The August BarkBox!

Yes, we are finally BarkBoxing again. I had canceled out subscription two years ago after the company's social media team temporarily lost its mind, and then tried to pretend their offensive posts never happened. Since then, their social media posts seem to have been created by actual adults rather than middle schoolers, so I thought it would be worth giving them another chance.

 I haven't been impressed with the subscriptions boxes we've tried in the interim.While it looks like BarkBox has made some changes to the content of their boxes, so far I've been very pleased.

BarkMade

Two years ago, our BarkBoxes came loaded with an assortment of treats and toys from a variety of companies. Most of these goodies were readily availably for purchase on sites like Amazon, or directly from the manufacturer. Only the really special stuff was marked "BarkMade", produced exclusively for BarkBox.

Nearly everything that came in our August Attack of the Space Squirrels box is a BarkMade, which is actually pretty awesome. We got a three-eyed purple stuffed squirrel, a stuffed ray gun that makes weird noises, a pig ear slice, and two different bags of treats. Our subscription is for a medium-sized dog, but I decided Ru would enjoy the smallish stuffies a bit more than the girls. He also fits quite nicely in the box!

Product Review: Pet Qwerks FlavorIt Breath Bone

This FlavorIt nylon chew bone from Pet Qwerks is infused with mint and chlorophyll to help fight bad doggy breath. Labelled as being for aggressive chewers, this toy features many tiny holes that can be filled by spreading the bone with peanut butter, cream cheese, liver pate, or any other spreadable thing your dog loves. The Pet Qwerks FlavorIt product line includes several different flavors, shapes, and textures with the same little holes. the Breath Bone is available in four sizes suitable for any dog. It is dishwasher-safe and made in the USA.

Photo by Erin Koski

This FlavorIt bone arrived in our October BarkBox. Believe it or not, it's a size medium. We had been getting the size medium BarkBoxes, intended for dogs 20-50 lbs. The folks at BarkBox apparently decided to throw in the size medium Breath Bone despite the fact that the packaging says it is intended for dogs up to 30 lbs. As I'm sure there are plenty of 30-50 lb dogs getting those mid-size subscription boxes, it seems like they should have included a size large for dogs up to 50 lbs so that everyone could play.

This toy seems like a good idea at face value. Dog doesn't like non-edible chews? Just smoosh some peanut butter into the little pits and they won't be able to resist. The problem lays in the fact that it's really quite difficult to get peanut butter out of those little holes. Like, basically impossible. Cool if you really want to challenge your dog, not so cool if you don't feel like letting ancient peanut butter sit around in a toy indefinitely. You can't wash that stuff out, folks.

Pros: At least as durable as a Nylabone. A different way to encourage chewing in a dog unfamiliar with the concept. Some dogs will spend eternity working on this thing.

Cons: Sizes feel sort of small, I would definitely get at least the next size up. Large and aggressive chewers are going to be able to demolish this bone no matter what. One peanut butter goes into the little holes, it may never come out.

Bottom Line: I could see this being potentially useful with some dogs, but I can't see using it on a regular basis.

Food Friday: Alternative Protein Roundup, Pork Edition

My quest for Brisbane-safe foods has brought us a variety of pork-based treats and dog food over the nearly two years I've been blogging here. We've already summed up the venison- and rabbit-based goodies, so this week it's time to take a look at an often-overlooked alternative protein. I'm not a huge ham or sausage fan, but I think we can all agree that bacon is awesome. I even chop it into tiny pieces and toss it with various training treats to make them extra-awesome.

Why Aren't There More Pork-Based Dog Foods?

Photo by Erin Koski

Chicken is by far the most common animal protein found in dog food, beef is the second most common, and lamb third in my own experience reading infinite ingredient labels. Pork is supposed to be a poor-man's meat, cheap and plentiful right? So why isn't everyone making dog food out of it?

