Our BarkBox & SuperChewer Box Review

We Need:

• photos of as many of the boxes as possible, including as many of the dogs as possible playing with the different toys.

• review should include some of the information below from the previous blog post

• also needs to include new things since we switched to SuperChewer

Let me start by saying this is NOT a sponsored post, just a dog mom singing the praises of a company she really loves incorporating into her pup's routine.

My relationship with BarkBox started in October of 2021. Tiny had passed away the month before, and I was convinced that Loki needed all of my attention, affection, and disposable income. Turns out that bribery didn't really work on him. Even without Loki, BarkBox keeps coming. I've debate stopping my membership, but I can’t seem to let it go. I think part of me really likes the fact that my current pack of misfits is still carrying on a small piece of what I started with Loki. I also think that I just like having excess toys and treats around the house.

Things I Love About BarkBox:

Customer Service

My relationship with BarkBox has been punctuated with some pretty sad life events, between losing Tiny and then Loki. It also doesn't help that I didn't have a great handle on what it was that Loki really liked in a toy, because Loki didn't really play with too many toys, at least not with the same gusto that Thor and Tiny did.

After Loki and I received our first box or two, BarkBox sent out a survey to see how Loki had liked them. The survey took me through each item and I got to rate them based on things like durability, quality, and how interested Loki was in them. There had been a few items we weren't overly thrilled with only because Loki had decided to go full doggy psycho on them and rip them up (which wasn't usually his thing). BarkBox looked through our survey results and reached out to me about replacing those items with more durable toys immediately and completely free. As soon as I said sure (because who wouldn't) they sent out new items that were tougher and made to stand up to the abuse a big dog can do. They also took it upon themselves to change the settings on Loki's next box so he would get toys more suited to his style of play.

If that weren't enough, the way they handled Loki's passing and changing the subscription settings was absolutely top-notch. I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when I saw pictures of Grimm and Loki with their BarkBox and remembered, it was set to go to Loki. I knew that seeing his name on the package was going to be a trigger for me and I knew I had to handle it ASAP. I went onto the BarkBox site, did a virtual chat with a Bark Pup Companion and told them what had happened. They instantly expressed their condolences and jumped into action for me. They changed everything to Grimm's basic specifications and changed the subscription to his name for me. The woman I spoke with was very kind and got everything handled. I figured that would be the end of the interaction, and I wasn't expecting anything else.

Wrong. The next morning I had an email from Jennifer, a member of the Bark Team, reaching out to express her condolences. She checked in and asked about how I was handling things, but went a step further to ask how Grimm was taking things. She assured me that the changes had been made and let me know that we could continue to update the box to fit his needs at no cost. She provided me with resources for handling my own grief, as well as Grimm's, and reached out again a few days later.

I'm sure it's part of their protocol, but it doesn't matter, because BarkBox made me feel seen, appreciated, and valued in a time when I desperately need that.

We've gone through a lot of changes since then. We've added more pups, discovered food sensitivities, and even switched our subscription to the SuperChewer Box. We've shared a lot of toys and experimented with different levels of durability and materials. Every step of the way, the customer service team at BarkBox has been able to answer questions, offer advice, and provide solutions.

Quality

One of the benefits of my wildly diverse group of misfit pups is that I've seen a variety of chewing and play styles.

Loki was a 110lb German Shepherd, so he could pretty much destroy anything if he put his mind to it. The thing about Loki was, if you made a toy too tough, he didn't have fun with it because he couldn't wreck it or leave it outside to get beat up by the elements. There was always a sweet spot, tough enough to last a bit, but not indestructible, and BarkBox got it right for him.

When Grimm was younger, he was very delicate with his toys, but something in the last couple of months has changed and now, he’s become a 55lb menace. There was a time when I was so proud to say that Grimm still had every BarkBox toy he’d ever received, but now… not so much. He’s the type of take a toy, particularly soft rubber or plush toys, hold it between his front paws, and just gnaw with his back teeth until he’s created a hole or taken out a chunk. Once he’s gotten the toy open, he’s hunting for the squeaker. Once the squeaker has been sufficiently wrecked, he jams his nose into the hole and pulls out every single piece of fluff or filling.

