BarkBox Review – January 2018

 

Marlee and her January BarkBox

What Is BarkBox?
For those that don’t know what BarkBox is. I have one question, where have you been? I say that in the kindest way possible because BarkBox has been blowing up social media and the internet for some time now. So we will pretend you either don’t have a dog, or you don’t go on the internet.

So what is it you ask? BarkBox is a monthly subscription box for your dog! Every month you dog receives a box in the mail which is themed and includes two toys, two treats and a chew that go along with that months theme. When signing up you will answer a couple questions, such as the size of your dog and how long you want your BarkBox subscription. For example, Marlee is a small dog about 11 pounds so she gets the “small and cute” BarkBox. There are also options for “Just Right” sized dogs 20-50 pounds, and “Big and Bold” dogs 50+ pounds. Regardless of the size of the box you choose for your dog, the price stays the same.

Depending on your subscription length, the price changes. Marlee has the 12 month subscription which is $20 a month, and we signed up this past November and got our first BarkBox for only $5. There are also options for one month and six months.

Knight of the Hound Table BarkBox

Theme
January’s theme was The Knights of the Hound Table. The people at Bark truly get so creative with the themes and don’t miss any of the details. The details card included in?the box explains the months theme, showing some of the toy options, as well as where to order the rest of the collection and how to get quests sent to your phone! On the reverse side of the details card, is a pop out crown for your furry?friend to wear! If your dog is anything like Marlee, they will hate this. But it is cute nonetheless, and they don’t need to wear it for long, in order for you to snap a quick picture.

The paper that holds everything in the box, also has not been over looked. On one side, it shows a cute cartoon of some dogs fighting a mighty dragon, trying to save a princess dog. On the reverse side is a funny, create an epic tale fill in the blank. Allowing you to create a story starring your four legged best friend.

The Tail of Marlee

Toys
In every BarkBox there are two toys included. Unless you’re apart of the extra toy club, which you would need to sign up for when you start your subscription, you unfortunately can’t add it in later.

Marlee and Fur Haired Maiden

Marlee only receives the subscription with two toys a month, but that is enough for her, since we regularly get her toys from various local pet stores.

In this months BarkBox, Marlee received “Fur-Haired Maiden” and “Grimbold the Dragon.” When I first opened Marlee’s BarkBox, she was all over it. This was the third one she has received and this was the first time she was right there with me as I was opening it. Immediately she stuck her head into the box and was trying to grab stuff out of it.

When she saw the “Fur-Haired Maiden” toy, she grabbed it out of the box before I could even get a picture and was gone playing with it. When I took out “Grimbold the Dragon” she sniffed him and took him away but wasn’t as interested as she was in the first toy.Since initially opened Marlee’s BarkBox and taking?out the toys, she has played with both toys consistently. She has also played with all of her toys consistently from her previous BarkBoxes, some so much they have no stuffing left.

Grimbold the DragonOne thing I love about the BarkBox toys, is that the tag attached to the toy gives you more details about it. For example, the tag for “Fur-Haired Maiden” shows that the toy has long hair which the dog can rip, it includes a giggle stick, as well as double the fluff. “Grimbold the Dragon” has crinkle wings and squeakers inside. As pet owners, we know that our pets and dogs especially love to destroy their toys. Marlee loves tearing the fluff out of her toys, and digging to get the ever coveted squeaker. Knowing that the BarkBox toys are made with my pets likes in mind, gives me joy. Also, if your pet destroys their toy, you can contact Bark and get a replacement!

TreatsMarlee and Bixbi Bacon Flavor Pocket Trainers
Every BarkBox comes with two bags of treats and a chew. All of BarkBoxes treats are grain free, which is great for Marlee since she is allergic to grain. Marlee is also allergic to chicken, so when we set up her monthly subscription, we contacted BarkBox and let them know.

We only once received an item with chicken in it, and I realized after Marlee had devoured it but thankfully she did not have a reaction. If your dog has allergies contact BarkBox and they should be able to help you, but I recommend always checking the ingredients before feeding anything to your dog.

Le Petit Treats Peanut Butter and Apple Biscuits

This months treats were, Bixbi’s bacon flavor pocket trainers?and Le Petit Treats Pate Peanut Butter and Apple Biscuits. Marlee really enjoyed the peanut butter and apple biscuits but she wasn’t a huge fan of the bacon flavour pocket trainers. I do have a theory that she doesn’t like bacon flavoured treats, she only likes real bacon. However, Marlee is a very picky dog, so I know that there is a chance that she won’t like the treats that come every month. Whenever this is the case, I give the treats to my mother in laws dogs so that they don’t go to waste.

