NEW BarkBox Reviews 2024 – Grocery Box Worth It?

If you’re a dog owner in 2024, you may have heard of the popular subscription box, BarkBox.  It’s a leader in the pet subscription market, and as a Golden Retriever owner (shoutout to Rudy!), we’re always looking for fun, stimulating toys for our pup, Needless to say, I was really excited to review this box.

This month, we received the Grocery themed box, and let me tell you – it was an experience. It was full of delightful toys and treats that our resident dog toy and treat tester Rudy went nuts over! If you’re considering signing up for BarkBox (or are curious to know if it would be a good fit for your dog pal) then stick around because I’m breaking it all down for you, so you can make the best decision for you and your four-legged friend.

What is BarkBox and How does BarkBox work?

BarkBox is a monthly subscription service for dogs (and the humans who love them!).  It comes with new dog toys and natural treats all centered around incredibly unique themes shipped right to your door each month. These themes are impressive too!  They’re over the top, deeply creative, and some will even make you laugh out loud! Because, if you’re getting your dog a box of goodies – you want it to be filled with cool stuff that will bring everyone joy, right?

BarkBox comes with 2 new plush toys and 2 yummy treats every month in their classic box.

Pet owners take a short survey when signing up so they can take advantage of their customization options to avoid any allergy or dietary restrictions.  Boxes are also curated around your dog’s size – so it doesn’t matter if you have a pack of large dogs or a small dog, they’ll make sure the themed toys and quality treats are just right for your pup.

The toys they feature are often plushy and have a variety of squeaky toys, multi-part toys, or treat traps for extra mental stimulation and play. If you’ve got a dog who’s a heavy chewer and soft toys last 2.2 seconds in your house – you might be better off checking out their Super Chewer Box which features tough toys meant for aggressive chewers.

The treats they feature are made with natural ingredients and come in many varieties. From crunchy training treats, meatless fruit options, or jerky like chew sticks, they’re always mixing it up.

Unboxing the 2024 Grocery Box

The Grocery Box was a fabulous first BarkBox for both of us! Opening it up was just as fun for me as it was for my pup.  It’s almost like he knew it was for him (maybe he could smell the treats?) because when I set the box down, he immediately claimed it.

Inside was a really cool box insert that looked like a grocery store.  The insert continued down into the box as I opened it.  It was very creative and definitely took the theme to a new level!

Here’s a closer look at what we received…

This box had extra toys and extra treats because it was a double-stuffed box. This is a special offer that BarkBox offers for new customers who join on a 6-month or 12-month subscription. If you want to get your first box double stuffed with twice the toys and twice the treats like this, you can claim yours here.

Starting with the new toys, here’s what was in our Grocery box:

Spiky Pineyapple – This tug and play toy was a great addition to the toy box. With a spiky squeaker ball inside, the pineapple bounces if tossed, but is a fun tug option too.  There’s crinkle material inside the stems so it makes a satisfying crunch whenever it’s handled. Rudy goes bananas over crinkle and looooves a good game of tug!

Avocado – This is what bark box refers to as a treat trap toy. It has a nice soft minky material on the outside, lots of crinkle crunch on the inside, and when it’s parted open, there’s room in the pit of the avocado for treats or kibble.  Stuff it with a few treats and close it up for extra mental stimulation for your pup.  It’s pretty easy to open for my big guy, but he still loves anytime he finds a food reward.

Barkitos – This one made me laugh – it’s so silly.  I don’t know who was more excited over this one – me or Rudy!  Besides the hilarious play on the chip brand, it’s a multi-part toy that came in a felt bag with a velcro closure. Inside the bag are two squeaker “chips.”  Rudy went absolutely bananas over this one, it was by far his favorite toy. I mean, what dog can resist a squeak?!

None of these options would make a very long lasting chew toy if your dog is a serious toy shredder, but they are definitely good quality, durable toys that can withstand normal wear and tear.

I loved the inventive toys (so did Rudy!) – they were definitely my favorite part of this subscription box.

We also received 3 bags of treats in our first box.  The BarkBox treats are made with high-quality ingredients and have some cute on-theme names too.

Fruity Booty – we got one bag of this which is a soft baked treat with mixed berries. It’s a meat free, vegetarian option made with blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry.  It’s almost like a mix between a fruit leather and cereal bar.  It’s made with wholesome grains like whole wheat and barley. This was a 4 oz bag and they were made in the USA.

Fuddy Nuttys – we got one bag of this crunchy treat that’s made with whole wheat, and barley, and flavored with natural peanut butter and real honey. These were medium sized cereal rounds which are perfect for treat training or to leave out in an easy to grab treat bowl.  This bag was 4 ounces and they were made in the USA as well.

Frosted Socks – I thought this sample bag of treats was hilarious! Rudy is a chronic sock eater so I loved this play on our favorite childhood cereal. These treats looked like they were soft baked, but they had a little crunch to them – almost like a mini frosted cookie. They’re made with real fruit and yogurt and contain no corn, soy, or artificial preservatives. BarkBox knows its audience because the only thing dogs love more than socks are FROSTED socks, right Rudy?  This was a 1 oz sample size.

Quality and Variety of Products

Overall, I’m impressed with the quality of the toys and the treats that we received in the March Grocery BarkBox and I can’t wait to see what’s coming in the next boxes!

