BarkBox / John Lonsdale
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“George, you want to play?”
After a long day of casual walking, a few naps, and some much-needed relaxation in front of the air conditioner, it’s finally time to enjoy the outdoors. Our golden retriever has no shortage of toys around the house, but after months of playing with both balls and stuffed animals, we decided to try something new to treat our best friend to something special — no need to go to pet store Enter BarkBox, a monthly dog toy-and-treat subscription delivery service known for delivering pop culture-themed picks, from Spongebob Square Pants to Harry Potter packages.
At a Glance: What to Know About BarkBox
- BarkBox Price: $22/month for 12 months; $25/BarBox for 6 months; or, $35/month
- What’s Included: Two treat bags, two toys, and a surprise — customizable by breed, weight, and allergy
Simply put, this isn’t your average dog toy subscription plan. To find out if the subscription service box is really worth it, we tested BarkBox for a week with our pup to find out what all the zoomies are about.
In this article
What is BarkBox?
Our BarkBox Review: Toys and Treats
Is BarkBox worth it?
What is BarkBox?
Think of it like a monthly meal delivery service — but for your pup. BarkBox offers a themed box each month, starting at $22 for the annual plan, and throws in a few special toys, a few bags of treats, plus a special surprise treat. Dog owners can choose between a six- or 12-month subscription, however, as the brand explains, Fido will likely steer you in the one-year direction — and who can blame them.
Getting started is easy. All you have to do is go to BarkBox.com, then add your dog’s name. Next, we, of course, clicked on the “He’s a good boy” button. After that, BarkBox will ask for your pup’s weight and size so the brand can tailor the subscription delivery box to your dog’s wants and needs. (We like the prices to stay the same, even if you have a 50-plus-pound dog at home.) Next, BarkBox asks for your dog’s breed, their date of birth or date of adoption, and whether they have any food allergies that need to be addressed.
John Lonsdale
Our BarkBox Review
After completing all the required information, BarkBox sent us two boxes to try out for our first time. (You’ll get a box every month after that.) This month’s theme: “Big Shake Lake,” with all the toys to prove it and to “beat away the dog days of summer,” such as our delivery card explained.
Toys
Without missing a beat, our puppy leans headfirst. This month’s BarkBox toy selection includes fun toys that owners can only find through BarkBox. First up: a Big Squeak Bass, a green fish complete with fins, a built-in squeaker, and a special mouth designed to hide treats. At first, our golden retriever – once an easygoing pup — wasn’t completely sold on the bass. But after pinching its fins and squeezing out a scream, he knew it was too late.
BarkBox
This month’s BarkBox delivery also includes a tug-of-war Ultimutt Inner Tube toy, which has become one of George’s favorites thanks to its sturdy tug strap and crinkle noise. He dragged it across the lawn, dragged me around the house by the strap, and shook it until he had to take a nap from the intense play. Another favorite: a plush duck toy that our pup loves to catch in the air and trip over. All in all, a 10-out-of-10 toy experience. (For poor chewers, dog owners can also subscribe to the SuperChewer box.)
Treats
Now, for the BarkBox treats. Although we didn’t train our pet to beg for treats, he couldn’t help but be a foodie. (Same, George, same.) And when it comes to feeding him treats, we want to know which ingredients we’re giving him, even though he’ll eat almost everything (“except kale – tell them I don’t really like kale ,” said George). OK, except for the kale.
John Lonsdale
BarkBox includes several small, four-ounce bags of sealed treats in our delivery box. Wakey Wakey Soft Bakes, a maple bacon-flavored bag of goodies that the brand explains are made with real USA bacon and no artificial ingredients. But it’s the bag that George seems to crave: Jack-o-Loops Soft Bakes, a delicious cinnamon pumpkin soft treat (which also happens to be vegetarian). Treat bags also show how many treats to feed your pup to help them maintain a healthy weight (which is important to us, and an extra reminder we appreciate).
Anything else to add, George?
“Yeah, they were really freaking good. More, please!”
Is BarkBox worth it?
“If you love delicious treats, fun, unexpected toys you can share with friends, and a fun delivery every month, BarkBox is the best delivery box in the game,” our dog told us , George. Now, does he really need all the treats and new toys every month? Of course not, but we have to agree with him.
For $22 per month with an annual plan, we appreciate BarkBox’s convenient curation of toys, treats, and themes that cater specifically to your dog’s profile. Compared to buying individual dog toys and boxes of biscuits, this is a decent price when you consider that you don’t have to do any of the shopping yourself. Everything arrives at your door, and it’s an easy way to treat your pup to something fun (even if you don’t get through all the goodie bags before the next box arrives). The bottom line: Your best friend deserves a BarkBox every month.
“Four legs high!” said George.
Why Trust Our Dog
The product Tester
Meet George
Golden retriever, 4
George, a golden retriever based on the West Coast, is featured in the PeopleThe Doggist, and now Rolling stone (although he is still waiting on a cover). He’s been a dog that has loved trying treats and toys since he can remember — going on for over four years now. He tried everything from dog beds for brands like People to tug-of-war-worthy soccer balls with his friends, and even tried plush toys with squeakers since he was a puppy.
