It’s a ruff job sampling treats and toys, but someone’s gotta do it.
Remember in, like, 2012 when we all discovered subscription boxes? It seemed like such a brilliant idea—like a party favor bag delivered to your doorstep every month. I could barely afford to buy drugstore makeup on my NYC assistant salary back then, but I LIVED for my Birchbox deliveries.
At the time, I remember hearing about Barkbox and thinking what a great idea it was, even though I was far from pup-parenthood myself. But now, two dogs later, I went looking for a subscription box for our pups and discovered that there are SO many options. So how do you choose?
Subscription box companies spend so much money on sponsored posts that it can be really tough to find an unbiased, unsponsored review out there. Plus, you never know if the boxes you’re seeing are “special” blogger boxes (yes, this is a thing) or the real deal that average shoppers get.
That’s why I wanted to do a completely unsponsored side-by-side comparison of all the best dog subscription boxes and choose which one was best. We ordered nine different dog subscription boxes and paid for them with our own money. We didn’t alert the companies about this review or try to get any kind of special blogger treatment, so these are just our honest opinions on the real boxes that you’d get if you ordered.
Here’s how we judged each box:
Value: Would I be able to recreate this box for less money shopping on my own? Price per toy/treat/misc. items has to feel worthwhile.
Health: Our dogs don’t have any dietary sensitivities, but I try to find treats that have whole, natural ingredients and are made in the U.S.
Design: I want the box to look fun—otherwise I might as well be ordering toys on Amazon, right? Additionally, I hate dog toys that are super tacky.
Customer Experience: The ordering process is stress-free. The box comes when it should and looks like it should. Cancelling or skipping a month is easy.
Alright, here we go! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Price: Our box was $34 for one small “durable" dog box at a monthly rate. You can save $1.01 by not specifying that you want durable toys, and rates increase for larger dogs.
What We Got:
West Paw Hurley Dog Toy: $9.95 at Chewy
PetSafe Ribinator Size Small: $7.99 at Petco
Brew-Yahs Sample Package: This sample doesn’t say its weight, but looks like it’s about 2 oz. and a full-size 6 oz. package is $12.99 on Amazon, so roughly $4.33 value
Healthy Dogma Peanut Butter Blueberry Recipe Mini 4.5 oz.: A 6.2 oz. container of these treats is $5.95 on Chewy so roughly $4.32 value
Poochperks Beef Stew: Similar product for $5.98 at Petco
Value: By my rough calculation with some comp items thrown in, this box is worth $32.57, but honestly, it feels like I could have bought all of this at Chewy for $20. The packaging on all the treats made them feel pretty cheap and just the cost of the two toys only gets you to $17.94.
Health: Treats seemed to be made with whole foods and didn’t contain any of my own red-flag ingredients. All three said they were made in the U.S.A. And both Dave and Lizzie were a fan of all three kinds of treats. I appreciated that none of them were super hard biscuits, which Dave doesn’t like.
Design: Who doesn’t love a pub theme for St. Patrick’s Day? That said, our box didn’t look like the Instagrammable ones I saw online and the only things that seemed to go with the theme were the Brew-Yahs and the Beef Stew treats. The insert had a list of toys and treats that were included in this month’s boxes, but both toys we received weren’t on the list? There’s some fine print there that says that it’s subject to availability, but honestly, it just all made me feel like I wasn’t getting my money’s worth.
Customer Experience: The worst. Thought I had bought a single box, and then received an order confirmation email saying that my renewal was confirmed. I replied and asked to cancel my subscription saying I thought I had only purchased one box, not a subscription. Customer service confirmed my subscription was cancelled. Then four days later I received a shipping confirmation and was told that my subscription had not been cancelled in time, so I was still being charged for that month. The lack of transparency was super frustrating and when I complained I got a very unsympathetic email back.
Summary: Really felt like the Pooch Perks Box was a waste of money. Plus, the very frustrating customer service experience really pushed me over the edge on feeling icky about the company itself.
Price: $17.00 for a small dog box, $15 a month for a recurring subscription.
What We Got:
Woofables Frosted Pretzel Biscuit: Similar two-pack at Woofables for $4.99, so $2.50 value
Nandi Ostrich Foot Bone Dog Treats: $11.99 at Chewy
Bow Wow Pizza Dog Toy: Similar one for $13.99 on Amazon
Pet Treater Branded Pizza Bandana: Similar one for $9.99 on Amazon
Sample Brutus Bone Broth: $9.99 for a 5-pack on Amazon, so roughly $2.00 value
Value: Really impressive bark for your buck here. By my calculations, the value of everything is about $40.47.