The first reason I've heard for not feeding pork to dogs is trichinosis, or trichinellosis. This is a parasite transmitted through consumption of raw or undercooked meat of infected animals. The worms live in the muscles until the meat is eaten, then they are released to infect the new host. This used to be a major issue with pork in particular until laws passed in 1980, along with good food storage and handling practices like freezing pork for several weeks before cooking it. Today, trichinellosis is extremely rare, with around 20 cases reported annually in the United States according to the CDC. Most of these are not from consuming commercially-raised pork though, they are from eating raw or undercooked wild game meats.

The second reason I've heard for not feeding pork to dogs is because it supposedly causes pancreatitis. Given that Brisbane has eating tons of raw pork bones without developing it, I'm not terribly worried. The association mostly seems to be between dogs eating super-rich fat scraps and getting pancreatitis, and obviously pet food manufacturers are monitoring the fat and protein levels in their products. It mostly seems that some companies in the industry are leery of using pork just because of their customers' outdated or inaccurate information. This is actually a good thing though, because it means most dogs have never been fed pork, so it can be used as an alternative protein and part of an elimination diet.

Pork Dog Foods

It seems that some of the very best dog food companies use pork as an alternative protein. Primal offers pork-based versions of both their Nuggets and Pronto foods, and both of these use only pork and some veggies so they can be useful for helping sort out food sensitivities. Acana Singles Pork and Butternut Squash is the only kibble we've tried so far that only used pork protein.

Companies seem to be more likely to make canned foods out of pork, rather than kibble Wild Calling offers one that is just pork and vitamins to make it a complete diet. Fromm's Four Star Shredded Pork Entree is the most appetizing food we sell at work, if a dog won't eat that they won't eat anything. Nature's Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diets only offers a canned pork food, but offers a kibble variety for each of their other proteins. Natural Balance offers a wild boar and brown rice canned food, but no boar kibble. We got a carton of Caru Real Pork Stew in our November BarkBox.

Pork Dog Treats

All our favorite pork-based dog treats were discovered via BarkBox. The Bixbi Essentials Pork Jerky arrived in the 2014 December box. Two years ago we got some PetSafe Indigo Smokehouse Strips in our March box, last year we got some Healthy Dogma Bacon Hearts in the March Box. The August Box brought us some Wagatha's Maple Bacon Biscuits. Surprisingly, our favorite pork-based chew, the bacon-flavored Dogswell Boundless, did not come in a subscription box. 

Product Review: BarkMade Circus Elephant

This BarkMade Circus Elephant stuffy is tougher than it looks! It is available exclusively from BarkShop, and arrived in our July Allergy-Friendly BarkBox. The circus elephant comes in two sizes, ours is the smaller 6" version and the larger is 7.5".

Photo by Erin Koski

I know that BarkShop's exclusive toys are made by various other companies, like our BarkMade Shooting Star made by Swag Company for BarkBox. The company didn't announce who made this one though, and somebody ate the tag on ours so I guess we'll never know unless I get the urge to email the company.

For a toy that has gotten so much love, this one has held up remarkably well. Brisbane loved it immediately, and Sisci arrived a month later and was also immediately drawn to it. The website says this toy is good for smaller pups, but Ru mostly only likes gigantic stuffies and has ignored it entirely.

So far the stuffy has been shaken, tossed, gnawed, endlessly squeaked, and left out in the rare California rain. After a trip through the wash, it was as good as new.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Sturdy enough to not split at the seams from normal dog play. Excessively cute. Seriously. Just look at it. I think it's the little circus hat.

Cons: Probably not sturdy enough to handle intentional destruction.

Bottom Line: Even if my dogs ignored it, the Circus Elephant would look adorable laying on the floor or in the toy pile.

Product Review: BarkMade Shooting Star

This BarkMade Shooting Star stuffy arrived in our September allergy-friendly BarkBox. It's a fairly large toy, with a smiling star and a long tail. The construction seems very solid, the fabric is thick and tough and the seams are clearly reinforced. There is a squeaker in the star itself, and another in the tail.

