Our Final Verdict
We give BarkBox a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 5/5
Variety: 5/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Customization: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Theme: 4.9/5
Subscriptions are a big part of our everyday life – from streaming services to ready-to-make meals delivered to our front doors. These products make our busy lives a lot easier, coming to us instead of us coming to them. So why not do a subscription service for the most important member of your family – Fido!
BarkBox is a popular subscription service for your pup. It provides hours of entertainment on a monthly basis with a box filled with toys, treats, and activities! This can be a lifesaver for busy families with dogs that need a lot of daily mental stimulation and a fun thing to look forward to with new puppy owners. BarkBox even allows you to customize the boxes based on your dog’s personality!
Does BarkBox live up to all of the hype? I had the chance to find out!
Overview
| Product Type: | Subscription box with toys and treats |
| Best Suited For: | All dogs |
| Price Range: | Mid-range, more expensive than some competitors but way less expensive than others |
| Contents: | A mixture of tailored dog toys and treats |
| Specs: | Options of a small box and a large box |
| Options: | Fully customized to your dog |
| Number of Items Per Box: | 5 or more, depending on the box |
Our Experience
I admit, I have heard about BarkBox from my friends and colleagues who have subscribed, but I have never tried it! I was excited to see what was in store for my dog Lorelei, a little rescue mutt I picked up from the shelter over eight years ago. She can be very picky and fussy, so I wasn’t sure how this would all go.
Both a small box and a large box arrived swiftly at my front door, and the initial packaging looked adorable! The recognizable BARK logo was plastered over the front, and I was already excited to know what was inside. Even my dog seemed to know the box was for her, as she happily raced outside to check it out (which is not typical for her; she usually doesn’t care about deliveries).
I received two boxes: a smaller Dogsgiving-themed box and a larger National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation-themed box. Both boxes featured a beautiful assortment of specially styled and curated toys and bags of healthy treats. The toys included stuffies and a chew, and both even had stuffies that had smaller stuffies inside of them (so dogs could have fun pulling the little toys out).
I loved the care that BARK put into the packaging; the display was gorgeous. I am keeping the boxes solely because the packaging is so pretty! The Thanksgiving box even had some how-to ideas for fun with your pup (much appreciated).
With so many toys, I spread out the time frames within which I would offer Lorelei the toys. Too many at once, and she gets overwhelmed and then wants none of them! I started with the toys from the Dogsgiving box and then slowly moved on to some of the toys from the Christmas box (predominantly because the Thanksgiving toys were a bit smaller).
For a dog that doesn’t usually play with toys, she was enthused about all of them! I almost wonder if they had some sort of smell to them that enticed her! Lorelei was especially keen on the corn, which I then began hiding the treats in so she could work to get them out.
On the topic of treats, she enjoyed the soft-bake Jack-O-Loops that came with the boxes, primarily in the Cinnamon Pumpkin Recipe. I liked that the ingredients were healthy for her and not stuffed with fillers that aren’t nice for their bodies (especially for a dog whose stomach is quite sensitive). My silly dog even enjoyed playing with the loop treats before eating them, which was so cute to watch!
All in all, BarkBox is certainly Lorelei-approved.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Engaging, stimulating, durable toys
- Cute themes
- Minimum of two bags of treats
- Treats are wheat, corn, soy, & filler-free
- Delivers monthly
- Fast, free delivery for subscriptions
- Each purchase donates to shelters and rescues
Cons
- Free shipping only for subscribers
- Current theme may not be your favorite
Key Features
Price
There are three subscription tier options: One month, six months, and 12 months.
- 1-month: $35 per box
- 6-months: $27 per box
- 12-months: $24 per box
You can add an extra monthly toy for an additional $9 per box.
Shipping is free for subscribers. Otherwise, it is about $5 for non-subscribers.
Contents
Depending on the kind of box you choose, each comes with at least two toys, one chew toy, and two treat bags. Depending on your add-ons, there may be more products inside.
Themes
The company’s dedication to themes every month makes BarkBox stand out significantly from the rest of the subscription boxes. The themes are so well curated that even the treat bags represent that month’s idea! For the Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes I received, each toy was curated and designed to express the theme to the fullest capacity.
Themes include pop culture fads, film and television characters, and concepts. Past boxes have included characters such as Scooby-Doo and Marvel superheroes, pop cultures such as popular holiday ideas, and concepts such as Hairy Metal (with toys themed on heavy metal music). However, some themes can fly over certain customers’ heads, such as National Lampoon’s Christmas (one of the boxes I got), if they aren’t familiar with that film.