Health: I was a little suspicious of Nandi since I usually look for dog treats made in the U.S., but their website does claim a dedication to sustainability and natural ingredients while sourcing uniquely African sources of protein. That said, the idea of our dogs eating a legit ostrich foot on the living room floor makes me a little queasy, but maybe that’s just me? The Brutus Bone Broth says it’s made in the U.S.A with human-grade ingredients. Woofables also use whole ingredients and are made in the U.S., though I’m never thrilled that there’s sugar in the frosting on their treats.
Design: Both the pizza bandana and the pizza toy feel pretty cheap to me and aren’t especially easy on the eyes. And Dave destroyed the toy in minutes. But I don’t mind too much since I feel like I very much got my money’s worth with this box.
Customer Experience: I didn’t have any kind of hassle with Pet Treater on canceling since they allow you to order a single box (praise hands emoji!) and don’t force you to opt into a subscription.
Summary: I thought the Pet Treater box was a fun box for a pretty doable monthly price. Didn’t feel especially high-end, but for the price, I was happy with what I got.
Price: $13.99 for first box, renews at $19.99 on Amazon. Note that full-size boxes are $35 a month.
What We Got:
Grass-fed Bully Stick: $14.99 for six similar on Chewy, so roughly $2.50 value
Cycle Dog Fuzzies White Paw: $10.00 for similar from the same brand
Shameless Pets Berry Clean Dental Sticks: $8.99 for similar from the same brand
Value: All dollar values of items are based on very similar items, but I’m not thrilled with the value here. The similar items come to about 21.49, which would be good value for the intro price of $13.99, but I wouldn’t be excited to get just these three items for $19.99.
Health: I appreciate that the bully sticks are from grassfed beef, but it does look like they’re sourced from South America, which is a bit of a concern for me. I like that the dental sticks are made in the U.S.A. with whole ingredients. It’s also really nice to get dental chews instead of just normal treats in one of these boxes—definitely makes me feel like I’m doing something good for our dogs.
Design: I think the White Paw toy is cute and I’m a fan of the durability of Cycle Dog toys.
Customer Experience: The advertising on this box felt really deceptive to me since it seems like the Amazon page showed photos of the full-size box, not this “Dog Day” box. I didn’t read closely and didn’t realize I’d signed up for a three-item box instead of the five-item box that was praised by the New York Times.
Summary: I was unimpressed by the PupJoy Dog Day Box. The little envelope I received in the mail was so different than the pictures of what I thought I was getting. I definitely wouldn’t have been happy getting just these three small items for $19.99.
Price: $43.00 for a month-to-month small dog subscription (what we got) and up to $49.00 for an XL dog
What We Got:
Le Petit Treat Beef Bourguignon Treats: $5.99 on Pet Treater
FouFit Plush Unicorn Dog Toy: $17.74 at Chewy
Hunter Pet Leash: $26.99 at Hunter
DermAllay Oatmeal Spray Conditioner: $9.99 at Walmart
Lulubelle’s by Huxley & Kent Sock Monkey Toy: $9.99 for similar on Amazon),
Earth Rated Poop Bags: $3.99 on Chewy
Pet Lit Collar Light: $4.99 at Mud Bay
Value: By my calculations, the box was worth $79.68, so definitely got our money’s worth here.
Health: Personally, when I put grooming products on our dogs, I don’t like to use ones that list “fragrance” as an ingredient since that’s a way that many cosmetic companies can get away with not specifying dangerous ingredients. So, I wasn’t thrilled that the Derm Allay listed fragrance as one. Additionally, the Le Petit Treats said they were made with human-grade foods, but they didn’t say that they were made in the U.S. anywhere on the bag and the website listed just took me to a 404 page, which felt pretty sketch to me.
Design: No obnoxious colors and the toys felt high-quality. I really loved the unicorn. That said, the style of the sock monkey made me uncomfortable and was not something I’d want around my house.
Customer Experience: I really liked that they let you customize your box with an optional quiz where you can share whether your pet experiences anxiety, has allergies, or is a super chewer. That said, my first email asking to cancel my subscription was ignored and I was charged for the next month’s box. When I complained, they apologized and refunded me.