Photo by Erin Koski

This toy is actually made by Swag Company, exclusively for BarkBox. It's the second star stuffy we've gotten this year in our BarkBox. I liked the look of the P.L.A.Y. star stuffy that arrived in our June BarkBox, but I think Sisci might like this one better. I appreciate that this one is unambiguously a celestial object.

Obviously this star is a big hit, with it's long flappy tail. The edge seams are all reinforced, but the connecting seam between the body and tail seems like a weak point. I'm not overly fond of the light color, this toy has already been through the wash a number of times because it looks dirty the moment the dogs touch it.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Heavy-duty toy capable to standing up to lots of flinging and shaking and maybe a little bit of tugging. Machine washable. Super cute.

Cons: The squeaker in the star body stopped squeaking pretty quickly.

Bottom Line: Definitely tougher than your average cheap stuffed toy.

Product Review: Simply Fido Plush Hot Dog Rope Toy

This plush hot dog toy by Simply Fido arrived in our summer-themed August BarkBox. I'm not normally a fan of gratuitous faces on toys, but this thing is pretty cute. It has a rope running all the way through it for tug games, and it squeaks. This toy is made from sturdy canvas.

Photo by Erin Koski

One thing I've learned about dog toys is that the cheap stuffies with ropes attached fall apart almost immediately. The ropes provide a good grip, and if they are only sewn in they rip out as soon as any pressure is applied. Happily, this is not one of those cheap stuffies. The rope runs all the way through it, so when I hold one end and Sisci grabs the other and starts tugging, the hot dog can handle it. That's why it's still around two months later.

This little thing has been through a lot. You see, Sisci is a typical mouthy cattledog, and she loves biting things. Australian cattle dogs say 'I love you!' with their teeth sometimes. The best defense against a bitey cattledog puppy is a toy to cram in their mouth every time they open it. Do this enough times and they eventually grab a toy themselves before running over to play.

Photo by Erin Koski

Sisci is mostly past the biting-everything stage, but she usually has a toy in her mouth. She
particularly feels the need to carry something with her every time she goes outside. The Simply Fido hot dog is definitely a favorite for this purpose. However, Sisci usually comes back into the house empty-handed (empty-mawed?), so our toys tend to migrate out into the yard where they remain until I gather them up and wash them.

The hot dog rope has been left outside in the sun and dirt for several days at a time, gotten absolutely filthy, and gone back to looking brand new after a trip through the washer. It is machine washable and has not split open or otherwise become a target for unstuffing.

Pros: Sturdy enough for games of tug since the rope runs all the way through it. Machine washable and cleans up nicely. Doesn't contain a ton of stuffing.

Cons: Pastel colors start looking dirty very quickly. Has a stupid face for no reason. I hate stupid gratuitous faces on things.

Bottom Line: It's not a toy I would have picked out myself, but Sisci thinks it is a welcome addition to the toybox.

Treat Tuesday: Little Chewzzies

These Little Chewzzies by Emerald Pet arrived in our October Allergy-Friendly BarkBox. These little bones are 5 calories each, and are fairly easy to split into smaller pieces for tiny training treats. We got the salmon flavor, which I thought were pretty awesome until the results of Brisbane's allergy test revealed that he is allergic to barley. Guess what's in all the corn-free wheat-free treats? (I might be a little bitter about this.)

Good For: Mid-value training treats for non-exciting training at home with minimal distractions. The dogs will eat them and even work for them for a bit, but get tired of them pretty quick.

Not Good For: Dogs with barley allergies. High-value training treats in distracting environments. Extended training sessions with lots of rewards.

How Much We Like Them: Enough to use up half the bag before taking a picture of them. Significantly less since learning that Brisbane can't have them, as he is my bottomless pit and head treat-snarfer.

Treat Tuesday: Healthy Dogma Pumpkin Biscuits

The Halloween Pumpkin Biscuits  by Healthy Dogma arrived in our October Allergy-Friendly BarkBox. In addition to barley, oats, peas, and of course pumpkin, they also contain vanilla and cloves. Though not quite as amazing as the pumpkin pie Smoochers, they do smell quite tasty. They are, however, disappointingly bland to human taste buds. (Don't judge me!)

