Toby’s Treasure Box is a subscription box for dogs customized to your dog’s needs (dietary, chewing style, breed) and size. Choose from a single pet box or a family size box.
This is a review of the Single Pet, $33 a month, box.
From Toby's Treasure Box:
Our key goal is to be a socially responsible company that positively affects the lives of other people and animals, by giving back in many ways and paying it forward.
They support the Autism Community, Companions for Heroes, and The United States War Dogs Association.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Toby’s Treasure Box
The Subscription Box: Toby’s Treasure Box
The Cost: $33/month on a month-to-month basis for a single dog box. Save with longer subscriptions or get a family-size box for a little bit more.
The Products: Toys, treats, and chews curated according to a detailed profile quiz you fill out for your dog. (They may even contact you after you fill out the quiz to get more specifics.)
Ships to: US (free to lower 48, calculated at checkout for Alaska and Hawaii)
Toby’s Treasure Box July 2018 Review
Toby’s Treasure Box can vary a lot from subscriber to subscriber depending on what parameters you select during sign-up. But let’s see what they sent for a large-breed dog with IBD (who can’t have grains, soy, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, or duck):
Because this box is customized, you won’t receive a traditional information card. They do send out collectible cards, of which I’ve shown a few above (I didn’t photograph all of them since part of the value in the subscription is the information on the cards). You’ll receive a binder for your cards after your 8th box, or you can opt out of receiving the cards if you are concerned about the environmental impact. These may contain breed profiles, training tips, or health and wellness information.
There was also a letter addressed to Nyx with more information about the box.
And there was a card reminding you to supervise your dog for safety purposes.
Honey I’m Home Natural Honey Coated Buffalo Horn Chew (3.5 oz) – Retail Value $13.99
Nyx has never had a horn before. We do receive them in boxes from time to time, but I always feel they are too small to be safe for a dog like her. You can see a picture of this out of the package, with Nyx for size context, below. This one is pretty big. (It is coated with honey so I didn’t want it getting goo all over my photography background.) Nyx licked it a whole bunch at first and then she crunched off the small end quickly. I’m giving it a few days to see how she does and then I’ll let her have this again. This is made from water buffalo horn and dogs with beef issues can usually still have water buffalo, which is what we’re hoping for Nyx.
Zippypaws Warriorz Helena the Heroine – Retail Value $9.99
These toys are indestructible. We have a Santa Claus toy from this product line from 2016, and another one from 2017, and Nyx hasn’t been able to destroy either of them. They have annoying squeakers, so she is mostly interested in making noise with them. The squeakers are long-lasting, too, and the special stitching around the edge seems to help keep them together.
Multipet Nuts for Knots Rope Tug with Braided Stick (16”) – Retail Value $8.80
We get a lot of Multipet “nuts for knots” toys in dog subscription boxes but that is OK because Nyx thinks they are great. This one is a good size for Nyx. She enjoyed playing tug with it but also gnawing on the handle part. She did eventually manage to destroy it, but it took more than one session.
Lindy’s Bakery Salmon Snaps (6 oz) – Retail Value $6.95
My vet recommended, when Nyx was diagnosed with IBD, that she not eat fish. I mentioned this in Nyx’s profile and the folks at Toby’s Treasure Box asked if there was a specific type of fish and said that dogs with fish issues tend to have more trouble with certain types of fish (like whitefish) but can often still have salmon, and what did I think about that? I said I was open to trying biscuit-type treats with salmon as an ingredient if they were grain-free, and we would see how she did, and go from there in terms of further salmon treats. They sent these, which have a chickpea flour base with salmon as the second ingredient. And, so far, so good – no digestive issues even after having a few of these. Nyx has done well with treats from this brand in the past, too.
Anyway, I was happy to have the discussion and I really feel like my concerns were taken into account and I was listened to (I mean, they found the exact type of treat I said I was willing to try!). And of course, Nyx was very excited to have these.
Gaines Family Farmstead Sweet Potato Chips for Dogs (4 oz) – Estimated Value $5.50 (buy 8 oz for $10.99, found here for $9.89)
We have had these before from Pupjoy. I had mentioned in Nyx’s profile that sweet potato was fine for her. These are just dehydrated sweet potato but Nyx loves them. (I realize I could make these in my food dehydrator for next to nothing since sweet potatoes are so cheap in the South, but I am too lazy for that.) I know that I can give Nyx several of these in a day with no ill effects and I think Nyx knows that too because she managed to mess up the first three pictures before I got one where her face was clear…
Nyx with the ninja toy. This one is still in pretty good shape.
Nyx with the rope. She did destroy this, but only after several sessions of intense chewing on it.
Nyx with the horn. She was VERY excited about this. She has never had an item like this before. She did spend a good deal of time licking it (it is coated in honey). She crunched off the end pretty quickly so I took it away and we’ll see how she does for a few days, then she can have it back.
Nyx about to receive a sweet potato chip. We had to take four pictures for one to come out at all. I only let her have one salmon treat since those were new to her, and that picture didn’t come out.
Verdict: I calculated a value of $45.23 for the July 2018 Toby’s Treasure Box. That is over $12 above the cost of the subscription, which is decent for any dog box, but what really impressed me was the customization (including follow-up on the profile – for example, I had forgotten to mention that Nyx can have peanut butter but they asked if that was OK, seeing all her other dietary restrictions, rather than just sending something). The toys were size-appropriate and they managed to find several different treats that Nyx could actually have. If your dog has serious food issues, and you actually want to try some treats for him or her, instead of just getting a “no treats” box from somewhere else, this really seems to be the best option out of the dog boxes I’ve reviewed.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, your first box would probably be August’s. Also, box content can vary a lot based on your dog’s profile quiz and of course Nyx’s dietary restrictions are more stringent than most.
Value Breakdown: At $33 for this box, you are paying approximately the following per item:
- Horn chew $10.21
- Warriorz toy $7.29
- Rope toy $6.42
- Salmon treats $5.07
- Sweet potato treats $4.01
Check out lots of other great boxes for dogs in the Pet Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
What do you think of the July 2018 Toby’s Treasure Box? Do you subscribe to any dog boxes?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.