Discovering new toys and treats for your canine companion can be a delightful experience, especially when you’re looking for durable options for enthusiastic chewers or unique goodies tailored to your dog’s preferences. Dog subscription boxes offer a curated selection designed to keep your pup entertained and well-provided for. These boxes can cater to various needs, from tiny breeds to powerful chewers, ensuring there’s something for every dog.
To help you navigate the world of dog subscription boxes, we’ve consulted with a professional dog trainer and a veterinarian to understand what makes a good toy and treat. Our research involved exploring popular subscription services, and we tested seven of them with Lyla, a 50-pound pit mix known for her ability to destroy toys quickly.
Our top recommendation is PupJoy, which stood out for the exceptional quality of its toys among all the boxes tested. PupJoy provides both customizable and pre-selected boxes filled with treats and toys that proved robust enough for even the most vigorous chewers.
Top Dog Subscription Boxes
- Best Overall: PupJoy
- Best Themed: BarkBox
- Best Value: PupBox
- Best for a Good Cause: Rescue Box
- Best for Chewers: Bullymake
- Best for Food Sensitivities: Pooch Perks
Best Overall: PupJoy
PupJoy offers a fantastic selection of high-quality toys and treats, making it the premier choice for both light and heavy chewers. With options for customization and pre-built boxes, PupJoy ensures your dog’s needs and preferences are met.
Pros:
- Durable toys designed to last.
- Wide variety of items available.
- Offers both customizable and pre-built box options.
- Free shipping included.
Cons:
- Does not offer themed boxes.
- Nutritional information is not provided for all treats, such as bully sticks.
PupJoy earned the top spot due to its impressive range of high-quality plush, chew toys, and delicious treats. You can select from pre-designed boxes or customize your own for small, medium, and large dogs. For those with power chewers, PupJoy also has pre-built boxes specifically designed for them. The boxes typically contain a variety of toys, including stuffed toys, tug toys, balls, and puzzle toys.
The pre-built box we received contained a large duck tug toy and a squeaky bouncy ball. Lyla thoroughly enjoyed playing with these toys, and I was impressed by how well they held up against her persistent chewing and tugging. The treats were also a big hit with Lyla, who eagerly devoured each one.
PupJoy boxes include high-quality toys and treats sourced from a variety of popular brands.
While the packaged treats had clear nutrition labels, the bully sticks lacked this important information. The addition of themed boxes for seasons and holidays would be a welcome enhancement to PupJoy’s already excellent offerings.
Best Themed: BarkBox
BarkBox is renowned for its creative and engaging themes, bringing excitement to every delivery with pop culture and seasonal inspirations that both you and your dog will love.
Pros:
- Unique and imaginative themes each month.
- Interactive toys that engage dogs.
- High-quality, tasty treats.
- Special seasonal and holiday-themed boxes are available.
Cons:
- Toys may not be durable enough for aggressive chewers.
- Treats might be repetitive across different monthly boxes.
As one of the pioneers in dog subscription boxes, BarkBox has established a strong reputation for its creative toy and treat selections. It’s a suitable choice for most dogs. Each month’s toys are designed around specific themes, drawing inspiration from popular movies, TV shows, holidays, and seasons.
The toys in my BarkBox often had multiple functions, serving as both a tug toy and a puzzle toy, which allowed for extended playtime even with toys that weren’t exceptionally durable. Lyla also thoroughly enjoyed the treats; the oatmeal and cheesy soft-baked biscuits received enthusiastic tail wags every time.
The Maws and Paws Farm theme was a standout, with plush farm animals that perfectly matched the theme and were a hit with Lyla.
BarkBox primarily focuses on toys, and the treats often remain consistent across boxes. Therefore, don’t expect a wide variety of treats. Due to the lack of durability in their standard toys, BarkBox might not be the best option for dogs who are strong chewers. However, they do offer a Super Chewer Box for such dogs.
Best Value: PupBox
PupBox delivers exceptional value with its boxes, which are packed with a variety of durable toys, treats, and useful extras like training guides and accessories.
Pros:
- Offers the best value, especially for 12-month subscriptions.
- Features a diverse selection of toys.
- Boxes are specifically tailored to a dog’s age.
- Includes accessories and training guides.
Cons:
- Treat options may not be as high-quality as other boxes.
While the best dog subscription boxes can sometimes be expensive, PupBox presents a fantastic option for those seeking quality at a more affordable price. Although its boxes are slightly pricier than BarkBox’s, each one contains five to seven items, including toys, treats, and accessories like bandanas or leashes, along with a helpful training guide. PupBox intelligently selects toys based on your dog’s age, providing teething toys for puppies and items like larger tug toys for adult dogs.