Good For: Dogs who will eat literally any type of food. Low value training treats. Hiding around the house for the dogs to discover. Stringing on wearable edible dog necklaces. Balancing on dog heads while practicing our leave-it command.

Not Good For: Super-picky chihuahuas. Little girl dogs who need to contemplate everything before they eat it. High-value training treats.

How Much We Like Them: Enough to lick them, apparently. They're really quite bland.

Why We Won't Be Getting Any More BarkBoxes

I have truly enjoyed our monthly surprises, but is likely to be our last BarkBox for a while. I follow BarkBox's Facebook page, and last week they made not one, but two different posts in extremely poor taste. The first was of a baby pinching and slapping a barely-tolerant pug, with caption about it being adorable. By the time I saw it there were approximately 250 negative comments about how this was dangerous for the baby and unfair for the dog, and one positive comment.

There was also a post about breeds that first-time dog owners may not realize are challenging, with the caption "These aren't the puppies you wanna pop your dog owner cherry with (so to speak)." Apparently BarkBox let a teenage boy take over their social media for a day or something because that's just not professional language. This post also had many comments about how the BarkBox Facebook page had suddenly ceased to be family-friendly, and lamenting that fans would not be able to share this post with their friends due to the vulgar caption.

Myself and at least a dozen other people made visitor posts to the BarkBox page alerting them to the inappropriate nature of these posts. By the next morning, the baby-abusing-dog video had been removed from the page, along with all the comments every single visitor post mentioning it, with zero apology or explanation. I made a second visitor post stating my disbelief that they would handle the issue by erasing everything and pretending it didn't happen. The other post remained on their page, obscene caption and all, until a while later when I received a private message from BarkBox. I was told that they had personally responded to every comment about the baby post, even though this was demonstrably false as mine had been deleted with no explanation. Others also commented that theirs had been simply deleted with no explanation.

The gross caption and accompanying post did not come down until I sent them a screenshot. Again, there was no "Hey, sorry, our bad" or any acknowledgement publicly. The messages from BarkBox were much more to the tune of "sorry you were offended" than "whoops, we made a mistake". The implication is that myself and the other unhappy BarkBox fans were simply being overly sensitive about witnessing a dangerous and abusive situation for a dog and reading a crass and overtly sexual caption about a story.

This is not the kind of integrity I've come to expect from BarkBox as a company. What I expected was the video to come down with some sort of public acknowledgment. How about "Whoops, that video was actually a bad idea, here's an informative post/blog/video about healthy and safe dog/baby interactions" to help mitigate some of the damage caused by passing off the original video as cute rather than dangerous. Even posting something about healthy dog/kid interaction while making everything else disappear would have been preferable.

I understand that we're all human here (except for the dogs, of course). Letting one of your minions post idiotic stuff to social media can happen. What really matters is how you handle it. Acknowledging the inappropriateness of the material either publicly or privately, and taking steps to correct the mistake makes your company look responsible and professional. Deleting everything and pretending it never happened saves face with the general public, but loses a lot of integrity points with customers who witnessed the mistake. Also, there are better and worse ways to phrase an apology. "I'm sorry I posted that thing, it was a mistake" is taking responsibility. "I'm sorry you were offended by that thing I posted" says I don't think that thing I posted was offensive and the issue is entirely on the side of the person taking offense. Taking that stance after trying to pretend it didn't happen is just too much. I expected more from BarkBox, and though it may seem like a small thing, it's enough to make me cancel my subscription despite getting a really stellar box this month.

The October Allergy-Friendly BarkBox

Our October Allergy-Friendly BarkBox with no chicken, turkey, beef, wheat, corn, or soy arrived much earlier than expected yesterday. This one was happily Halloween-themed, at least one of the treats was. The rest was just regular stuff, though I've seen pictures of dogs with BarkBox owl and witch hat stuffies on social media.

