monthly review: August BarkBox

I was really happy this month because we got our BarkBox really quickly! I think I get more excited than Ares and Luna do about opening the box to see what they got (of course, they're always more excited to get what's inside!)

Let me explain BarkBox if you don't know how it works: It's a company that sends you four or more products every month to try out with your pups. A portion of each months proceeds help doggies-in-need (a different cause every month). The price of the boxes range from $19-$29 a month, depending on the plan you choose (a 6 month subscription is $19 a month while a month to month subscription is $29 a month).

My apartment has been an absolute wreck lately since Luna has decided that her life goal is to rip the stuffing out of every toy she can get her little paws on so we took pictures outside again this month.
I got a really silly picture of Ares and Luna posing with their box.

 And their haul! Shortly after taking this, I put it on another box so it would be higher off the ground. Luna knocked it over to get to the precious duck strips.

I tried a different way of taking video this month and sadly, I'm pretty disappointed by the quality of the video. Live and learn.

Luna loved exploring the box to find those duck sticks.

Which brings us to the first treats that we tried: Plato natural duck strips. BarkBox says: "Duck is a subscriber favorite, especially for those with allergies. Plato's recipe for scrumptious treats is American duck with brown rice. They break into nice little pieces for training, but our pups are happiest when they get an entire piece."

I think these were Luna's absolute favorite treat - she could sniff them out even before I opened the package and kept trying to run away with the bag. I think it's also safe to say that Ares loved them too. He did a rare little dance for me while Luna watched in amusement.

I was nice and finally gave up the treats and they gobbled them up quick fast! Plato treats retail for $5.19 and can be found here.

Next up is the Primal Pet freeze-dried liver munchies. BarkBox says "Another single-source protein - hooray! Primal Pet liver munchies are made with 100% turkey liver. Sourced and made in the United States without antibiotics or added hormones, these treats are also grain-free, salt-free, and sugar-free. Munch away, dear pups, munch away."

Ares and Luna think any kind of liver treats are the best thing ever - I regularly stench up my apartment, dehydrating cow liver for them - and these were no different. I think Luna thinks all of Ares' desperate treat dancing was very funny. These treats retail for $6.99 and can be found here.

It's not really a treat but we also got Barkworthies bully flakes! BarkBox says "Got a picky pup who won't eat dinner? Bully flakes - made with 100% ground bully sticks, which are much-loved by BarkBoxers - may help convince your finicky dog to finish his meal. Sprinkle over kibble or wet food and let the feasting begin!"

Ares and Luna are typical pugs - they are not at ALL picky about what they eat. In fact, the other day, I got out of the shower to find them eating my Cheez-its! When Luna saw me, she grabbed the bag and made a run for it! 

Anyway, I kept meaning to let them try it with a meal to find out what they thought and to get pictures but my bad memory got in the way of that goal. I think that as long as they don't expire, I'll save them either for a nice treat or in case one of them gets so sick that they refuse to eat. Either way, Barkworthies totally spoils us via our BarkBoxes! These retail for about $6 and can be found here.

We also got a little packet from The Honest Kitchen. BarkBox says "Homemade treats that are versatile enough for summer and winter? Count us in! Ice Pups are a grain-free, salt-free treat mix that can be frozen in an ice tray to beat the heat, or blended with hot water to make a comforting broth."

If these pictures look familiar to you, it's because I got a packet of this in last month's Pawalla Mini. I'm not as upset about this double though because it's more of an extra treat instead of being the main focus of the box. I'm also really excited because now I can use one packet to freeze, and one to heat up and we'll get the best of both world's! One packet is $0.99 and can be found here.

And of course, we always save the best for last. OUR TOY! It's a dolphin from Aussie Naturals and BarkBox says "Whether your pup is a swimmer, retriever, flinger, or a thrasher, Floaties are sure to delight! Made with a tennis ball, rope, and squeakers, these aquatic animals have been transformed into a floating, retrieving toy." 

You probably don't remember, but back in February, in our very first BarkBox, we also got an Aussie Naturals toy. It's a water bottle toy. Funnily enough, it is also a dolphin! Ares and Luna still have it and play with it regularly even though I took out the old water bottle without realizing that I can't find a water bottle the right size to put back in the toy.