The Halloween-themed box I received featured well-designed toys. The ball chew toy was robust, and its squeaker kept Lyla highly engaged. The cloth mummy toy also withstood numerous intense tugging sessions. Complementing the spooky theme, the box included a skeleton-print bandana. PupBox consistently includes a training card, offering valuable tips for strengthening the bond with your dog.
PupBox provides a budget-friendly dog subscription box, with its 12-month plans offering the best overall deal.
The treat selection was satisfactory but not outstanding compared to other subscription boxes. The exclusive Full Moon Munchers treats, unfortunately, were dry and somewhat stale, even though they were sealed in an airtight bag.
Best for a Good Cause: Rescue Box
Choosing Rescue Box allows you to spoil your dog while simultaneously supporting a noble cause. Each box contains unique toys and treats, and a portion of the proceeds helps animals in need.
Pros:
- Good selection of engaging toys.
- Supports animal shelters and rescue organizations.
- Includes free shipping.
Cons:
- Some treats lack detailed nutritional information.
Rescue Box is the ideal choice if you want to treat your dog and contribute to a charitable cause. Available through The Animal Rescue Site by GreaterGood, this nonprofit organization channels a part of its sales to various animal shelters, providing essential food and care for the animals housed there.
Lyla and I were delighted with the toys in this box. We received two durable stuffed toys – a moose and a soda plush toy – which remarkably withstood her vigorous play style. The toys had minimal stuffing, making cleanup significantly easier once she inevitably tore them apart.
Rescue Box combines a variety of tug toys and meaty snacks while directly supporting shelter animals.
It would be beneficial to have nutritional information included with all the treats. While I felt comfortable giving them to Lyla, other pet owners might prefer more detailed ingredient and nutritional data.
Best for Chewers: Bullymake
For dogs with a penchant for destruction, Bullymake offers the ultimate solution with its incredibly sturdy toys designed to withstand even the toughest chewers.
Pros:
- Exceptionally durable toys for aggressive chewers.
- Features engaging and cute themes.
- Includes tasty treats.
Cons:
- Higher price point compared to other boxes.
- Some toys might be excessively hard.
- Shipping costs are additional.
Bullymake is unequivocally the top dog subscription box for aggressive chewers. Each box is thoughtfully curated with a mix of tug toys, treat-dispensing toys, and chew toys crafted from robust materials such as ballistic nylon, nylon, rubber, and rope. Alongside exclusive Bullymake treats, you might occasionally find treats from other popular brands.
I was thoroughly impressed by the versatility and durability of the toys. My dog, a pit mix with a powerful jaw and a determination to destroy any toy, couldn’t make a dent in any of the Bullymake toys. The box contained chew, tug, and puzzle toys, offering a wonderfully varied play experience. The items were themed around an adorable Halloween concept, which added an extra layer of fun to unboxing.
Super chewers will find this box a perfect match, filled with extra-tough toys designed to resist even the strongest jaws.
Potential subscribers should be aware that Bullymake is priced higher than many other dog toy subscription services. Furthermore, some boxes may include hard nylon toys. Veterinarians generally advise against toys that cannot be indented with a fingernail, as they pose a risk of dental damage. If you are considering giving your dog particularly hard toys, it is crucial to consult with your veterinarian about the potential risks of tooth damage. For safer alternatives, consider exploring the best dog toys for aggressive chewers that have passed the fingernail indentation test.
Best for Food Sensitivities: Pooch Perks
Pooch Perks offers a highly customizable experience, allowing you to tailor not only the toys based on your dog’s size and chew strength but also to request treats that accommodate specific food sensitivities and allergies.
Pros:
- Provides good value for the items included.
- Offers a wide variety of treat flavors and types.
Cons:
- Can be pricey.
- Plush toys may not withstand aggressive chewing.
For dog owners whose pups have food sensitivities or allergies, finding a suitable subscription box can be challenging, as many services lack this level of personalization. Pooch Perks addresses this need by offering an impressive array of customization options. You can choose between durable or plush toys and request treats with or without specific ingredients. The boxes are designed to fit your dog’s size, and there are various prepaid subscription plans available.
Lyla and I were immediately impressed with the treats included in her box. Pooch Perks excels at sourcing a diverse range of dog treats, and Lyla particularly enjoyed the beef jerky chews, biscuits, and the specialty chicken jerky chew.
Pooch Perks carefully selects the finest treats for dogs managing food sensitivities and allergies.
I tested the plush toy box, and while Lyla enjoyed them, they weren’t the most durable plush toys I’ve encountered. One of the toys showed signs of wear, with a few threads breaking off after a light scratch with a dinner fork. However, Pooch Perks does offer a durable toy box option for more aggressive pups, which might be a better fit for dogs like Lyla.
