2 weeks, tracked the whole way, so it can be waiting before night one. (The plush and mat occasionally travel as two parcels — both tracked.) The 30-day happiness guarantee covers the whole kit.
COMPLETE THE CALM
Goes well with this
Add any one — orders over $55 unlock 5% off automatically.
WHY ONE TOY ISN'T ENOUGH
A new pet's stress runs on two clocks. At night it's the quiet — no littermates, no pulse, no warm pile — and that's when the crying starts. By day it's the opposite: too much energy, nothing to do with it, and a house full of chewable mistakes. One toy can't fix both. The kit splits the job: the Heartbeat Plush stands in for the huddle after lights-out — a soft body and a steady pulse that says you're not alone — while the 2-in-1 Lick Mat gives daytime energy a natural outlet (licking is one of the most reliable self-soothers dogs have). It won't replace you — but it makes the whole first week gentler, around the clock.
★★★★★ "The flat one holds peanut butter. The soft one holds me. Departments should communicate this well everywhere."
MellowPaw staff pet, not a customer. Real reviews live below — we keep them honest.
Honest sourcing: no invented percentages here — just what the products do. The heartbeat is a soft mechanical pulse from a battery module, licking helps settle most (not all) dogs, and these are comfort aids, not medical treatments; persistent anxiety is a conversation for your vet. We'd rather under-promise.
One Kit, Both Halves of the Day
🌙 Real-Feel Heartbeat
A gentle, rhythmic pulse like a littermate's — so the dark doesn't feel empty.
🌙 Big Enough to Curl Into
35 cm of snuggle-soft body — the huddle-sized companion a small toy can't be.
🌙 Makes the Crate a Den
Tucks into the crate or bed — the fastest way to turn lights-out from lonely to cozy.
☀️ Licking = Built-In Calm
Spread something tasty on the mat — licking is one of the most reliable ways dogs settle themselves.
☀️ Slows the Gulpers
The 2-in-1 texture doubles as a slow feeder — calmer meals, fewer zoomies after.
☀️ Easy to Live With
Mat rinses clean in seconds; the heartbeat module pops out for quiet time. No apps, no fuss.
The First Week, Actually
Honest expectations — every pet settles at their own pace. Here's the routine most new-pet homes fall into.
Day 1
The Arrival
A Job for the Nose and Tongue
Everything's strange. The lick mat gives that nervous energy something to do while they learn the room — and the plush waits in the crate for tonight.
Nights 1–7
Finding the Heartbeat
They Start Seeking It Out
Most pets begin curling into the plush on their own — the steady pulse reads as company, not object.
Week 2+
The New Normal
Day and Night, Settled
Mat after breakfast, plush after lights-out — the routine holds, the crate is a den, and everyone sleeps.
Day 1
The Arrival
A Job for the Nose and Tongue
Everything's strange. The lick mat gives that nervous energy something to do while they learn the room — and the plush waits in the crate for tonight.
Nights 1–7
Finding the Heartbeat
They Start Seeking It Out
Most pets begin curling into the plush on their own — the steady pulse reads as company, not object.
Week 2+
The New Normal
Day and Night, Settled
Mat after breakfast, plush after lights-out — the routine holds, the crate is a den, and everyone sleeps.
Why the Kit Beats Any Single Toy
One toy fights half the problem. The kit covers the whole day — for $5 less than buying the pair separately.
| First Nights Kit | A single toy | |
|---|---|---|
| Company for the dark (heartbeat) | ||
| A calm outlet for the day (licking) | ||
| Eases the first night home | ||
| Helps with crate training AND mealtimes | ||
| One 30-day guarantee covers everything | ||
| $5 cheaper than buying separately |
The Quality Control Department Reports
Answers to Your Honest Questions
Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to mellowteam@mellowpaw.org — a real person answers.
Will it actually calm my pet?
The kit gives comfort and company on both clocks — a heartbeat to settle against at night, licking to unwind by day. Most pets respond; some take a few nights to bond. Comfort aids, not medical treatment.
Can I buy just the plush?
Yes — the Heartbeat Plush is $34.99 on its own. The kit adds the 2-in-1 Lick Mat and saves you $5 vs buying separately.
How does the heartbeat work?
A small battery-powered module tucks into a pouch inside the plush and gives off a gentle, steady pulse. It's removable for washing or quiet time — no apps, no cords.
What do I put on the lick mat?
Anything lickable and dog-safe — peanut butter (xylitol-free), plain yogurt, wet food. Freeze it for longer sessions. It rinses clean in seconds, and the texture doubles as a slow feeder.
How fast is shipping?
Ships in 1–2 days and arrives in about 1–2 weeks, fully tracked. Bringing your puppy home soon? Order before pickup day and it’s usually waiting by night one. (The plush and mat occasionally arrive as two parcels.)
What if it doesn't help?
Our 30-day happiness guarantee covers the whole kit: if you or your pet aren't happy, you get your money back. No hoops, no restocking fees.