Ares was very impressed with it, the ball and rope are in the body of the dolphin, with squeakers in the mouth and tail. I like to lay in bed with Ares and squeak one side, he attacks it, so I squeak the other side. We can go back and forth like that forever, because he doesn't know which squeaky side he wants more! Luna hasn't really shown any interest in it so far. Ares especially would rather die than go in the water so I doubt we'll ever use it for that purpose. The floatie dolphin retails for $11.99 and can be found here.

By my maybe right/maybe not calculations, we received roughly $31 in items this month. Mama and babies are happy campers!

If you want to try your own BarkBox, clickity-click this link to get $5 off your first month.

monthly review: July Pawalla Mini

Ares and Luna opened up the BarkBox earlier this week but they got to open their Pawalla Mini yesterday! It's been an exciting week!

About Pawalla: You can get a standard box or a mini box. Standard boxes come with 6-10 full sized products that include wet food, treats, supplements or vitamins, essentials, and a toy. Standard boxes range from $21-$29 a month, depending on your subscription plan. Mini boxes come with 3-5 products that include treats, a toy, and surprise item(s) but NO wet food. Mini boxes range from $12-$17 a month, depending on your subscription plan.

We get a mini box simply because we also get BarkBox and because I don't want them to get picky and only eat wet food :) You fill out information about your dog's age, size, and such so that they can tailor it to your needs.

This is what happens during most of our pictures. Luna is determined to eat the box while Ares is trying to figure out what I'm doing.

 Ares was very interested in figuring out what we got this month.

The first thing we tried out were the YumZies Natural Hickory Bacon Treats. Pawalla says "Yumzies are small, soft treats. Chicken is the main ingredient and the treat contains only natural ingredients, flavors and preservatives. Yumzies are grain-free treats, and are made in the USA with USA-sourced chicken. These treats naturally contain omega 6 fatty acids for coat quality and omega 3 fatty acids have been added to enrich coat and skin. The texture and size of Yumzies makes it the perfect on the go snack."

I'm not sure that I would use these as training treats (we use teeny tiny treats because they get so many treats all day) but Ares and Luna love them and I don't think they'll last very long in our house! They are $6.99 and can be found here.

The second thing we looked at, we haven't tried yet. It's the Honest Kitchen Ice Pups. Pawalla says "The highly regarded Honest kitchen has offered us a nice powdered envelope of high protein goodness. This envelope is to be hydrated, served as a beverage either hot or cold or frozen into ice cubes for those who love ice. Chicken and turkey have great amino acid profiles making them a good protein choice. Honest Kitchen has added some whey and vegetables in the form of asparagus, watercress, and parsley. A bit of honey sweetens the mixture. If your dog or cat has specific fluid intake needs, Ice Pups is a way to ensure that they drink enough fluid."

I can't wait to make it as a frozen treat for Ares and Luna. And do you know what I'm going to put it in? The safemade bowl we got in this month's BarkBox! It's going to be so fun! One packet of this is $0.99 and can be found here.

The next thing we pulled out was the Flying Basset Breath Spray. Pawalla says "Fresh breath is a blessing to many pet families. Sometimes, even clean teeth aren't the cause of mouth odor. Flying Basset has put together a collection of oils and compounds that together fight mouth odor. This product is safe for both dogs and cats, but it's always good to use small doses to start."

Ok, honestly, does anyone have a dog (or cat) who likes stuff sprayed at their face, especially while having their mouth held open? Anyone? No? That's what I thought. 

I totally tortured Ares and Luna with it though for the sake of reviewing it. I'm not sure if they liked it or not. It smelled similar to human mouthwash and Luna got 2 sprays while Ares got 3. After they got sprayed, they licked their mouths A LOT! I've never noticed Ares or Luna having horrid breath and definitely didn't notice a difference afterwards but I'll consider using it in the future, even if we don't buy more. It retails for $9.95 and can be found here.

We also got a Etta Says Crunchy Duck Chew. Pawalla says "USA duck goes into this rawhide/duck crunchy treat. Rawhide has been ground up to mix with duck feet, along with a bit of salt to bring out the flavor. Safe for dogs that have problems with rawhide, and we know that swallowing whole pieces of rawhide is neither healthy nor safe. In this form,  Crunchy Duck Treats will still help clean teeth and contribute to healthy gums. A unique, safe treat that dogs will love and is also made in the USA."