Marlee, did however, absolutely love the chew that came in the January BarkBox. This months chew was?Deer Chew. Marlee received the 7inch chew since she is a small, dog but there is also a 12inch option for larger dogs. Now let me tell you, form the moment I took the chew out of the box, Marlee was all over it. Sniffing and trying to take it away before I even had the wrapper off of it. Once it was unwrapped and I gave it to her, she chewed on it until it was completely gone. This is very unlike her, because as I mentioned before, she is a VERY picky dog. So this chew was 100% a success, and I will be reordering in the future.

Marlee smelling her Deer ChewMarlee eating her Deer Chew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is It Worth It?
The question that everyone is asking, Is It Worth It? In mine and Marlee’s opinion yes! January’s BarkBox was definitely a hit with Marlee and we definitely think this month was worth it. For only $20 we received two toys, one that she loves and the other that she consistently plays with. We also received two treats, one again that she really likes and the other while she isn’t a huge fan, my mother in laws dogs with enjoy. Lastly, the chew she received she worked at until it was completely gone, which is a miracle in itself.

While some may say that since Marlee didn’t love the treats it may not be worth it. However, if you have a picky dog this is the perfect Box for you. Every month your dog gets two new types of treats, at some point over the course of your subscription you are almost guaranteed to receive a treat that your dog loves. Once you have found one, you can continue to reorder the treat off of the BarkBox website. You will also continue to receive your monthly BarkBox and maybe you will find more treats that your picky four legged friend loves. Not to mention, the toys alone are worth $20+ so you aren’t wasting your money. Yes, you can get cheaper toys at the pet store, but these are good quality toys, that BarkBox will replace if your dog destroys them. So I think that all is a win for me and Marlee.

Marlee looking very unimpressed about wearing her princess crown.

If you also want to be winning like Marlee, sign up for your own BarkBox subscription here. We promise you will love it, and your furry best fiend will start to love the mailman!

Wet Kisses and Tail Wags!
Karlee and Marlee

P.S. Want to learn more about Marlee and her journey? Check out her Rescue Story post!

*This post is not sponsored, all thoughts are our own*

My Rescue Story

*Warning: This rescue story has sad and disturbing content. Please continue at your own risk*

My name is Marlee Bates, I am half shih tau – half poodle. I am about three years old, and this is my rescue story. The dog I am today is no where near the dog I was when I was first rescued. My pawrents rescued me when I was 17 months old from a puppy mill. When I was first born, there was lots of dogs at the puppy mill. There was a litter born one month before my litter, which was half shih tzu (the same dad as my litter) and half bichon. All of those dogs including the parents left the home. One of the puppies from the litter is now my real life cousin. My grandma’s sister rescued him and his name is Bear! However, I was still in the home for a?very long time after Bear left.

Marlee at 18 months old soon after her rescue

For those of you that don’t know what a puppy mill is, its a terrible place. The people that ran the puppy mill were breeding the doggies just so that they could make money. They were not taking care of us properly. They were not feeding me properly, so I was very under weight and unhealthy. They also were not getting me groomed regularly. Since I am half poodle and have curly hair, it is very important that I get groomed regularly. That means regular baths, brushings and hair cuts. In the 17 months that I was at the puppy mill I was not groomed once. The people that ran the puppy mill were also bad people, who would get angry and do bad things to us. When my furever family recused me, they noticed that I had previously broken ribs and I was scared of everything.

I lived my entire life in the house, and was pee pad trained. While it is okay to be pee pad trained, they never let me outside. I?had never?left the front porch or walked on grass. I also had never worn a collar or been on a leash. Due to the lack of grooming and not going outside, the pads of my paws were so bad they were crumbling and so sensitive. I was also shaking and trembling because I was so scared for my life. Then one day, a very nice lady took me from that home and brought me to another place.