Summary: I liked the product variety and value of the Vet Pet Box, but I was generally disappointed by the quality of the treats and grooming spray given that they're supposed to be highly curated by vets. Our box had a hand-written note in it from a “Dr. Steph,” but, there’s very little info online about who the vets are or their involvement in the process. I kept thinking of Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle saying, “Her first name could be doctor!”
Price: $35 for a one-month subscription regardless of dog size
What We Got:
Swedish Moosage Toy: $9.99 for similar toy on Chewy
The Wet Dog Mud Mask Toy: $9.73 for a similar hiding toy on Chewy)
Quacky Jerky Bars: $12.10 for similar treats on Chewy
Baa Baa Biscuits: $3.98 for similar treats on Chewy
Doggy Detox Toy: $10 at Bark Shop
Snack Sticks with Bacon: $5.99 for similar on Chewy
Value: Since Bark makes their own toys and treats, looking at similar products from other companies is really the only way to assess the value of a lot of the items in the box. The similar items we found came to $51.79, so feels like great value.
Health: All treats were made in the U.S. and didn’t have any red-flag ingredients.
Design: I loved how cute the insert was for this box and how creatively-themed the whole thing was. Personally, I gravitate toward dog toys that are visually simple so I don’t usually shop at Bark. The juice toy was quickly gutted by our pups, but the cow and the mud mask toy lasted really well and kept our dogs interested with their crinkle sound after the squeakers were gone.
Customer Experience: The whole BarkBox experience from the initial online quiz to the cute box insert to the email communications were really fun and well-done. I also appreciated that I could cancel online without emailing anyone
Summary: Everything about our BarkBox felt high-quality and cohesive within the theme. That said, part of what I love about a sub box is discovering new brands and types of products. Since BarkBox makes so much of their stuff in house, it doesn't feel quite as curated or interesting to me as some other boxes. I think it would be good if you just wanted to know that your dog's treats and toys would be replenished with minimal effort.
Price: $39.00
What We Got:
Bocce’s Bakery Shamrock Cookies: $6.50 at Macy’s
Scrubby Rinse-Free Shampoo Mittens: $7.95 at Chewy
Soda Pup Treat-Dispensing Toy Can: $12.99 at Chewy
Reversible Shamrock and Rainbow Bandana: Similar for $11.00 on Etsy
Woofables Shamrock Cookie: $4.99 for two at Woofables, so basically 2.50 each
Cycle Dog Ball: $12.00 at REI
Value: Very happy with the value here. My calculations put the value of the box at $55.43. Even without the bandana, the rest of the box comes to $41.93, and the bandana looks to be worth around $11.
Health: Both Bocce’s dog treats and Woofables are brands that I trust for healthy dog treats that use whole ingredients and are made in the U.S.A. I also appreciate that Scrubby is fragrance-free and made with hypoallergenic ingredients.
Design: I’m really happy about no ugly dog toys here! And I appreciate that there are two types of toys—one kong-type treat-dispensing toy and one squeaky ball.
Customer Experience: The inserted card also had a note saying that you could cancel or skip a month on their site, which is nice. I realized I had forgotten to cancel my subscription when I got a confirmation that the next month’s box was confirmed, but when I emailed the very pleasant customer service team, they still let me cancel my subscription. Honestly, really appreciated that. The inserted card also had a note saying that you could cancel or skip a month on their site.
Summary: The Dapper Dog Box definitely had that x-factor I was looking for—I liked every item in the box, but I wouldn’t necessarily have known to go out and buy them myself. It felt creatively curated in the best way. Plus, the packaging is so cute.
Price: $39 a month for a small dog box
What Was In Our Box:
Chase ‘N Chomp Pupsicle Toy: $9.97 at KMart
The Pet Gourmet Pork and Apple Chew: $1.99 on PupBox
GoDog Sardine Can Interactive Plush Toy: $11.99 for similar on Amazon
GoDog Penguin Plush Toy Small: $9.94 for similar at Chewy
The Pet Gourmet Liver Treats: $4.99 at The Pet Gourmet
Value: Although some of the items in this box weren’t available online, the total value of the box using comparable items came to $38.88, so felt just barely like it was hitting the listed price.