Our box contained a Cozy Krinkle Elephant toy from Hyper Pet. Crinkly toys used to be a flop around here, but Sisci thinks it is awesome because Sisci loves All The Toys.

We got a bag of Salmon Little Chewzzies from Emerald Pet. These are poultry-free, egg-free, and should be fun for training time.

The only Halloween-themed thing in the box (besides the paper lining) was the tub of Pumpkin Biscuits from Healthy Dogma. Again, no poultry, no eggs, totally safe for Brisbane's allergies. 

The Fetch&Glow ball by Spunky Pup is way bigger than the kinda-too-small one we got in last year's October box. It's a lot softer too. This one doesn't light up, but it does glow in the dark. Sisci, of course, is a fan.

The last thing in our box was a Mint FlavorIt durable chew bone by Pet Qwerks. This thing is kind of like a Nylabone with little holes to smoosh things like peanut butter into. It's also labeled as being for dogs up to 30 lbs, so way too small for 40-lb Brisbane and likely most dogs receiving this box marked for 20-50 pound dogs.

What did you get in your BarkBox this month? 

Treat Tuesday: BarkBox Lamb and Kale Soft Chews

These Lamb and Kale Soft Chews arrived in our September Allergy-Friendly BarkBox. They are semi-moist and not too smelly. I think that's why Ru and Sisci don't go nuts for them. Grain-free and made in the USA.

Good For: Treating the dogs on my way out the door. Low-value training treats for Brisbane.

Not Good For: Picky little chihuahuas and heelers. High-value training treats.

How Much We Like Them: They're just kind of ok, really.

The September Allergy-Friendly BarkBox

Our September BarkBox finally arrived yesterday! Unlike all our previous boxes, this month's did not include a card detailing the contents. Instead, the card directed me to visit BarkBox.com/MyBarkBox for a rundown of all our goodies. Many of our boxes have included corrections of the printed cards, and I know there is a lot of variety sent out each month so it's probably tough to keep track. Makes sense to put the same card on everything.

This month didn't particularly have a theme, and that's ok. We're expecting a whole bunch of winter and autumn-themed everything over the next few months even though it's projected to be 80+ degrees and oppressively humid here till January. Not that I'm bitter.

I would not have been happy to see the PetMate JW Pet Squeaky Barbel before Sisci joined us, but she is determined to play with All The Toys and started carrying it around and gnawing on it right away.

Sisci also happily adopted the BarkMade Shooting Star stuffy. It's not as cute as our P.L.A.Y. star stuffy, but it's not terrible.

We got a tasty EttaSays Rabbit Chew which I'm sure Brisbane will devour as soon as I hand it over.

The Lamb and Kale soft treats are BarkBox exclusives made in the USA by Delca. They look like they'll be good for training.

Those Chamomile, Honey, and Duck biscuits by Organicfuls look delightfully soothing. Sadly, Brisbane can't have them because he is allergic to duck and poultry. These will probably go to a coworker's dog.

Product Review: West Pet ZogoFlex Bumi

The Zogoflex Bumi is a durable dog toy from West Paw. Intended for games of tug, it is throwable, chewable, and recyclable. It stretches, floats, and is easy on the teeth. As an added bonus for some dogs, it can be shaken wildly so that the ends thwap them in the face. The Bumi comes in two sizes, the large is about an inch bigger than the small.

Photo by Erin Koski

This arrived in our highly disappointing May BarkBox, and I was not happy to see it. Brisbane really doesn't like solid rubber toys, and will only hold it to be polite. The Bumi doesn't squeak or make any noise at all when he bites it, so he just doesn't see the point.

Sisci, on the other hand, thinks the Bumi is pretty cool. She is determined to play with all the toys, and absolutely must carry something around when excited. She thinks the Bumi is very nice to gnaw. When thrown end over end, it skips across the ground in a way that is lots of fun to chase and bite.