Overseen By Pet Care Specialists
BARK consults heavily with nutritionists and veterinarians for their healthy dog treats and dog food, ensuring that the ingredients do not include wheat, corn, soy, and filler. Canine behaviorists and veterinarians also advise on the design and safety of the dog toys, ensuring each product is strategically designed for your pup.
Types of Boxes To Choose From
BARK offers two boxes to choose from:
- BarkBox: This is the original subscription box (and the one my dog and I reviewed). This includes a minimum of two toys, one chew, and two bags of treats.
- Super Chewer Box: This box is intended for dogs that love to gnaw on toys or need something more durable. The offering is the same, but the included toys are different.
BARK technically has a third box option called Bright Kit for their dental care line. This box includes dental chews (you can choose between 30 chews or 15 chews) and the dental toothpaste that goes on the chews.
Fully Customizable
The boxes are customized for your pup. Upon registering, you are asked your dog’s gender, adoption date (for a special surprise!), size, and food allergies. The boxes are adjusted based on your answers and can be modified at any time by contacting Bark via the website’s live chat or their company email.
Additional Bark Products Available
BARK sells all of their toys and treats as standalone products too (however, some toys are exclusive to subscribers-only. This is marked in the BARK store). BARK also offers dental care treats and products, their own dog food, and even their own dog-friendly airline (called BarkAir).
About BarkBox
| Manufacturing: | All BARK’s products (toys and treats) are made in the United States and Canada. The majority are manufactured at the company’s Kentucky base |
| Shipping: | Shipping is free for subscription holders, but there is a shipping fee for a one-time box |
| Established: | BARK was founded in December of 2011 |
| Collaboration With Pet Care Specialists: | BARK collaborates with veterinarians and animal behaviorists on all its products to ensure that the toys and food are safe and beneficial to dogs |
| Philantrophy: | BARK donates treats and other products to animal shelters in need with every purchase |
| Honoring Veterans and Military: | BARK is a big supporter of our military and veterans and offers a discount for them |
Is BarkBox a Good Value?
BarkBox is an excellent value for anyone who shops regularly for their pup or needs their dog entertained in a busy lifestyle! I’m not the only one who thinks so either; a quick Google search brings up many reviews on Reddit from real customers who all feel that the subscription is very worthwhile for them.
Considering that BarkBox comes as a mix of treats and toys every month, the cost is much more effective than consistently going to the pet store to pick up treats and destructible toys. A dog that isn’t very toy-motivated or doesn’t partake in treats may not be the right candidate for BarkBox (in which case, the subscription is a bit pricey) – but most puppies and active dogs will cut costs with this subscription service.
Additionally, not having to consistently run to the pet store or figure out new ways to entertain the four-legged family members can make BarkBox a good value even outside the price factor. Ease of mind is important!
How We Tested
Testing was pretty straightforward on this product. After receiving the tracking information, both the Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes arrived quickly.
After opening each box and checking the contents inside, I offered my pup one toy at a time over days – this kept her interested and occupied as she had a new “gift” to dive into. She loved the toys, even those I thought would be too big for her.
The treats I offered as training rewards were like any other treat. She took to them pretty quickly! For additional stimulation, I would hide treats in the larger toys so she would use them similarly to snuffle mats, digging her nose in there and using her brain to discover where the treat was hiding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Many Toys Should I Give My Dog From the Box?
Every dog is different – how toys are presented is based upon your individual dog. Generally speaking, you don’t want to give every toy from the box at once – space each toy out to give your dog plenty of interesting things to do for the month.
What If My Dog Doesn’t Like The Toys Or Treats?
Not all dogs fancy everything in the box – you can donate or gift toys that your pup may not like. If your dog consistently dislikes what is in the box, you can contact BARK at [email protected], and they will offer some remedies. Make note that BarkBox does not offer refunds or exchanges.
How Do You Know If You Need The Super Chewer Or The Regular BarkBox?
The difference between the regular BarkBox and the Super Chewer version is how long the toys last. BarkBox tends to have more stuffy toys and has the durability of most regular dog toys you can find at the pet store. Dogs that are heavy chewers or tend to be quite destructive will be better suited for the Super Chewer box, which has toys intended for chewers and are much more durable.
How Do You Cancel Your Subscription?
Shoot BARK a message to cancel your subscription or view options to change your subscription. You can use the live chat on the website or email the company at [email protected].
Conclusion
There is a reason that BarkBox has as many customers as it does – from the adorable themes to a box full of products you will actually use; this is an excellent service to keep your dog happy and entertained month after month. Not needing to spend hours at the pet store every month alone is a big reason BarkBox is as popular as it is, and dogs all over the country wag their tails in agreement!
