My First BarkBox: The Unboxing

I’ve written a number of articles on BarkBox, so I decided to order my first BarkBox to check out the hype.  Welcome to the unboxing.

For anyone unfamiliar, BarkBox is a monthly subscription service for your dog with toys, treats, and chews. They have around 600,000 monthly subscribers.

I took advantage of their “Double your First Box for Free Offer”, although their deals are always changing.

Order Process

The order process was really simple and took me less than 5 minutes.

The signup had 6 steps and required the following information:

1. My dog’s name;
2. Whether they play with small medium, or large toys;
3. Whether they’re allergic to beef, chicken, or turkey;
4. Which subscription to choose (monthly, 6 months, or 12 months);
5. Whether to pay extra for a premium toy; and
6. Payment and shipping information.

Shipping

For the first box, they estimate 2-3 business days to prepare for shipping, then an additional 2-8 business days for actual delivery in the contiguous U.S., and 4-12 business days in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

After the first box, BarkBox ships boxes around the 15th of each month with the same delivery time frames (2-8 business days in U.S., and 4-12 business days elsewhere).

Shipping was free since I am in the contiguous U.S. Otherwise, shipping costs $8.

There was a slight delay with my first box, but BarkBox sent me a free bag of treats in the mail for my troubles without me having to ask.

Coupons and Deals

1. Get A Free Extra Toy In Every Box When You Subscribe! That's a $60 Value! (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)
2. Free Hands Free Dog Leash. (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)
3. Get 50% off Your First Box! (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)
4. Sign up today and your first box will be doubled stuffed for free (thats 2x the toys AND treats)! (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)
5. Free Ancestry Dog DNA Kit when you sign up for BarkBox! (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)
6. Free BLINK camera when you sign up! (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)
7. Free YETI dog bowl when you sign up for BarkBox! (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)
8. Free Extra Month of BarkBox! (Valid on 6 and 12 month plans)

I make a small commission if you buy through me, but I only recommend products I find trustworthy and at no extra cost to you.

Contents of BarkBox

Each BarkBox contains at least 2 toys, 2 treats, and a chew, although I received double the items based on my deal.

Every box is based on a new theme each month to keep things interesting.

My first BarkBox was the New York City theme. I liked the variety. Here is a photo of everything:

For the toys, I received (1) Andi’s Famous Plush Dumplings, (2) Lady Liberty Ball, (3) Chester’s Pigeon, and (4) Roly Cannoli. All of their toys are unique and designed in house.

Here is my toy poodle posing with his toys (to share with our other dog):

For the treats, I received BarkBox’s Fresh Fair Treats with the following recipes/flavors: (1) Duck Shish Kabob, (2) Chicken and Bacon Sandwich (already opened and devoured), (3) Turkey Leg, and (4) Lamb Gyro.

The treats are wheat-free, corn-free, soy-free, and grain-free. BarkBox treats are always made in the U.S. or Canada.

For the chews, I received (1) Happy Howie’s Beef Burger Chew and (2) Caledon Farms Plaque Busters. Here they are:

BarkBox will let you customize your box depending on what your dog likes and replace items for free. I have read they have great customer service.

They also offer tougher toys and their Super Chewer program (for extra cost) for the heavy chewers. Note: you can upgrade for free to tougher plush toys.

Price of BarkBox

As far as price, BarkBox charges the following monthly fee:

• 1 Month Subscription: $35/month
• 6 Month Subscription: $26/month (or $139 upfront for savings)
• 12 Month Subscription: $22/month (or $234 upfront for savings)

These monthly fees are actually less than some of its competitors like PupBox. It also makes a great gift for the pet lover.

For the SuperChewer program, they charge:

• 1 Month Subscription: $45/month
• 6 Month Subscription: $35/month
• 12 Month Subscription:$30/month

Experience

Since I just opened the box today, I still need to give my dogs time to see how they like BarkBox.

They’ve already eaten a few of the Chicken and Bacon Sandwich treats and I have a feeling they will love the others.

My toy poodle is already taking ownership over the Lady Liberty Ball.

Only time will tell which toys they prefer over others. Either way, BarkBox will cater to their likes and dislikes, so I am not concerned.

Overall Thoughts

If your dog likes to play with toys, then this service could be valuable and actually save you money and time.

Dog toys can be pricey in stores. To receive 2 toys, 2 treats, and a chew at a cost between $22-$35 per month (or less if paying upfront) directly to your door seems worth it to me, especially for the convenience.

However, if you are price conscious and have time to shop around, you may be able to save money compared to BarkBox, but will lose the convenience factor.

I believe BarkBox, along with other dog subscription services, may suit the needs of some owners, while may not meet the needs of others.

For example, some dogs do not play with toys often, so in that case it may not be worth it.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my unboxing. For even more detailed information, I also wrote an article Is BarkBox Worth it?