It's because of Grimm's destroyer mentality we upgraded to the Super Chewer Box.

Our box is the standard box, which comes with 2 toys, 2 treats, and 1 chew. Grimm always gets the pork chew and he really likes it, so I usually stuff it into his Kong and keep him busy when I need a break. I'd say Grimm has liked 90% of the treats he's gotten from BarkBox. He's not super interested in the more fruit/veggie forward treat options, or anything that's more like a hard cookie. With a few more trials, I'm very confident we'll have his box absolutely perfect.

We're in the middle of adjusting the box even further to fit the pack's style of play as a whole. Kai is a chewer and likes things that bounce. Reaper likes whatever the other dogs have and plays keep away with it. Yondu likes to rip and tear, especially rope things. Rudy is also like Grimm in the "if it ain't broke, it should be" mentality. We're learning we don't enjoy full, hard nylon toys and have gotten some replacements for items we weren't pleased with, and we're in the process of deciding whether or not to keep the chews coming. The chews are good, but because of Grimm's chicken sensitivity, the options feel a bit limited.

Packaging

Each monthly box is themed, and it starts the moment you open the box. I got some (in my humble opinion) great, authentic pictures of Grimm tearing into his Galapagos Islands themed box back in March, because for this part, pictures are worth a thousand woofs. You'll find those photos on our Instagram page under Reels, along with reviews for a couple of our other boxes, like the Jurassic World themed box.

Price Point

Does the whole pack need a box of toys, treats, and chews delivered every month? No.

Does it make my heart happy to watch him get excited for his package? Yes.

I have puppy mom guilt, I'll admit it. I got Grimm because I was feeling lonely, and I didn't really think about the fact that the week after I got him I'd be back to work and he wouldn't see me for 8 hours. So, because of my guilt and the fact that he was an only pupper at the time, I spoiled him. I keep it going for a lot of reasons, but a big one is that I feel that I have a built-in fresh supply of treats and toys coming each month for a price that's reasonable.

I think BarkBox is a great deal based on my personal spending habits and needs. I can't be trusted inside a pet store, and especially not when I bring any of the pups along. I never leave with just what I came for, and if I leave for less than $100 I've done a good job.

I pay just shy of $38 every month for the pups to get 2 toys, 2 bags of treats, and 1 chew. It's cheaper than going to the pet store, and I know if there's a problem that BarkBox's customer service has my back. Bonus, I don't have to actually leave the house or get out of my sweats.

I don't feel that there's any option out there that's more affordable with such great quality and service, so I foresee BarkBox being part of Grimm's life for a while.

Options

BarkBox has so many options, it's really incredible.

When it comes to toy durability, you can choose Soft Plush (designed for dogs who just like to have toys, but aren't really destructive about it) or Medium Plush (geared towards dogs who enjoy the shredding and destroying and these toys often have another toy hidden inside) for no additional charge. For the Tougher option, you're looking at $9 more a month and includes "nylon & rubber toys with stronger fabrics are all tuff and no fluff". If you choose the Tougher box, you'll also receive an extra chew in your box.

In terms of box assortment there are two options: Standard (2 toys, 2 treats, 1 chew) or Toys Only. Both options are the same cost, and I appreciate that there's a toys only option for pets and pawrents dealing with allergies and/or food sensitivities.

There are also tons of add-ons like accessories, meal plans, separate toys, dental chews, and more. I really love the idea of adding something extra for their birthday month box, and it's great to be able to pick and choose when I want a little something special.

Grimm and I are huge fans of BarkBox and now the SuperChewer Box, and we recommend it whenever we can, because Bark has proven time and time again that they're great dog people doing great things.