Health: Both treats are made in the U.S. and grain-free. I love that the liver treats don’t contain anything other than lamb liver—even if thinking too much about that makes me a little queasy. 🤢
Design: I was trying to figure out if there was a theme here that I was missing because penguins + sardines seems like it’s heading somewhere? But I don’t think there was? LMK in the comments if I’m missing some obvious connection! Beyond that, both plush toys felt pretty high-quality and didn’t get gutted right away by our dogs, so that was a win. I also liked the pupsicle toy since our pups don’t have anything like that.
Customer Experience: They have a really well-done little quiz to complete to get your box. I canceled my subscription via email and it was pretty easy.
Summary: I liked everything in the PupBox—and Dave was a big fan of the penguin toy!—but I wasn’t especially dazzled by it. The value felt a little iffy to me.
Price: $45 a month for monthly subscription regardless of dog size
What Was In Our Box:
Bark Pork Cut Treats: $5.98 at Lowes
Two Thinkers Real Sticks: $1.59 each at The Pet Pantry, so $3.18 for two
Dog Cog: $14.00 at Bark
Megabites Duck Data Treats: Similar for $5.99 at Chewy
Chonk Dog Toy: Similar for $14.00 at Bark
Value: Some of the items weren’t available online, but with comparable items subbed in, the value only came to $43.15. The box size is always the same regardless of your dog’s size, which can be nice, but it backfired here with ordering a small dog box because it made it seem like a pretty small box of stuff for $45.
Design: Liked the theme and the toys were definitely durable. I think because they were so small it felt like there wasn’t a lot to this box.
Health: Treats were made in the U.S. and didn’t have any suspicious ingredients.
Customer Experience: I appreciate the Super Chewer Happiness Guarantee that if a toy isn’t tough enough for your dog, they’ll replace it for free, no questions asked. The weirdest part of this is that I ordered my box in March, but the copy in the box insert all referenced Halloween and there’s even a blog post about robots being the October Super Chewer theme. I mean, I love celebrating Halloween early as much as the next person, but in March?
Summary: I felt like I didn't get much for the $45 I spent on the Super Chewer BarkBox, even if the two toys were as durable as promised. Mostly I was just weirded out by feeling like I'd been sent a Halloween box in March? Happy early Halloween, y'all!
Price: $29.95 for a Small Dog Box
What Was In Our Box:
Rope dog toy by Fundacion Mitz: $10.00 for similar at Harry Barker)
Cash & Coop Pot of Gold Dog Toy: $9.98 for similar at Chewy
RescueMade Low Odor Bully Sticks: $13.85 for similar at Amazon
Loving Pets Sausage Bites: $8.99 on Amazon
Shamrock Dog Treat: $4.99 for similar two-pack at Woofables, so $2.50 for one
Value: Each box claims to have a $40 value and feed 142 shelter animals, so there’s already great value there. But in addition to that, everything in the box felt extremely high quality. I wasn’t able to find most of the items for sale online, so my calculations were based on similar products—most of which seemed to be lower quality—but even then, the box came to $45.32. Considering this also gives money back to rescue organizations, felt like a great way to spend $29.95.
Design: Both dog toys here felt very high-end and durable. Neither one was hideous, and I liked that there was a subtle St. Patrick’s Day theme. I also loved that the rope toy is created through Fundacion Mitz which gives jobs to women in vulnerable communities.
Health: I appreciated that the Loving Pets treats were made in the U.S. and didn’t have any of my red flag ingredients.
Customer Experience: I canceled my subscription via email, and it was easy. The customer service representative was pleasant and I liked that I got an email warning me that my subscription was renewing before I was out of the cancellation window.
Summary: I was skeptical of this box going in because subscribing on the Greater Good site felt a little jenky, but I was actually really wow-ed by the quality of the items in the box and the value. I loved the products, and loved even more knowing that my purchase was feeding 142 shelter animals.
And our pick for the best Dog subscription box is…
Okay, I lied. I’m going to call it a tie and tell you my two favorites:
The Dapper Dog Box was full of the kind of dog products that I would actually go out and buy—design-y toys, a cute bandana, and themed treats. It really had that “party favor bag” surprise and delight feeling that I was looking for. Of all the boxes we tried, I’d be the most excited to get one of their boxes each month. Plus, I loved that it introduced me to new products I didn’t know about (hello, shampoo mitt!) and it had by far the cutest packaging.
But it’s a tie because I was really impressed by the value of The Rescue Box. I love that it gives back, and everything in it felt really high-quality and thoughtfully-curated. I loved seeing a Fair Trade toy in the box, too. It felt good to buy an indulgent treat for our pups that also helped pups in need.