Does this treat look familiar to you? If it does, that's because I got the same exact chew in my April BarkBox. I still have it because I was waiting for another chewy treat before giving it to them and now I do but I kind of wish that even if it was still Etta Says, it was a different flavor. Oh well. I have no idea how much the chew costs so we'll put it around $1. They can be found here.

And last but not least. Our Wigzi Bone. Pawalla says "This fun bone is made with 100% recycled materials and durable enough to withstand rough games of fetch - it even bounces!"

Does this toy look familiar? I'll give you a hint:

Yes, we got the same toy (although different sizes) in each box this month. UGH. Yes, Ares and Luna like the toy. Do I need two of them though? No, I definitely do not. I know that this isn't Pawalla OR BarkBox's fault that Wigzi (and Etta Says) sent each of them the same toy (and treat), but COME ON! The point of the boxes is to try out different toys, treats, and other items from a variety of different companies. I feel like these companies are taking the easy way out by sending the same product to be sent out in each of the boxes instead of sending out a variety of their products. Wigzi very actively participates with Pawalla and BarkBox, I can count 4 products that we've gotten from them since I started my subscriptions at the beginning of the year. I have no problem with that, I think very highly of Wigzi's products. I just don't need multiples of the same one. If it continues, it'll force my hand in picking only one box to renew when my subscriptions are up. 

This size retails for $7.99 and can be found here.

Again though, Ares and Luna absolutely love this toy and I haven't even filled the holes with treats yet. But they're like toddlers. It doesn't matter if there's two of something, they're going to fight over the same one. I particularly enjoy the head smacks Ares gives Luna before relinquishing the toy to her.

Our haul was around $26, which makes me a very happy pug mommy.

If you want to try your own Pawalla or Pawalla Mini, clickity-click this link for $6.50 off your first subscription!

monthly review: July BarkBox

I feel like we used to be one of the first people to get our BarkBox but ever since the May mail fiasco, I get mine waaaaaay after everyone else. Ares and Luna don't know the difference, so it's okay though.
I feel like I have so much stuff to write about - Ares and Luna met my sister's new dog, Bailey, and we went to not one, but TWO pug meet ups this month.  I have so many pictures I want to share. One day I'll catch up, I promise.

On to our BarkBox, but first, let me explain BarkBox if you don't know how it works: It's a company that sends you four or more products every month to try out with your pups. A portion of each months proceeds help doggies-in-need (a different cause every month). The price of the boxes range from $19-$29 a month, depending on the plan you choose (a 6 month subscription is $19 a month, a month to month subscription is $29 a month).

I finally got both of the pups to pose with the box this month! I'm so proud of them.

Ares was excited to sniff out the haul.

 This is a Safemade bowl. BarkBox says "Made with same child-friendly, food-grade silicone as Safemade's line of toys - plus freezer, dishwasher, and oven safe! We recommend freezing water in the bowl overnight for maximum coolness at the park."

 We haven't tried it yet but I'm eager to put it to good use. I'm excited that it's oven safe so I can bake the dogs little cakes for their birthdays! I definitely wouldn't leave it out for the dogs while I'm not around just because we've received a safemade toy before (from Bugsy's Box if I remember correctly) and I had to take it away within minutes because my dogs could easily rip it apart. So many different uses for it, though that don't involve the risk of my dogs deciding the bowl is a toy! The bowl is $4.99 and can be found here.

The next thing we looked at was the No Grainers treats. BarkBox says "Fourth of July may have passed, but it's always a perfect time for USA-made treats. No Grainers soft treats are made from American chicken and (as the name says) are grain, wheat, corn, and soy free!

Ares and Luna really loved these but I wouldn't say that they are training size for them. The treats we use are much smaller. They're still good treats though and I know we'll use them up very quickly! They're also in cute little crescent shapes! I love it when treats keep you on your toes in terms of shapes. It makes things exciting! These are also $4.99 and can be found here.

The second bag of treats we got were by Max & Ruffy's. BarkBox says "Hailing from Maryland, Max & Ruffy's makes the perfect, healthy snack for summer. Only the best organic, non-genetically modified fruit is used in their treats. Every ingredient is human grade - and we know BarkBox parents love when their furbabies eat better than they do."