The BarkBox team does an amazing job of crafting really creative themes that are fun for everyone. The theme flows through each of the imaginative toys and treats – I wish I could be a fly on the wall during their creative brainstorming sessions!

They do a great job offering a variety of toys that stimulate and create diverse play opportunities. From tugging, squeaking, crinkling, bouncing, treat trapping, and beyond – I love that each toy is an experience of its own.

The bags of treats included a nice variety as well – and they’re definitely pup approved.

Barkbox Subscription Plans and Pricing

There are several different subscription options available at BarkBox.  Subscriptions start at $20 per month, plus $4.99 shipping in the US.  You can elect to sign up for a month-to-month subscription, a 6-month or 12-month subscription. The longer term you choose, the lower the monthly price.

Subscriptions renew every month for the term of the subscription. Month-to-month subscriptions can be canceled at any time if you just want to try it for a couple months, but when you sign up for a 6 or 12-month subscription it’s important to know that you can’t cancel during the term you commit to.

I actually really like when subscription box companies offer commitment terms like this because it makes the monthly payments quite affordable, rather than requiring the full cost of an annual plan up front.

For $20-$35 per month, this dog subscription box is a great value!

Pros and Cons of Barkbox

So how do you know if BarkBox is right for you and your pup?  Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Pros of BarkBox:

• It’s a seriously fun box to receive for both dogs and dog parents – is there anything better then seeing your dog get excited about something?! Obviously not.
• The variety of toys that they include each month keeps things interesting. You don’t have to worry about shopping for new toys or end up with a toy box full of the same type of thing.
• The treats are made with natural ingredients so you know that you’re giving your dog good for them options.  We’re very careful about what we give our dog for food, the same should be true of the treats we give them. With BarkBox you can trust that they’re getting high-quality ingredients without all the junk.
• The subscription plans are flexible and affordable for every budget.
• Shipping is super fast!  Our BarkBox was delivered within just a few days of the order being placed.  After the first box, subscriptions are delivered monthly.
• The themes are SO good!  Seriously – it’s worth trying it for a month just to experience it.  I mean, is there anything funnier than your dog walking around with a bag of Barkitos?
• Monthly deliveries are really convenient. I love that I don’t have to go to the store or spend a ton of time searching online for new toys.

Cons of BarkBox:

• Shipping isn’t free – we’re so spoiled with free shipping, but BarkBox keeps it affordable at least.
• Toys aren’t totally indestructible.  Of course they can’t be – but if your dog happens to shred one to pieces, BarkBox has every detail covered with a cute reminder to throw it away (“Your Dog Won!”). And if you have a toy shredder in the pack – there’s always the Super Chewer box which is made with more indestructible toys for aggressive chewers.
• If you don’t love having a lot of toys laying around, and your pup doesn’t wear through them, you might need to get a bigger toy box or have a plan to pass them along. With a 12-month subscription, you’ll end up with at least 24 toys!

Is the Barkbox 2024 Grocery Box Worth It?

Overall, I think it’s a very good value for the price. If you go to the pet store and buy 2 durable toys and 2 bags of treats made with high-quality ingredients – you’ll easily spend over $20, not to mention the gas to get there and the mental load in picking it all out! I’m tired just thinking about it.

It also just brings pure joy every month – seeing your pup get excited, and exploring the theme – it’s a special little bonding experience each time.  Who doesn’t want those priceless memories every month?

Who is BarkBox For?

Simply put, BarkBox is perfect for dogs who like toys and treats, and their humans who appreciate high-quality ingredients, durable toys, and the convenience of monthly deliveries. Bonus points if you have a sense of humor and like to laugh at the ridiculous toys that your pet will be playing with for months!

Who is BarkBox Not For?

If your dog is an aggressive chewer or toy shredder – BarkBox is probably not the right fit for you.  BUT, they make another box called Super Chewer which is perfect for dogs who are!

How to Subscribe to Barkbox

Signing up for BarkBox is really easy, you’ll fill out a survey about your dog and create an account. From there, you can pick between the various subscription plans. They have month-to-month subscriptions, a 6-month plan, or a 12-month annual plan. The longer term you choose, the lower the monthly price.  Knowing that the value is worth the price, I’d recommend opting for the longer term plans to save money and for an even greater value.

Do You Have a BarkBox Coupon?

I’m so glad you asked! BarkBox has a fantastic promotion running where you can get a FREE Ancestry Dog DNA Kit with your first box which is a $99 value!  It’s a great way to find out the genetic makeup of your pup if they’re a rescue or mixed breed.  You can claim this special offer here.

If you’re not into the DNA Kit, you can get your first box double stuffed instead – which means twice the toys and twice the treats for free!  If that’s more your jam, you can claim your double stuffed box here.

BarkBox Final Thoughts

Overall, Barkbox was really fun for both my dog Rudy and me to receive. I giggle every time I walk past the silly toys that he’s playing with – and can’t wait for our next box to arrive! The monthly payments are affordable and the value is definitely there for the price.

If you’ve got a good boy or a good girl that you’re buying toys and treats for anyway, give it a try!

Do you have questions about BarkBox or thoughts to add?  Leave them below – I’d love to hear from you!

-Jessica, AYOB