What to Consider When Choosing Dog Subscription Boxes
When selecting a dog subscription box, several factors are important. Most boxes include both toys and treats, but some are specifically designed for different dog sizes. Experts recommend considering the following:
Treats: Treats should constitute no more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet, according to Dr. Mondrian Contreras, a veterinarian and owner of Carol Stream Animal Hospital. It’s advisable to introduce new treats gradually to avoid adverse reactions. Opting for treats with clearly labeled ingredients and nutritional information is also recommended, ensuring you know precisely what your dog is consuming.
Toys: According to Erin Askeland, a certified professional dog trainer, the best dog toys vary by individual dog, but generally, sturdier toys are preferable. She also advises choosing toys without small, detachable parts like buttons or eyes that can be easily swallowed. Additionally, toys that are too hard to indent with a fingernail should be avoided, as they can potentially damage a dog’s teeth. Durable rubber is a good material for super chewers, but smaller dogs might struggle with these heavy-duty toys. The best subscription box services offer options suitable for dogs of all sizes and chew strengths.
Individual Preferences: The ideal subscription box is one that aligns with your pup’s specific needs and preferences. Selecting toys can be particularly challenging. It’s often best to start with a one-time box purchase to gauge your dog’s reaction before committing to a recurring subscription. Askeland notes that a bit of trial and error is sometimes necessary.
How We Tested Dog Subscription Boxes
Our testing process involved evaluating seven popular subscription boxes that included both toys and treats. While some brands provided multiple boxes, we focused our assessment on one box per service for this guide.
Toy Quality and Durability: Before giving the toys to Lyla, my 50-pound super chewer, I tested their durability by simulating rough play. I also timed how long it took Lyla to destroy them. Boxes with toys that lasted several days scored highly. Toys made from durable materials like nylon mesh were also favored over those made from polyester.
Toy Safety: Veterinarians caution against toys that are exceptionally hard or contain small plastic parts that could pose a choking hazard. We awarded higher points to toys that could be indented with a fingernail and those filled with soft stuffing rather than crinkly materials. Any instances where toys did not meet these safety standards are noted in this guide.
Treat Quality and Safety: While we considered Lyla’s preferences, we placed greater emphasis on treats with clearly displayed nutritional information. Treats with transparent ingredient and nutritional details scored well, whereas those lacking such information received lower scores.
Variety: The recommended boxes offer something for every dog. Boxes featuring a diverse range of toys scored well. We also assessed the variety of treats, though most boxes contained a similar mix of biscuits and small meaty bites, making this factor less critical in our evaluation.
Price: We compared the contents of each box against similar products from major pet retailers. We calculated the per-box cost for single, six-month, and twelve-month subscription plans and compared these to the monthly expense of purchasing toys and treats individually. The longevity of the toys and treats was also factored in. Boxes that did not offer superior value were scored lower.
Packaging: We deducted points for excessive packaging, such as individually wrapped items, oversized plastic tags, and unnecessary packing materials like tissue paper.
Giving Back and Sustainability: Bonus points were awarded to boxes with verifiable connections to animal shelters or sustainability initiatives.
Theme: For themed boxes, we evaluated the cohesiveness of the theme across all toys and treats.
Dog Subscription Box FAQs
Are Dog Subscription Boxes Worth It?
The value of dog subscription boxes depends on your dog’s preferences. A well-chosen box can be a perfect fit, but since many are pre-built, it might be challenging to get exactly what your dog likes. If you prefer to select toys and treats yourself, you might find items your dog loves more consistently than by chance. However, the subscription boxes we tested are all solid choices, and my dog genuinely enjoyed the treats and toys from each. For us, these boxes offered considerable value.
Which Dog Subscription Is the Best?
Our top picks cater to various preferences, but the best boxes feature interactive, safe toys that encourage playtime. These can range from treat-dispensing puzzles and durable tug toys to simple plushies, provided they are free from small, swallowable pieces and overly hard plastic. Askeland emphasizes the importance of playtime with your dog. Even if a toy isn’t interactive, dedicating time each day for play is beneficial for your dog’s mental stimulation and provides a welcome break for you as well. “Even if you can do 5 to 10 minutes of play a day with you actually physically playing with them, that’s just a great thing to do for them, for their brains, and a nice break for you, too,” she says.
Is There a Dog Subscription Box for Multiple Dogs?
If you have multiple dogs in your household, it’s generally recommended to purchase separate boxes to prevent competition over toys and treats. However, if your dogs are content to share their belongings, one box might suffice.
The author posing in front of a streamSophia Carlisle
Editorial Fellow
Sophia Carlisle was a former Editorial Fellow on the Insider Reviews team, where she covered products for dogs and cats. Prior to working at Business Insider, she interned at States Newsroom in Alaska and wrote about environmental, health, and social services. She has also interned in book publishing and was the opinions editor for the student newspaper at the University of Arizona, where she graduated with a degree in History. In her free time, you can find Sophia reading or playing with her dog.