BarkBox is totally right that Ares and Luna eat MUCH better than I do! These treats were really intriguing because they're made with coconut, molasses, and flax. They actually smell like molasses and they're a bit hard so Ares and Luna can't swallow them in one bite like they normally do! I'm happy that we got an interesting combination of ingredients in the treats. I would never think to make treats with coconut or molasses in it! If you look at their website, you'll see that they definitely don't have a shortage in crazy combinations for their treats! I will definitely have to buy some of their treats in the future! These are $7.25 and can be found here.

This Mr. Barksmith's smoothie looks really interesting. BarkBox says "Low calorie and made from fruit, these dog smoothies are also fortified with Omega 3 chia seed - great for joints and a healthy coat. Pop them in the freezer if the hot weather is making your pooch pant, or let them eat as if you're on a summer roadtrip!"

Unfortunately for us, this smoothie is peanut butter flavored so I'm hesitant to let Luna try it. She can handle peanut butter in treats but her tummy does NOT like straight peanut butter and I don't know how much I want to risk it to see if they like it! I'll either give this to my sister or save it for a time when Luna isn't around to get jealous watching Ares chow down on it. A single cup is $4.99 and can be found here.

We got two different treats from Clear Conscience Pet. BarkBox says "Slow cooked with the highest quality meat, vegetables, and cheddar cheese. Tender Stikz are healthy, human grade, and free of synthetic ingredients or fillers. Because of the lack of processing or preservatives, please refrigerate after opening (there may not be leftovers, though!)

We got TWO of one treat, you guys! I don't have to figure out how to make them share! The lighter colored one was chicken flavored and the darker one is beef flavored. Ares and Luna chewed them JUST long enough to swallow them whole then looked at me, demanding more! Six sticks are $9.95 so we'll estimate that we got $3 in treats. They can be found here.

And finally, THE TOY! This one is from Wigzi and BarkBox says "'Two pockets? For treats?! And it floats?!? And no rubber smell?!?!'  (We've taken the liberty of translating the pup perks of Wigzi's pocket bone for you. You can thank us later.) Dishwasher safe, recyclable, and made right here in the USA, we think it's a great fit for summer play!"

A sheet came with the bone, stating that the bright green color was made specifically for BarkBox. Also, it definitely doesn't need treats inside for Ares and Luna to go nuts over it! They love anything and everything they can chew! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of them having fun with it. We got the medium bone which retails for $9.99 and can be found here.

I estimate that we got about $35 worth of items. Everything we got was fun and interesting (with an exception that will be explained in the July Pawalla Mini review).

Want your own BarkBox? Clicky-click this link for $5 off your first subscription!

monthly review: June Pawalla Mini

We had a busy day in the Pober house since we opened both the BarkBox and the Pawalla Mini on the same day. (Both get sent to my P.O. Box. It's a pain to get to the post office with my new work schedule.)
I already posted the BarkBox review so now we'll move on to our Pawalla Mini!
About Pawalla: You can get a standard box or a mini box. Standard boxes come 6-10 full sized products that include wet food, treats, supplements or vitamins, essentials and a toy. Standard boxes range from $21-29 a month depending on your subscription plan. Mini boxes come with 3-5 products that include treats, a toy and surprise item(s) but NO wet food. Mini boxes range from $12-17 a month depending on your subscription plan.
We get a mini box simply because we also get BarkBox and because I don't want them to get picky and only eat wet food :) You fill out information about your dog's age, size, and such so that they can tailor it to your needs.

This was actually the first box we opened so Luna was slightly more interested in examining the outside of the box. She still didn't want to pose though. Such a diva.

Our haul. Luna was really interested in this part.

The first thing we decided to check out was the PushClean Pet Towelettes. Pawalla says "These hypoallergenic, all-natural towelettes are made out of 100% bamboo, which benefits the environment, while also keeping your pet fresh with one easy wipe to remove any excess dirt or dander. These wipes are travel-friendly and also help moisturize which results in a shiny coat and a happy pet!"

These were really cool and tiny so I documented how to open them.

