BarkBox
What to Expect With Your Month to Month Subscription
I have written over a year's worth of BarkBox reviews and the utter delight I found with my first box immediately set the tone for the rest of my experiences! Seriously, it was love at first box!
It continues to be one of my favorite monthly boxes which also saves me from making the drive to my local pet store. I wanted to explain this dog box a little more in-depth and go over how to sign up, some common FAQs, and what you can expect each month, as well as share some of my favorite boxes with you!
BarkBox sends a box with 2 new plush toys, two bags of natural treats, and a chew each shipment. Every box has a cute theme and the goodies inside are super creative and great quality for your average chewer.
Have a rough and tumble pup? Try their Super Chewer box subscription which has toys made for heavy chewers who might be better off without fluff! Check out our Super Chewer reviews here.
BarkBox has been featured in several of our Readers' Choice articles including The Best Monthly Subscription Boxes and The 18 Best Dog Subscription Boxes in 2023.
About BarkBox
BarkBox is a monthly dog subscription that sends two quirky toys (usually plushies), two bags of all-natural treats, and one chew in each box. Boxes are curated for your dog based on their weight and allergies (chicken, turkey, and beef allergies are built into their checkout).
Each box is centered on a theme, and each high-quality item fits in impeccably! At times they have toys based on popular culture figures and events; they’ve had Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer toys, Peanuts toys, Marvel-themed toys, and even “4/20” toys.
This box is for dog owners who want to spoil their pups with durable and fun-themed toys that will delight the whole family. Your doggo will also love the nutritious treats that come in these monthly boxes. Both the toys and treats are unique to BarkBox and the quality is top-notch.
The Cost: $29 a month + free shipping. Save with a longer subscription plan.
Ships to: The contiguous US for free; Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada for $8
Billing Cycle: You are billed by the 3rd of each month and your box should ship around the 15th.
Tough pup? Try their Super Chewer box subscription service which has toys made for heavy chewers! Check out our Super Chewer reviews here.
BarkBox Pros & Cons
The Pros
- The pure joy this box brings my dogs is priceless.
- New toys and goodies each month without a visit to the pet store.
- Super healthy and natural treats that are wheat, corn, soy, & filler-free.
The Cons
- You will end up with quite a few plush toys all over your house and likely some very overly excited pups. This might feel like a lot of toys for a monthly subscription for some dog owners.
Is It Worth It?
- For my house with 3 dogs? Absolutely. They are each obsessed with this monthly subscription box.
I’d Recommend BarkBox If You
- Want a thrilling surprise for your pups delivered as a monthly subscription.
- Prefer healthier natural treats and goodies for your dogs.
- Appreciate well-designed and often hilarious dog toys with staying power for average chewers.
I've been a BarkBox subscriber for over 12 months now, and you can see all of my BarkBox reviews here!
How To Sign Up For BarkBox
Signing up is easy peasy, and actually super cute! It asks for very basic info about your dog's size, birthday, breed, etc. You can enter multiple breeds if your dog is a custom work of art.
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Good to Know: If you have a pup like Piper (who has no teeth) email the BarkBox team at [email protected] or chat with them and let them know. They will do what they can to make sure some softer treats arrive! (Thanks to MSA readers for this tip!)
What To Expect In A BarkBox Monthly Box
Each box has its own distinct theme with treats and BarkBox toys (based on your dog's size) inside to match. They are often really funny and the BarkBox team does such a great job in crafting imaginative toys that are also enjoyable to us humans, too.
Each toy has multiple fun elements inside such as squeakers, crinkles, balls, and more. They keep my pups interested and no one has managed to destroy anything yet.
Even though Charlie and Piper are smaller, I went with the medium box since Tucker is a big guy. He isn't quite a super chewer, but he still has yet to rip any of these toys.
I also really appreciate how healthy and high-quality the treats are, especially since recipes with wheat seem to upset Charlie’s stomach. BarkBox's treats are made in the USA and Canada and are all-natural, & wheat, corn, soy, and filler-free. A+!
We try to buy our dogs the best food we can afford and it makes me happy to know that hard work isn’t undone with bad-for-them treats. I also have to take a second to rave about the wild flavor combinations that come in these bags. We have received everything from banana to cricket!