This is the smaller of the two sizes, and it's still bigger than Ru. He ignored the Bumi completely until Sisci started playing with it. Ru loves to play tug with Sisci, sometimes she even notices and plays along. The shape of the Bumi is just right for Ru to grab and end and run along with her. They can even gnaw on it at the same time, which is excessively cute.

Pros: Super durable. Stretchy to absorb shock during vigorous tug games. Stands up to a decent amount of recreational chewing. Easier on the teeth than rope tugs, and it lasts longer too. soft enough for indoor play on noisy hardwood floors. Provides places for multiple dogs to grab.

Cons: Won't stand up to a power chewer on a mission of destruction. Does not come in a size suitable for tiny dogs.

Bottom Line: I appreciate the Bumi a lot more since Sisci and Ru started using it for the most adorable tug games ever.

What is your dog's favorite tug toy?

Product Review: BarkShop Space Bandana

The BarkShop Space Bandana is a fabulous addition to our wardrobe. It is reversible, with a Space Rover logo on one side, and a fantastic star pattern on the other. This is a triangular scarf and can be folded and rolled to fit just about any dog.

Photo by Erin Koski

I love bandanas. I have autoimmune-related hair thinning, and I very rarely go anywhere without something on my head. I have a drawer full of bandanas and scarves, and an entire wall of hats to choose from. I don't put bandanas on my dogs quite that often, partly because I haven't had a great selection of things to dress them up.

I'm kind of a hipster about life in general, and I've always found paisley to be entirely too mainstream. Brisbane has a skull and crossbones bandana that he wears occasionally, but that was it until BarkBox started sending us stuff.

I love all things sciencey, and the June space-themed BarkBox seemed like it was made just for us. Brisbane doesn't like wearing most clothes, but he's perfectly happy to show off a flashy bandana. This is among my favorite things we have received in a BarkBox.

Pros: Super cute. Science-themed and awesome. Like looking into the universe.

Cons: Might be too big for Ru, unless I tie it into some sort of sarong wrap.

Bottom Line: IT'S BRIIIIIIIZ IIIIIIIIN SPAAAAAAAAAACE!!!!!

Product Review: P.L.A.Y. Star Stuffy

This totally adorable star stuffy from Pets Lifestyle and You arrived in our June space-themed BarkBox. Like all the P.L.A.Y. plush toys we've acquired so far, this one is exceptionally durable and well-made. It is a smaller stuffy, for small and medium-sized dogs. There is also an extra-small size for extra-small dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

According to the dogs, this is the best thing that arrived in our June BarkBox. Ru loves to carry it around, and Brisbane also finds it irresistible. It's quite a bit smaller than most of our plush toys.

For all the love it has gotten, our P.L.A.Y. star still looks brand new after a quick trip through the wash. The fabric is very thick and the seams are heavily reinforced. While it won't stand up to heavy chewing, the star seems able to withstand an infinite amount of chomping and squeaking.

Pros: Durable. Small enough to be non-threatening to timid dogs. Apparently screams "carry me around!" to dogs of all sorts.

Cons: A bit small for anyone bigger than 40lb Brisbane. Bright yellow color shows a lot of dirt.

Bottom Line: So cute I won't get tired of seeing it all over the house.

Product Review: PetProjekt Squeeki Tiki

The Squeeki Tiki, by PetProjekt, is one of the most annoying dog toys ever invented. These are sturdy vinyl toys with heavy duty squeakers that ensure they will continue splitting your eardrums for weeks to come. Like most toys from PetProjekt, these come in a variety of colors and two sizes so any dog can enjoy terrorizing their family.

Photo by Erin Koski

The lime green Moai Squeeki Tiki has been banished to the bottom of our toy box for years. I'm pretty sure it came from a clearance bin at PetSmart. The orange Tiki arrived in our April BarkBox and makes a slightly less offensive noise.

Part of what makes these squeakies so horrific is their appeal. Dogs love them. A lot. Brisbane loves squeaking the big green one continuously until I revoke his Squeeki Tiki privileges.

