BarkBox Review April 2016

Greetings from Meadow and her Kitties!

Meadow got her first BarkBox today! The theme for April is Take Me Out to the Ballgame. I've been excited for days. I definitely had as much fun as Meadow did opening the surprise. This is our first subscription box, and not coincidentally, our first review.

Meadow has a one-year subscription to the Big & Bold Box (50+ pound) BarkBox with the add-on premium monthly toy. She weighs in at around 55 pounds, and is a medium-to-heavy chewer. She destroys some stuffies and treats others like babies. A one month subscription - or basically - a single box - costs $29.00. You can also sign up for a six-month ($24/box), or twelve-month subscription ($20/box). Having studied the options available for dog subscription boxes, we dove right in with a 12-month subscription for Meadow. You can also add an extra premium toy for $9 a month. If there are toys and treats that your dog really loves, you can order more through the BarkShop.

Before we show off what Meadow got, some happy, dancing puppy spam:

 

And Meadow checking out the contents of the box:

Here's what she got -

First, the toys:

Buns of Anarchy by P.L.A.Y. ($18) - This toy is a BarkShop exclusive. This was the first toy Meadow grabbed out of the box as soon as it was opened. She occasionally gets cheeseburgers as a special treat, so having a cheeseburger toy is perfect. This toy is so cute, and appears to be quite high quality. Meadow has not even damaged it yet. She definitely was blown away when I pulled the Velcro bun off the top. I suspect that some dogs that like to rip apart their toys might get some extra thrill by pulling apart the Velcro pieces without ruining the toy. It also has a squeaker, so of course it's a hit. Meadow has a couple "puzzle" toys that she loves, and I think this toy will be mentally stimulating for her, too. The labeling in the box noted the Pooeyville Slugger below as her "premium toy," but I think this is the best toy in the box.

And a couple of our own pictures of the Buns of Anarchy.

And a couple pictures of Meadow modeling the Buns of Anarchy ~

Next up, we had the Yogi Barka Mitt by Loopies ($16) This is also available in the BarkShop.  It's sueded leather, with a squeaker inside. Meadow LOVED this toy! It was hands-down her favorite toy. There was some stuffing inside, and it appears to have a second of layer in fabric inside to make it more durable. She tossed it around, and gave it the death shake, and asked to play tug with it. But, then she found a seam, and started to pull the stuffing out. I pulled the rest of the stuffing out, but the squeaker is sealed in additional material inside. So, now it's flat, but the squeaker still works, and Meadow still loves it.

Now for some action shots ~

 

And this is what the Yogi Barka Mitt looks like now ~

Edited: Within minutes after I finished writing this, Meadow had gotten to the squeaker in the Yogi Barka Mitt. We pulled the squeaker out and gave her back the empty glove. She still seems to like it even sans squeaker. Even though Meadow made it her mission to get the stuffing and squeaker out of this toy, it held up to several hours of play/chewing. Pretty good durability!

And last but not least, we have the Pooeyville Slugger, made by Bark & Co ($10-12) available in the BarkShop. This was listed as her "premium" toy in this box. This toy is available in Medium ($10) and Large ($12). This plush toy is the right shape for carrying around, and squeaking. It has two squeakers - one regular squeaker in the bat-end, and a separate "squeaker" in the handle that sounds like a "honk" when you shake the toy. Meadow went nuts for the honking noise, and unfortunately, in giving her bat the death shake, seems to have broken the "honk" squeaker. Here's a photo of the bat after some playtime:

Now, on to the treats:

First, there was a Thinkers Duck Stick by Plato ($3) available at the BarkShop. These are also available on Amazon in multipacks. After pulling out the Buns of Anarchy, this Duck Stick was the first thing Meadow grabbed out of her BarkBox. It reminds me of a beef jerky stick for people. She wanted to eat it RIGHT. NOW. It smells a bit like jerky mixed with feet, but Meadow gobbled it up! I let her eat little pieces at a time. It's soft enough that I don't think I would give the whole thing to a dog to chew on at once. I'd suggest breaking off, or cutting off smaller pieces. Or, you can do what I did, and hold the end of the stick in the package, open up one end, and let your dog take small bites off the open end of the stick. This treat was definitely a win. We will be ordering mores of these for her. The ingredients are: Duck, brown rice, salt, calcium propionate, zinc propionate, mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative), citric acid, rosemary extract, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2phosphate (a source of vitamin C), ginkgo biloba, guar gum, garlic, and collagen casing. 

Next up, we have a package of Sliders Treats from Bocce's Bakery, 5 oz. ($10), which are available through BarkShop. These are crunchy biscuits, and they are the perfect size for a medium or large dog. Meadow is a puppy (11 mos.), so we go through A LOT of treats rewarding good behavior. She thinks these are delicious! The have only four ingredients: oat flour, beef, cheese & carrots, and they are made in small batches using locally-sourced, natural ingredients. Check out some other treat options at Bocce's Bakery shop, or the variety of Bocce's Bakery treats available at Amazon.

Last, but definitely not least, we have Triple Cheese Baseball Treats by House of Pups, 5.5 oz. ($8). These are currently listed as "sold out" at BarkShop, and I can't seem to find them for sale elsewhere online, but they are distributed by Mountain Country Foods in Oklahoma. The package says "Made in USA." These semi-soft treats shaped like baseballs are a hit! They definitely smell cheesy. We keep them in a drawer in the living room to reward Meadow when she's sitting quietly. She loves them! Her kitties are also very interested in these treats. The ingredients are: ground peas, cheese, vegetable glycerin, tapioca starch, chickpea flour, ground flax seed, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E), salt, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (to preserve freshness), lecithin, and annatto.

I calculate the total value of this box to be approximately $67 which definitely exceeds the cost of the box. After our first BarkBox, I'm impressed, and can't wait to see the next one! To get a FREE box added to your subscription, use Meadow's BarkBox link, and Meadow will also get a FREE box. OR, to add a free "mystery gift" to your first Barkshop order, use Meadow's BarkShop link.

The box itself is a huge hit with the Meadow's Kitties, including Eddie, who is pictured here.