BarkBox is a reader-favorite monthly subscription box for dogs.
BarkBox customizes your box to your dog’s size. For reference, this review is for the small size (my smaller dog weighs 12 lbs and my pug is closer to 28). We recently adopted a 50 lb standard poodle, so we might try a new size in the future!
FYI: Two of my dogs are quite old! Piper (the minpin) has to eat soft food and has trouble with hard treats. Charlie is a pug, and a glutton who will eat LITERALLY anything. They both still really enjoy toys, though it has been years since either of them managed to destroy anything.
If you have a younger pup or just one who needs toys of the rough and tumble variety, I highly recommend trying the Super Chewer subscription (read our reviews to learn more!).
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About BarkBox
The Subscription Box: BarkBox
The Cost: $35 a month + free shipping. Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: Toys, treats, and grooming products perfect for your dog based on their size.
Ships to: the contiguous US for free, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada for $8
June 2019 Barkbox "Pup-U-Up Home Workout" Review
Each box arrives with an information card with details about the items included. I cannot handle this '80s workout theme! Look that that VHS!
The June box included 2 toys, 2 bags of treats, and a chew - this is close to what you can expect with your monthly subscription, though it does vary for everyone once in a while.
A lot of these items are marked as 'Sold Out' on the BarkBox app - but they have a little 'As Seen In BarkBox' section of the BarkShop where you can grab items featured in monthly themes.
Pup-U-Up Alligator Powered Dog Treats - Retail Value $5.00
Per reader suggestions (thanks to you all!) I reached out to BarkBox about Piper needing soft treats. The Barkbox team was so helpful and added a note to my account requesting at least one bag of softer treats. They delivered this month! These were by far the biggest hit in the box. Piper, Charlie, and Tucker couldn't get enough of these chewy cubes! They had enough of a smell to temp the pups, but weren't repulsive to humans. Piper had no trouble enjoying these, which made me SO happy!
Pup-U-Up Green Smoothie Dog Treats
These were less beloved than the cubes. I mean, I get it! I personally love a green smoothie, but tons of people don't. My dogs would not be green smoothie drinkers. Tucker did give it a try, but spit it out on the floor. Ah, well. These might have been too healthy for the gluttons that live in my house.
Keep your eyes on the prize, pups!
Bow-Wow FlexToy - Retail Value $10.00
Toy wise, this was the hit of the box. I didn't realize how much Charlie and Piper would love tugging this thing! It has an elastic middle, crinkle, and squeakers in each end, meaning loads of noise and excitement. Charlie did manage to chew a small hole in the pink fabric, which really is a testament to how much he enjoyed it since he was a toy shredder in his youth.
The stalemate.
This is probably a good time to introduce Tucker! He is a 5-year-old standard poodle and lived his former life with a breeder. Tucker really doesn't know how to play with toys yet but we are working on it. I think these BarkBoxes will be a great tool for teaching him the magic of squeaky toys and chewing.
Barkbell Toy
This toy is loaded with squeakers and fluff-free! It is also filled with crinkle, Charlie's drug of choice. I thought the design was so funny and clever, which is pretty consistent with all of the toys from this subscription. Since this one was so squeaky and stimulating, we decided to see if Tucker would try it out.
Like the other toy, he wasn't quite sure of what to do with it, but his ears perked up every time the squeakers made noise. This bodes well for the future I think.
Power Pup Protein Bar - Retail Value $3.00
Though Tucker is still confused about toys, this peanut butter and carob treat was totally speaking to him. Honestly, this thing could have passed for a human nutritional bar. It smelled like peanut butter and chocolate and had a very similar texture. It was firm but not too hard, and I broke off pieces for him to enjoy rather than giving him the whole bar at once. Since Piper can't chew things like this and Charlie eats them way too fast for comfort, we reserved this as a late-night treat for Tuck after the older dogs were asleep. I am really happy the chews that regularly come in this box will go to good use now.
Verdict: BarkBox was extra fun this month due to the '80s theme. I just finished the new season of Stranger Things and I feel like I am in a time warp! It was also really fun to introduce Tucker to the clever and entertaining products we receive each month. I was so thankful that the BarkBox team accommodated my request for softer treats, and I know Piper was too. The toys were both hits with the dogs and I always enjoy how crinkle-heavy the designs are. Charlie can never have enough crinkle. I absolutely love bringing this sub home and I know the pups do too, especially since they recognize the box now!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will get the August box. Customer care let us know that your first box will now always be either their Welcome Box or the current month’s box, followed by the normal schedule the following month.
Value Breakdown: At $35/month + free shipping for this box, each of the 5 items has an average cost of $7.00.
Check out all of our reviews of BarkBox and our other favorite pet subscription boxes.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add BarkBox to your subscription list or wishlist!
What did you think of the June 2019 BarkBox?
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