Push it completely down. This allows the towelette to soak up the water and break the seal to open it.

Ares is not amused. I think he knew what came next.

They were actually a pretty good size!

Like the grooming mitts I have received before, I used one wipe on both dogs.

I really liked it but I'm not sure I would buy it. I love the fact that it helps the environment but baby wipes do the exact same thing. I'm going to keep these in my car and we'll see how it goes as I use up the rest of the pack. Maybe I'll have a change of heart and decide that they are a must have. I do really love these though and the size is amazing! I am, however, really interested in the fact that PushClean isn't just for pets - they also have tiny towelettes aimed for removing makeup, insect repellent, and stain remover to name a few. These would be perfect if you aren't anything like me and love to go camping! (Ha! I really do want them though). They are currently $9.99 and can be found here.

We opened the treats next and they were another wigzi product! These were the Stuff n' Crunch Peanut Butter flavor treats. Pawalla says: "Crunchy rolled oats, dry roasted peanuts, salt, and tapioca starch provide an excellent ingredient list for these crunchy treats. Perfect complements for the Wigzi throw toy. Wigzi treats contain no soy, potato, wheat, artificial flavors or colors. This company makes all their products in the US, and a portion of the proceeds from the sales of these products is donated to animal rescue groups and shelters to aid in the placement of homeless animals."

We got a Wigzi toy a few months back and these treats can go into the toy (they're not the treats designed for the toy but it's ok). Now, I'm lazy and my dogs have the hardest time getting treats out of toys like that so I'm just using them as regular treats instead of putting them in the toy but I absolutely adore the concept! It also helps that Ares and Luna adore the treats! These treats are $5.99 and can be found here.

Next, we opened our YoPup Happy Belly treats. Pawalla says: "The pink yogurt drizzle on these biscuits tells you that they contain healthy probiotic bacteria. During the processing and cooking of any dog treats, the good bacteria are killed, but with these biscuits, Happy Belly adds the good probiotic bacteria back to the treats after they are cooked to preserve the activity of the healthy bacteria. Probiotics are a good idea for dogs and for people, and to have them right in a handy treat is a great idea. The treats are wheat free and also contain chicken meal as the base flavor, pomegranates, raspberries, and walnuts. TBD Brands are located in Exeter, NH."

I'm shameless. I got Ares to perform for me. Look at Luna sitting in the background, waiting for her treat! Ares and Luna both loved these treats and I think the drizzle on top of the traditional dog bone shape is absolutely adorable. These are good sized treats so they are perfect to give them when I leave the house. YoPup retails for $5.99 and can be found here.

And last, but not least, our toy. We received the Glow Ball by American Dog Toys. Pawalla says "This soft ball is durable, easy to clean, and even floats for pups that enjoy water play. It's a great ball for fetch, so just hold it under light to activate its glow in the dark feature to keep the fun going all night long!"

Honestly, I could care less about this toy. Ares and Luna don't really fetch balls and back before I discovered that they won't fetch balls, I actually bought this same ball in green at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I think I would be more excited about it if I didn't already own it or if my dogs liked to fetch. Oh well, can't win them all.

Ares' and Luna's reactions to the ball are HILARIOUS though.

As you can see, they were very enthusiastic.
I did get the ball and threw it again for Ares to see what he would do and this is what happened:

Slightly better, so I'll take it. Right after the video ended though, he dropped the ball and it fell down into the grass. I went and got it back and he promptly did it again. Maybe he was trying to tell me something? Haha!
Seriously though, if you have a dog who likes to fetch, you would probably really like this toy. It has a softer feel to it and doesn't feel like it can be easily torn apart like tennis balls can. Also, it glows in the dark which is just fun. It retails for about $5 and can be found here.

Our mini box contained approximately $20 worth of items so I'm very happy. We are active at the dog park so even the toy won't go to waste, even if Ares and Luna aren't interested.
Want to buy your own Pawalla or Pawalla Mini? Clickity-click this link to get $6.50 off of your first subscription!

monthly review: June BarkBox

I actually got my box this month, guys! WooHoo!
Before I tell you what we got, let me explain BarkBox if you don't know how it works:
it's a company that sends you four or more products every month to try out with your pups. A portion of each months proceeds help doggies-in-need (a different cause every month). The price of the boxes range from $19-$29 a month, depending on the plan you choose (a 6 month subscription is $19 a month, a month to month subscription is $29 a month).

