Treat your pup to a monthly surprise of one-of-a-kind toys and tasty treats with a BarkBox subscription!
Like many dogs, my dog Lyla loves her toys. She loves to chew on them, tear them apart, and wreak havoc in her toy box. However, Lyla is a 50-pound, aggressive chewer who can destroy even the best dog toys. Buying her so many new things can get quite expensive, so I signed up for a monthly BarkBox subscription to save money.
BarkBox is one of the best dog subscription boxes I’ve tested. The brand ships its exclusive toys and treats directly to its subscribers every month. The boxes usually revolve around a seasonal theme, a holiday, or a popular movie or TV show. There are Classic and Super Chew boxes, which can be customized to your dog’s needs.
I’ve been a BarkBox Super Chewers subscriber for three months. For this review, BarkBox also sent me two Classic boxes, which are suitable for most dogs who don’t treat their toys too roughly.
How it works:
With the Classic plan, you can choose between a single box ($35), a 6-month subscription ($25 per box), or a 12-month subscription ($22 per box). Super Chewers cost a little more ($39 for a single box, $29 for 6 months, and $26 for 12 months). Shipping is an additional $4.99 and varies by location. All subscriptions renew automatically. BarkBox typically takes two to eight business days to ship orders within the US. Delivery times for international orders, as well as for Alaska and Hawaii, vary.
BarkBox tailors the items in each box to your dog’s size: small (dogs under 9 kg), medium (between 9 and 22 kg), and large (over 23 kg). Each box contains two toys, two treat bags, and an edible chew stick or a small extra treat. A card explains the theme and often offers play suggestions for your dog. It also highlights other themed toys available for purchase in the Bark Shop.
The Classic boxes contain plush toys with squeakers and crinkle filling. Many have handles for tugging. The Super Chewer boxes contain sturdier toys made of durable rubber and nylon, and some of the rubber toys have enticing squeakers. However, nylon toys can be too hard for some dogs. As a general rule, avoid toys that can’t be dented with a fingernail, as they can damage your dog’s teeth. Your veterinarian can advise you on what’s best for your dog. You can also contact customer service if you don’t want to receive super-hard plastic toys.
BarkBox also offers customization options for dogs with special needs. Subscribers can order special toys and treats to meet dietary needs and food allergies. You can also add additional toys and treats to any box. With an add-on package, the box is shipped free.
Our BarkBox Review
As much as I’d like to say I bought the BarkBox for my puppy, it was also a little gift for myself. Lyla can’t really appreciate the unique themes, easy ordering, and reliable delivery, but I can. I had high expectations for the themed boxes and was not disappointed. I also particularly liked the multifunctionality of the toys, with a mix of puzzle, tug, and treat-dispensing features.
BarkBox sent me two Classic boxes for large dogs. The sample boxes contained three toys each, but subscribers should expect two toys in a standard box. The Maw and Paws Farm box was a huge hit with us. It contained three plush squeakers: a chicken that also crunches, a chicken feed bag with removable plush seed, and a pig with a crunchy filling. The medium-sized toys would be suitable for most dogs. Lyla loved the animals so much that they were gone by the end of the afternoon, which is typical of all the plush toys I give her.
The PB Dishlickers theme was themed around a restaurant and included three plush toys: a flowering onion tug-and-puzzle toy, a Salisbury steak crackling tug-and-puzzle toy, and two small baked potato squeakers. While the theme was creative, the toys lacked something—especially because Lyla didn’t immediately recognize that they were actually toys. It wasn’t until I stepped on the squeaker inside each toy that she really got excited.
Of course, the toys in Lyla’s Super Chewer PB Dishlickers box lasted longer. We received a rubber twisty toy that can be filled with treats for additional enjoyment, similar to the best dog puzzle toys. I’ll be looking for more durable rubber toys like this. Also included was a rubber and nylon toy shaped like a salad bowl.
The pre-packaged Bark brand treats were a hit with my dog. There were the Mega Moo Beef Lung Jerky Bites, each with 12 calories, and the Magic Morsels Soft Oatmeal Berry Cookies, each with 17 calories per treat. Lyla preferred the pre-packaged treats to the chew sticks and apple cinnamon donut in the Classic boxes. Luckily, there were more than enough treats to last a few weeks.
Overall, I’m happy with the boxes and find them good value, although Lyla quickly destroys any toy. If I were to buy similar toys and treats at a pet store, I would expect to spend about $45 to $50 instead of the $31.99 per box, including shipping. Although I’ll need to supplement the boxes with other toys for my rambunctious puppy, I’ll maintain my BarkBox subscription for the foreseeable future.
Cons
Lyla and I were pleased with the boxes we received, but there are a few things I wish were different. The plush toys in the Classic Box are great for dogs who play gently. However, for dogs who tear their toys apart, there are better alternatives. We always recommend supervising your puppy while playing, and this was absolutely necessary when Lyla played with the plush toys. Some toys contained small plastic bands that made that “crinkle” sound Lyla loved. Unfortunately, these became a hazard when she pulled the toys apart, leaving small pieces of plastic everywhere. Not only can a dog swallow these pieces, but they’re also a pain to pick up.
Small pieces of hard plastic and rubber flaked off the Super Chewer toys when Lyla chewed hard enough, so I had to be extra vigilant to make sure she didn’t swallow any pieces. No dog toy is indestructible, but these toys pale in comparison to products from Kong, which makes some of the best dog toys for aggressive chewers. It usually takes Lyla a few weeks to destroy these. This may not be a problem for other dogs who chew a lot—my dog can be much more aggressive with her toys than other dogs I’ve had.
Most Bark-brand treats have been popular with Lyla, but I’ve received some treats twice now, which has dampened her enthusiasm for them. I would like to see BarkBox offer treats from other brands to provide more variety.
Another drawback is that there is no special box for puppies, although there are smaller boxes for smaller dogs.
Bottom line
I recommend the BarkBox Classic if you want to save on treats and toys and your dog isn’t a big chewer. The value of the toys and treats combined is roughly equivalent to buying two toys at a regular store. The boxes are also a great way to add variety to your dog’s toy box.
However, if your dog goes through as many toys as mine and you’re looking for toys that will last, I recommend a Bullymake subscription box or trying one or more BarkBoxes before committing to a longer subscription.