Pros: Sturdier than most flexible vinyl squeaky toys. Will hold up for an infinite amount of squeaking, nose punching, and obsessive-compulsive chomping.

Cons: Not really a chew toy. Also highly enjoyable to chew for some dogs, so it will not survive a mission of destruction. Super loud and horrible squeak from the big one. Seriously. Not kidding.

Bottom Line: I wish one of the dogs would de-squeak that big green one. The little orange one isn't nearly as bad.

What is your dog's favorite squeaky toy?

Treat Tuesday: Wagatha's Maple Bacon Dog Biscuits

This box of Wagatha's Maple Bacon Dog Biscuits arrived in our allergy-friendly BarkBox a few days ago. They smell amazing. Made from barley flour, bacon, maple syrup, and cinnamon, they are safe for Brisbane's poultry and egg allergies.

Good For: Stuffing in Kongs and other food toys. Giving the dogs something to munch as I head out the door. Handing out treats that don't make my hands all smelly.

Not Good For: High-value training treats. Ru, who was totally unimpressed.

How Much We Like Them: I almost want to taste these biscuits. I mean, I like maple bacon, and cinnamon, and they smell so good...

The August Allergy-Friendly BarkBox

Our August Allergy-Friendly BarkBox arrived on Friday right before we left town. Summer is clearly the theme this month, and I am pleased with our box. Having Sisci around definitely makes me appreciate what might otherwise be mundane toys.

Normally I'm not a fan of superfluous faces on everything, but this Simply Fido Hot Dog toy is awfully cute. There is a rope running all the way through it, so it can be used for games of tug without immediately shredding.

There is an Etta Says Deer Chew that I'm certain Brisbane will enjoy. These are a favorite around here.

Brisbane appreciates the Wagatha's Maple Bacon Dog Biscuits. Ru and Sisci need a bit more convincing.

The Treat Planet Apple Cobbler Snicky Snacks have egg in them, so I will be passing them along to someone else. Brisbane is allergic to eggs, and the other two aren't terribly reliable about eating their cookies. Whilst looking up links for this post I discovered that Treat Planet also owns Etta Says and Hare of the Dog, all brands we have received in our BarkBoxes.

The Delca Corporation Watermelon stuffy is probably the most popular toy we got this month. Brisbane gave it a few squeaks before Sisci stole it. She spent at least ten minutes laying on the couch squeaking it.

What did you get in your subscription boxes this month?

Product Review: Dex & Penny Squeaky Stick

The Dex and Penny Squeaky Stick arrived in our January BarkBox, and I have yet to find a dog that likes it. This a wonderfully durable toy with a great squeak, it bounces a bit and takes some effort to compress enough to make a sound.

Photo by Erin Koski

I thought this toy was pretty cool when it arrived. It has a nice loud squeak and it bounces erratically when I hurl it to the ground. The texture is nice and grippy. Brisbane just...doesn't like it. He'll take it to be polite if I hand it to him, but he doesn't want to play with it.

Pros: Durable, loud, and squeaky.

Cons: I'm not sure what the drawbacks to this toy are, but the dogs know.

Bottom Line: I need to pull this one out again for the current foster pup. If she doesn't like it, I should probably hand it off to someone with a less discriminating dog.

Treat Tuesday: Alaska's Puppy Love Wild Salmon Jerky Treats

I've been trying to figure out where this bag of Wild Alaskan Salmon Jerky Treats came from, since I don't remember buying it and its not in any of my subscription box pictures.  I'm pretty we got it as an oops bonus after BarkBox sent us forbidden proteins in our allergy-friendly BarkBox for a second month in a row. These are from the Seldovia Wild Seafood Company's brand of dog treats, Puppy Love.

Good For: Mid-value training treats for balance and perch work. Picky chihuahuas who don't like most of the treats Brisbane gets for balance and perch work.

Not Good For: High-value training treats in distracting environments. Picky heeler puppies. Making my hands not smell like fish.

How Much We Like Them: See how that bag is almost empty? I had to save these just so I could take this picture.