Luna had no interest in posing with the box.

This is our haul.

I'm really excited by the first thing I saw: Dale Edgar's Calm K9 wafers. BarkBox says "Some of our canine counterparts aren't quite enthusiastic about the arrival of fireworks. Dale Edgar's Calm K9 wafers hail from Portland, Oregon, and are complete with omega-3, Vitamin B, and chamomile to soothe frightened nerves. Also recommended for pups with anxiety!"

We haven't tried it yet but we definitely will on July 3 (when we get our fireworks show). We can hear/see the fireworks from my apartment and Luna is already scared when she hears thunder (she barks nonstop). I was going to go looking for something that will help keep her calm during all of the noise and hopefully, this will be perfect! It looks like we got a sample pack but I'm guessing from the cost of the full size container that these were roughly $10. They can be found here.

The next thing I looked at is also something that I haven't opened yet: a Heartland Premium bone. BarkBox says "The BarkBox office pups were as lively as sparklers when they got their paws on a Heartland Premium bone. You can rest easy knowing that these bones are sourced from cows born and bred in Omaha, Nebraska; your pup, on the other hand, will probably need a nap after playtime with this long-lasting chew."

I'm really really torn on this. I want so badly to like this BUT the bone is smoked. Bones that have been cooked in any way can splinter or break the dog's teeth. The website however, says that because the cows are less than 3 years old at the time of slaughter, they don't splinter. I'll probably give this to Ares and Luna under strict supervision (and when I have something else to give them because they don't share!) The bone is $5.40 and can be found here.

And the treats! The first treat bag we opened were the Whole Life treats. BarkBox says "Freeze-dried, single-source proteins, with zero fillers - made with quality meat in the USA. As you grill your burgers and chicken at block parties this summer, bring these treats along so your dog can join in on the fun (or should I say yum?)"

Ares and Luna thought these treats were so yummy! They're kind of on the small side, or at least smaller than I expected them to be, but that's fine - Ares and Luna still gobbled them up and begged for more! These treats cost roughly $5 and can be found here.

The other treats we got came from Puppy Cake. BarkBox says "Puptato Chips are a healthy, all-natural alternative to, well, potato chips! Made with sweet potatoes, these treats are dried (not fried!) so they're low in fat, high in vitamins."

Is it strange that I wanted to eat them myself? (I resisted but Luna couldn't!)

I've actually given these treats to Ares and Luna since as one of their treats when I had to leave the house and Luna spit hers out and wouldn't eat it. I guess she doesn't like them anymore? It doesn't matter, Ares was happy to eat her leftovers! Puptato Chips are $4.99 and can be found here.

And I saved the best for last: Bowser Beer. BarkBox says "Bowser Beer is a beef-based drink without alcohol or carbonation. It's fortified with glucosamine, which is great for joints, and is great as an addition to water, a topper for dry food, or over crushed ice on a particularly hot day. Pup slushies!" 

I had some very eager pups who couldn't wait for their Bowser Beer (they actually spilled it while I was trying to pour the second bowl!)

I'm really disappointed because I have a video on Vine of Ares and Luna drinking their Bowser Beer from the same bowl but it's not actually saved to my phone. If you have Vine, we are Ares and Luna

I'm not sure how Ares and Luna felt about the Bowser Beer. They drank it, but like they would with regular water - they drank some and walked off to do something else. I still have half of the bottle in the fridge so I'll have to try again. I read a news article about Bowser Beer right after getting Ares and I've wanted to get some ever since so I was really excited to see the bottle in our box. I'm really surprised that it's not mentioned in the blurb from BarkBox, but when you order a pack of Bowser Beer, you have the ability to customize your own label for $10 extra. You can name the beer and add a picture of your dog to the label that will be shipped to your house. I want that so bad! (Yes, I already decided on beer names if I ever get it!). A 6-pack is $20 (customized for $30), so I'll estimate that our bottle was $4. Bowser Beer can be found here.

I'll estimate that we got about $30 of goodies in our box this month, which isn't bad.

Want to get your own BarkBox? Clickity-click this link for $5 off your first subscription!