On Barkbox (October)

This Barkbox was not as full as they usually are, but there are some pretty good items in here.

American Dog Toys: Fetch & Glow Ball

Arwen was excited to play with this ball, but I managed to get a photo of her with it.  It glows in the dark, which will be very useful when she is all riled up at night and I ask, "Where's your toy?  Go get your toy" so she stops jumping on me to play with her when I'm trying to sleep.

West Paw: Bumi Toy

This toy is the perfect shape for playing tug-of-war with a pup.  It's also eco-friendly (recyclable!), non-toxic, and locally made.  We don't play in the water much, but the description says it floats.

[not pictured, but it's bottom right in my top photo]

Baker's Best Autumn Harvest Goat Liver Treats

Oddly, I couldn't find out where to purchase these treats (or find a stock photo) of them online.  I let Arwen try one of these gluten-free treats made with goat liver, oat flour, pumpkin, brown rice flour, ground flaxseed, shredded carrot, dried cranberry, and blackstrap molasses (whew).  She really liked it and is jumping on me now to try and get more as I type the ingredients off the bag.

Fruitables share pack

This is an adorable idea and I love that Barkbox included these, but I didn't end up sharing these little doggie Halloween treats at all.  The better for Arwen, I suppose, as she gobbles up all the different flavors.  I like that these are all-natural and good for dogs with food sensitivities (no corn, wheat, or soy).

[not pictured, but it's the little stick in the top middle of the photo]

Etta Says Rabbit Chew

Again, not found via photo online, but Etta Says treats are usually a hit in our home.  Arwen was eagerly sniffing this rabbit chew, but like any other long-term treat, would probably be best with owner supervision.

On Barkbox (September)

This month's Barkbox seemed to be all about the long-term treats..which is FANTASTIC because we haven't been able to find anything that is good for Arwen AND lasts long enough!!

All I can say is don't make the same mistake I did and give your dog the Barkworthies tendon first.  Arwen was just nonstop chasing me around and sniffing for the treat after I took it from her.

Our Pet's IQ Treat Ball

This was the second treat I tried to give to Arwen.  She's not too interested in puzzle treats, but this one did occupy her for quite a while.  I filled it with her favorite Zuke's mini roasted chicken naturals and slid the opening into a smaller hole.  Halfway through her play session I decided to widen it because honestly, she's not one of those clever dogs who figures toys out quickly.  The write up recommends you put your dog's meal in here...maybe we'll try it this weekend to slow her down a little bit.

Superior Farms Venison Ears

We haven't had a chance to try these yet (seriously the box came in 20 minutes ago).  The write up says they are minimally processed, cleaned, rinsed, and dried (no added chemicals).  This sounds perfect!!  I do recommend supervision while dogs are chewing on things like this (e.g., rawhide).

Barkworthies Angus tendon

Arwen is fanatical about this treat now.  I pulled it away from her once I realized how long-term this treat is!  Sometimes we're entertaining guests and just want her to sit off on her own (i.e., we are eating food and she is going crazy).  This is one of those treats that would entertain her.

Wagatha's Organic Dog Biscuits

We got the Tuscan pizza flavor, and Arwen is a fan.  They smell pretty good, so the only drawback is that you shouldn't give them to your dog when you're hungry.

Vetra Care Pet Liquid Bandage

Thankfully, I haven't had the need/opportunity to use this yet, but I am happy to have a veterinary item in here to fall back on.  I know Arwen sometimes chews her foot or gets rubbed a little raw by her collar in the winter, so I'll definitely use this at those times.  

On Barkbox (August)

Arwen's August Barkbox did not disappoint!  This review is one month later, but I can definitely say she has used almost everything in the box and loves it.  I unfortunately had to get a new phone and can't track down the photo I took when I just unboxed it, so you'll have to make do with stuff I find online.

Aussie Naturals Floatie Dolphin

This toy is really well made, with a tennis ball, squeakers, and rope inside.  The material also feels like neoprene for dogs to play in the water with.  Arwen doesn't really go swimming at all, so this hasn't gotten too much play (plus I bought her another toy right before the Barkbox came in, so I'm rationing them).