Themed Boxes
One of the most charming parts of a month-to-month BarkBox subscription is each box arrives with a brand-new theme. I can't even imagine how much fun the BarkBox team has coming up with these.
Both of your two plush toys will follow this theme, and your natural treat and chew will (most of the time!) coordinate with the overall curation as well.
I've found that I've had some treat bags show up that are not on theme, but that is because BarkBox customer support was kind enough to make sure Piper had soft treats. It is a worthwhile trade-off!
Here are some of our favorite themes:
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My absolute favorites were May 2020 (Scooby-Doo!), July 2019 (Hairy Metal), September 2019 (Must Squeak TV!), and our very first box in April 2019 (Shakespeare in the Dog Park).
Plush Toys
BarkBox plush toys always have a wonderful assortment of fluff, squeakers, crinkle, and other surprises like hidden treat compartments and pull ropes. They are also premium toys that have major staying power for most dogs.
None of mine have managed to tear anything up, even big boy Tucker. (If you have a toy shredder, I recommend Barkbox's Super Chewer box). The toys are also so much fun to play with, especially since I am WFH and spending a lot more time with my pups.
They appreciate new toys each month for playtime!
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The imagination of these toys is also really enjoyable. A plush golden toilet? A crinkle fluff guitar with a functional strap? A reversible squeaker bib that looks like a tuxedo?! Every month is a new surprise.
All Natural Treats
The healthy treats included each month are also equally as creative as the toys, from the clever and punny names to the often surprising (yet delicious) ingredients. The BarkBox team does a fantastic job of creating so many different shapes, tastes, smells, and textures for your dog to enjoy.
These are excellent for training, as keeping a stash of natural treats is a wonderful way to reward good behavior. Will likes to reward the dogs with treats simply for looking cute or doing basic dog things like sleeping on the couch, so we go through a lot of treats in my house!
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The treats are most usually meat-based (think lamb, beef, chicken, pork) but they are often combined with a selection of more unusual ingredients and flavors. Here are a few recent callouts: banana, lavender, crickets (!!), bourbon, chamomile, honey, carrots, cranberries, and chia seeds.
If your pupper has any allergies or dietary concerns, reach out to BarkBox customer support at [email protected]. They will take great care of you and your furry pal!
Chews and More Goodies
Your final item in each BarkBox is likely going to be a sturdy chew! Piper and Charlie are older and don't have the best (or any) teeth left, but Tucker is a bigger guy who likes to chew! I like to save these for him when the seniors put themselves to bed at night. I would argue they are his favorite (secret) treat in this subscription box. The flavors are a little more subdued than some of the treats, but he likes them just as much.
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You might also find a surprise wearable accessory in your box, but this is a little more rare! They are usually part of the box packaging itself but are sometimes fabric. They certainly add a lot to the box though. It is always fun to play dress up!
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The Verdict - Is BarkBox Worth It?
Every month my entire house looks forward to this subscription. (Well, maybe not the cat.) If you are looking for a dog subscription box, try it! I would say it is totally worth it. Here’s why:
- It is pure fun: Even if you aren’t spending more time at home these days, these new toys give my dogs and me extra playtime. When it arrives, it’s like an event for the entire house which makes it totally worth it. For someone who brings home a ton of boxes, this monthly subscription still stands out as one of my favorites ever.
- It has enhanced my relationship with my pups: Piper and Charlie are both older now so getting them to play requires a little creativity, which BarkBox delivers in spades. I also thought this dog box was perfect for when we introduced Tucker to the pack because it was a chance for them all to play together and socialize.
- It has good value and allows me to skip trips to the pet store where I would 100% spend more money: Aside from the fact that I am leaving the house less these days, decent dog toys are expensive at my local chain pet store. And bags of high-quality treats? Yeesh. The last time I bought Charlie a medium-sized toy it set me back $15. Sure, they have some less expensive ones, but we want them to last, right? Bags of dog treats are also quite spendy if you are looking for natural treats similar to the ones from BarkBox.
- The variety is awesome: Those weird treat flavors? I am amazed each month at what arrives. There is always a nice mix of textures too, meaning my pups never get bored. The high-quality plush toys always have a few interesting features that keep my pups interested, whether that is crinkle, hidden treat compartments, excessive fluff, or something else!
