First-time dog parents Ashley and Ryan Bremberg wanted to spoil the two dogs they adopted so the Boston area couple signed up for a BarkBox dog box subscription.
“I liked that it gave us ideas of what to get them,” Ashley says. “Their marketing made me want to get the box.”
Whole Dog Journal found that the Brembergs are among the estimated millions of people who have signed up to receive a dog subscription box of toys and treats delivered to their door.
How Popular are Dog Subscription Boxes?
Subscription-based purchases are on the rise among pet owners, with more than half buying online—a 33% increase over the past six years. Gen Z-ers and millennials are especially likely to enroll in online subscription services.
“This growth has fueled the popularity of subscription boxes, a favorite way for owners to explore new products that keep pets engaged and entertained,” says Patrick O’Brien, Chief Marketing Officer with the American Pet Products Association.
But how exactly do dog subscription boxes work? How much do they cost? How do you figure out if you’re getting your money’s worth? We break down dog box subscription secrets.
What Makes Dog Box Subscriptions Appealing?
Dog box subscriptions are popular because they combine convenience and the element of surprise. Someone else is doing the shopping for you, and of course, whose dog doesn’t like getting a delivery of new pooch presents?
“Pet parents love getting curated selections without having to shop around,” says Daniel M. McCarthy, an associate professor of marketing at The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. “There’s an emotional component – it feels like giving your dog a monthly gift, which taps into how we increasingly treat pets as family members.”
The dog subscription box model works similarly to meal, wellness, and beauty delivery subscription boxes for people.
“There’s a discovery aspect where you get to try new brands and products you might not have found otherwise,” McCarthy says.
Dog Box Subscription Savings
The secret to saving on many of these dog box subscriptions is signing up for long-term plans. Some companies offer steep discounts for being a regular customer. The more you subscribe, the more you save.
“The way it works is you get a discount for the longer you commit,” says Paul Banker, vice president of marketing for BARK, the company behind BarkBox.
For example, a month-to-month subscription for a BarkBox basic, or what the company calls a classic box, is $30. But a six-month subscription is $27 per month, and a 12-month subscription drops to $24 per month. There’s also a 10% discount for prepaying for the six or 12-month plans.
| Dog Subscription Box | Basic Box Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| BarkBox | $24-$40 a month, depending on subscription type & frequency | ● Two toys ● Two bags of healthy treats ● Offers toys only plan |
| PupJoy | $32.29-$35.99, depending on dog size & subscription frequency | ● One unique toy ● Two premium treats ● Two grass-fed bully sticks |
| PupBox | $29-$39, depending on subscription frequency | ● Five to seven products like toys, treats, accessories & training tips |
| Pet Treater | $15 a month | ● Three to four items featuring toys & treats ● Offers toys only plan |
| Rescue Box | $29.95-$34, depending on subscription frequency | ● Five premium pet products: Toys, treats, & chews. |
| BullyMake | $29-$45 a month, depending on subscription | ● Two to three tough toys ● Three healthy treats ● Offers toys only plan |
BarkBox
Each BarkBox contains two toys, two bags of all-natural treats, and a dog chew, but dog owners can opt to receive more or less of toys or treats in place of the other. While there are no all-treat boxes, subscribers can choose three toys instead of two toys and two bags of treats.
BARK, which started in 2011, is one of the most well-known dog subscription box companies, popular for its themed boxes, such as Howl-O-Ween Party and Barkbuster movie night.
“There’s a new theme every month that never repeats,” Banker says. “We’re always offering completely custom toys that you can’t get anywhere else.”
BARK makes all its toys and treats. Pet parents can customize their dog box delivery by choosing treats that exclude ingredients their dog may be allergic to – or selecting a “super chewer” toy option for active dogs who love to gnaw on their stuff.
PupJoy
Another popular dog subscription box company, PupJoy, which started in 2014, says it opened its doors with the goal of allowing more customization for customers.
PupJoy’s pre-built boxes arrive with one toy, two premium treats, and two grass-fed bully sticks.
The company also makes a “power chewer box” with durable chews and toys and has a build-your-own box preference, which allows you to pick exactly what you want.
“You can select a certain number of items from six sets of categories, things like jerky treats, freeze-dried treats, various types of toys, and then we’ve got a number of add-ons that tend to be pretty popular, like bully sticks,” says Dustin McAdams, founder and CEO of PupJoy.
McAdams says the vast number of the company’s new customers are selecting the build your own box option.
“The feedback we’ve gotten is that people like being able to choose,” McAdams says. “If they’re getting a few too many bags of treats in the pantry or they don’t have enough, they’re able to modify that easily and fix it.”
Other Dog Subscription Boxes
Many dog subscription boxes have similar types of toy and treat combos, but with a few different choices.
PupBox boxes include toys, treats, and accessories like leashes, grooming products, and training guides.
Rescue Box sends toys, treats, and chews, and every box purchased helps feed animals in shelters.
In addition to treats, Pet Treater and BullyMake both have a dog toy subscription box only selection. BullyMake’s website touts that its toys are super tough and also has themed boxes.
How To Find the Best Dog Subscription Box
How do you find the best dog subscription box for you and your pooch?
Typically, the value of what you get in a box is worth more than what you pay. But if you want to do the math, there are a few ways to think about it.
“Compare the box price to what you’d spend buying similar items individually—most boxes offer a 20-40% discount relative to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price on longer-term subscription plans,” McCarthy says. “Consider the time, savings, and convenience factor, especially if you’re someone who regularly buys new toys and treats anyway. Look at the quality of brands included: are these premium products you’d actually want?”
Another important factor: When you sign up for a subscription, estimate what you really need, or you could end up with a stockpile of toys and treats. (Though your dog may not see this as a problem.)
“That ‘accumulation governor’ is a big driver of pauses and cancellations,” McCarthy says. “Cadence control is very helpful. If you see toys and treats piling up, switching to quarterly or using a skip/pause option is the smarter move.”
Toy overload was the main reason the Brembergs canceled their subscription, but now that they know they can pause it, they may re-subscribe.
“Our dogs don’t destroy toys, so we just ended up having so many, we donated some to shelters,” Ashley says. “But maybe I’ll sign up again.”