Plato Duck Dog Treats

Having never given Arwen duck anything before, I was surprised to see how crazy she went for these.  The treats are billed to be good for dogs iwth allergies, and includes duck and brown rice.  They are easy to break up into smaller pieces but I usually give her a whole one (which she promptly eats as fast as she can).

The Honest Kitchen Ice Pups

 I made these at the end of the month and poured them into an ice cube tray.  Arwen loves when I pull one of them out for her to chew on, especially since she loves ice in the first place.  They are grain-free, salt-free powdery-type mixes that can be added to water and frozen, or blended in hot water to make a winter broth.  They smell somewhat meaty, which is likely why she loves them.

Primal Pet Liver Munchies

Arwen LOVED these liver treats.  She goes wild for them, wiggling around and jumping all over to get one.  Her tail runs at 100 mph whenever this bag opens.  I will say that the treats don't smell the best, and you're supposed to wash your hands every time you touch a treat...but they are pretty appealing to Arwen.  They are 100% turkey liver made in the U.S. (antibiotic and hormone-free), as well as grain-free, salt-free, and sugar-free.

Barkworthies Bully Flakes

Obviously Arwen loves eating, so I didn't give these to her because I didn't want to mess up a good thing (i.e., her eating habits).  I did give this bag of bully flakes (essentially bull's penis ground up into flakes) to a friend's dog who is a picky eater.  My friend reported her dog loved them and gobbled her food up, which is great considering we're dog-sitting next weekend and I don't want her to starve.  

This Barkbox was definitely worth it and I'm keeping my subscription.  I have been considering cancelling, but for the number of treats that we get and how much Arwen loves getting the package each month, it's worth my money.

On Barkbox

Last month I got a Groupon for Barkbox, which I've been dying to try but just couldn't justify the cost. This month, it finally came in! This one is mostly treats, and I appreciate the focus on gluten-free treats because I know some dogs with allergies and these make for great recs. This box included:

Wigzi

The green bone in the front is a pocket bone into which you can stuff treats on both ends.  It doesn't smell rubbery (PRO!), it floats, and it's dishwasher safe and recyclable.  Arwen really enjoys trying to get the treats out, though I had some issues with some treats being too small and just rolling out.  Either way, she enjoys it.

Max & Ruffy's 

These organic treats for dogs are made out of friend (non-GMO, if that's something that concerns you).  These ones are banana and coconut flavored and basically look like cookies.  They smell really good, too.  Arwen loves them, and we haven't had any stomach issues (yay!).  Plus, I stuck one in each end of the Wigzi bone and she loved trying to pull them out.

No Grainers

These small trainer treats are the perfect size to stuff into the Wigzi bone.  They sometimes roll out but mostly require licking and maneuvering to remove.  They are also grain, wheat, corn, and soy-free, so they're great if your dog has allergies.

Mr. Barksmith's

This dog smoothie was the biggest hit in this Barkbox.  I froze it and gave it to Arwen the next day; she pulled it out of her bowl and made me chase her around the house to avoid her getting it on the carpet.  She was very reluctant to give it up, too.  It's made with fruit and has chia seeds in it (it says these contribute to healthy joints and coat).  This is probably something I'd seek out for her again, because she loves frozen treats.

Safemade

This flexible bowl was a hit at the dog park on Sunday!  All the dogs wanted to drink out of it.  It was convenient for me to throw into my purse and pull it out for her to drink from, and it doesn't have a weird smell like some other silicone items.  The description says it's child-friendly food-grade silicone.  It also recommends you freeze water in the bowl overnight to take to the park with you (genius).

Clear Conscience Pet

These Tender Stikz smelled pretty good and essentially look like jerky.  They are made of meat, veggies, and cheddar cheese with no synthetic ingredients or fillers.  It's so fresh that you're supposed to refrigerate them after you open them, but Arwen gobbled them all up and didn't leave any to save.

This being my first Barkbox, I was unsure whether I'd get another one, but decided to continue it for a couple more months just to see what else we'd get.  I really enjoyed it, and so did Arwen!