Car ride with Marlee soon after her rescue

On August 26th, 2016, I went to my furever home with my furever pawrents. My great aunt (remember my?grandma’s sister that owns Bear?) came to the house and brought me in her car. This was a very scary experience, and I had no idea what was going on. She brought me to this place that took all my hair, and gave me a nice bath. It was so nice to be able to see again, and not be all matted. It was at this place that my?mom (Karlee) and dad (Matthew) picked me up! They took me to their house and I got to meet all these nice people, and two other dogs (Grandma’s dogs)! I was very scared for a very long time. I would shake night and day and I was so cold without all of my hair!

My Mom and Dad put a cute sweater on me, and while I didn’t like it in the beginning, I learned to love it since it kept me warm. I was also given a collar to wear, I got used?to this very soon (now I have close to 20 collars!). Walking on a leash was a different story, I hated this and I am still not always a fan of going places. At first my Mom and Dad would just walk me on the grass since my paws were so sensitive. It’s a good thing we live in the country and have more grass to run on than I could imagine. I was so scared to walk and run on the grass in the beginning, but now I love it so much! Sometimes I even play hide and seek with Mom and Dad because I love to explore it!

Marlee running on the grass a big step in her rescue story

My pawrents quickly learned that a harness worked best for me. But this wasn’t until after I had tried a dog stroller and got to see my dog aunties (my grandma’s?dogs) walk on leashes! However, now that I can walk on a leash, the stroller is long gone! Now we regularly walk on the trail in the forest by our house, which I love because there are so many different smells. Sometimes I am still scared to walk to the trail, but once we are on the trail I am happy all the way home. I also love going for walks on sidewalks, especially when I visit my Nana and Grandpa and get to walk in their?subdivision!

When I was first rescued Mom and Dad crate trained me. In the past my Dads family crate trained all of the dogs they have?had. Usually this is done from the time that they have brought the doggie home as a puppy, and over time it has become their safe place. When Mom and Dad first started crate training me it was so scary. I would shake and cry at night, but Mom and Dad kept my crate right next to their bed and would help me calm down. It didn’t take long before my create?became a safe place. After a couple months, Mom and Dad?didn’t put me in my crate anymore and I was?allowed to sleep in their bed at night. I also have my own?dog bed next to mom and dads, so I can sleep in my bed or with them. I love sleeping with Mom and Dad so I rarely sleep in my own bed at night.

Marlee sleeping in mom and dads bed, a big step in her rescue story.While I have overcome many challenges along my rescue journey, there is one that I still continue to struggle with on a daily basis. Since I wasn’t fed well when I was in the puppy mill, I hate eating. Don’t get me wrong, I do love food but I am scared to eat. I absolutely LOVE treats, especially duck tenders and?freeze dried beef liver. However, whenever I have to eat my regular food I get so scared. Mom and Dad have tried me on many different foods. In the beginning they tried me on a kibble but my teeth weren’t the best for it, since I was never given bones or anything to strength them. Mom and Dad also learned that I was allergic to chicken and grain, so they had to switch my food.

I was then on a wet food and I really liked that one, but overtime I stopped liking it. My pawrents switched me to a really good kibble called Acana, since my teeth were strong then. I would like some flavours but overtime I always stopped liking it, and wouldn’t eat. Now I am on a raw diet! Mom and Dad feed me raw beef, it is the brand Instinct Instinct Raw. I love this food, but I still don’t eat all the time. I make things really difficult for Mom and Dad and make them hand feed me. If they leave the food in my bowl for me to eat by myself I will not touch it, even if I am starving. I need to have the security of the person feeding me or I am too scared to eat. Maybe overtime I will eat on my own, but that is a work in progress.Marlee with her furever familyWell furiends is my rescue story! I started in a bad place that didn’t treat the doggies very well, and now I live with the two most amazing people ever! I am so obsessed with my Mommy, I even have to go to the bathroom with her, to make sure she always has company. I am so grateful and happy that I was rescued into a family that loves me so much and has taken the time and energy to learn and understand what my needs are. I am also lucky that I was rescued before the bad people bred me to have a litter of puppies, and that my furever family had me spayed so no one can ever try to use me as a breeding dog in a puppy mill.

I hope you enjoyed my rescue story! Mom and Dad say I have come along way in the year and a half they have had me. I can’t see what my future has in store for me, but I hope you come along and share my journey with me!

Are you a rescue dog, or do you own one? Share your story in the comments below!

Wet kisses and tail wags!
Marlee – The Rescue Dog

P.s. If you would like to know about my mom and what life with four paws is all about click here.

*This post is not sponsored, all thoughts are our own.*