- The BarkBox customer support team is fantastic to chat with: Literally, they are. I reached out about Piper’s lack of teeth and they were thrilled to make sure soft treats ended up in each box so she wouldn’t be left out. They also encouraged me to reach out with anything I might need to customize the box to my pups' needs. You can tell these folks love their own furry friends so much.
If you need even more detail on the BarkBox monthly subscription, be sure to check out all of the MSA BarkBox reviews on our BarkBox reviews page.
Tough pup? Try their Super Chewer box month-to-month subscription service which has toys made for heavy chewers! Check out our Super Chewer reviews here.
Did I miss any details for new BarkBox subscribers? What do your pups think of this monthly subscription service?
BarkBox Reviews From Our Readers
Want another opinion of this monthly subscription service? Here are several reviews from our readers:
Love the Bark Box! Durable toys and nutritious treats for my power chewer
I received the exercise box, Christmas box, Star box, and others. My big dog is a power chewer with a sensitive stomach. He loved that demented-looking cat actress plush and muscled arm - played with it for hours. He LOVED the nutcracker box which held treats and Dancing Duck and Cranberry treats. The treats were nutritious and tasty. The box is a reasonable price per treat and a great value given how long the toys last. My dog still plays with his plush toys and the cat has only suffered one ear loss after constant chewing. I thought the customer service was excellent. - Rroger99
This is a big hit & our dog loves everything
This is Buddy’s very first Bark Box and let’s just say it was definitely a big hit, he loved the treats, and Yes they are all gone and his toys are still holding up and he destroys everything. I don’t expect these toys to last a year but so far they have held up and he plays with them every day. I can’t wait to see what he gets next time & he loves getting gifts - JJohn L.
Excellent service
I've been a subscriber for years. They offer a great amount of flexibility and care. They offer some customization to your dog (or dogs if they share a box) that suits what they like. In the past when there were fires in the area they gave us a free box. Since we weren't affected they were even willing to donate it to the shelter of our choice. Any questions you have they get back to you within a day. - Kelly B.
Aussie tested and approved!!
Nelson and Cash love Bark Box! The treats are excellent and the toys are well made and durable. So far, after numerous games of tug, their Bark Box toys are holding up just fine. The only drawback is now the boys think every delivery is for them! - CCatherine C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great value for the treats, toys, and fun!
My dog goes nuts over these! Good treats that last forever... we have to give some packs away which is great for our friends at the dog park and hiking trails! The toys are durable, cute, and safe. Love each box that comes with a theme so my dog is just as excited as I am to open the box! The dog size selection is great and the toys/treats are well chosen for each! I love sending them as gifts to others too. We get the best videos of our pets opening these!! - Teresa
You can read even more reviews from our readers and MSA team members here.
BarkBox FAQs
How much is BarkBox?
BarkBox starts at $35 per month for a month-to-month subscription. You can save with longer plans as the 6-month subscription costs $26 per month and the 12-month subscription costs $22 per month. There's also a shipping fee.
When does BarkBox ship?
It typically takes 1-2 business days for BarkBox to ship and an additional 2-5 business days to receive it.
What comes in a BarkBox?
BarkBox typically comes with 2 toys, 2 treats, and 1 chew.
Is a BarkBox subscription worth it?
If you want to spoil your dog with the best chew toys and natural treats each month at a competitive price, then BarkBox is absolutely worth it!
Is BarkBox hard to cancel?
Not at all! Just log into your account, scroll to 'Subscription Settings', then edit your next plan or disable the auto-renewal.
Is BarkBox healthy for dogs?
Yes, BarkBox supplies dogs with wholesome treats that are manufactured in the USA and Canada with domestic and imported ingredients. All edible items are free of wheat, corn, and soy.
How many toys do you get in a BarkBox?
You get 2 plush toys in each BarkBox.
Is BarkBox good for super chewers?
Does your dog have some serious chompers? If so, then you may want to try the Super Chewer box by BarkBox over the standard subscription. It comes with 2 tough toys, 2 full-size bags of treats, and meaty chews.
Do BarkBox toys have stuffing?
Some do! BarkBox offers a mix of plush, stuffed toys along with some slightly durable materials.
Do BarkBox toys squeak?
Some squeak, whereas others don't. Just depends on the month!
Is there a toys-only BarkBox?
Yes, you can customize BarkBox to be an all toys or all-treat/chew box.
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