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If your social media includes as many dog accounts as ours does, you’ll know that subscription boxes for dogs are everywhere. Most of them are toy-themed, with novel plushes, balls, squeakers, and chews clustered around a particular aesthetic or play style.
Toy-themed subscription boxes aren’t, however, for all pups—especially dogs who are selective about their toys and find random assortments hit or miss. My Cattle Dog/Border Collie mix, Enzo, for example, doesn’t show much enthusiasm for most toys. Fetching isn’t his forte, and plush toys hold his attention for a mere 30 seconds. As a result, our house has become a repository of unused toys.
Enter Dogby’s Discovery Kit, which aims to strengthen the pet and parent bond by offering a mixture of training resources, games, and supplies. I decided to put Dogby’s kit to the test, hoping it would capture Enzo’s attention more effectively.
We review the contents, the pros and cons, and what surprised us—including how the kit became a winner for our usually toy-neutral pup.
What Comes in a Dogby Discovery Kit?
In their Discovery Boxes, Dogby curates a collection of treats, toys, accessories, training supplies, and educational materials for you and your dog to enjoy. Their “themes,” which rotate every two months, aim to strengthen your bond with your dog and create experiences for you both to enjoy. The box is suitable for dogs of all sizes and ages.
Dogby’s box themed around understanding dog emotions synced perfectly with Enzo’s training.
In our “dog emotions” themed box, we received the following:
- A lickbowl mat for meals or mental stimulation
- A treat pouch for easy access to treats during training time
- Chicken treats from a bakery in Boston
- A handmade snuffle ball for hiding treats
- A quiet mat, to help calm your dog in stressful or exciting situations
- A doggie language guide to help translate your pup’s expressions and body language
- A large booklet compiled by Dogby with explanations of each item, suggestions for toys or activities, and cited educational resources
Dogby’s discovery kits arrive every other month and are themed around a particular facet of your dog’s life. You can see upcoming themes on their site. Boxes can be purchased as a one-off, or subscriptions are available for 20% off the bi-monthly price.
How We Used the Dogby Discovery Kit
The first item we tried from Dogby’s box was the quiet mat, which proved ideal for addressing Enzo’s “leash mania.” Addressing this behavior involves having Enzo retreat to a neutral spot (like his bed) when he gets too excited about us picking up a shoe or his leash. The quiet mat complemented this training, and the kit provided instructions very similar to those from our trainer on how to make the mat Enzo’s designated “place.”
Enzo’s personal favorite item is the snuffle ball, which offers shockingly long-lasting entertainment.
Enzo’s favorite item from the box was the snuffle mat. I hid chicken treats in between its fabric pieces for him to sniff out, and he would spend 10 to 20 minutes at a time batting it around—depending on the number of hidden treats. It provided excellent mental stimulation on rainy days and helped him wind down after an exciting activity. The accompanying booklet recommended using it for “transition periods” during the day, which we found to be a great suggestion.
My favorite item from the box was the doggie language guide. Despite six years of interaction, I still learned some valuable insights about Enzo’s body language. For example, I discovered that dogs who look like they’re “smiling” may actually be experiencing stress and panting. I’ve found myself thinking back to the book and looking for different tail and ear positions when interacting with unfamiliar dogs.
Enzo enjoys story time—or maybe just that the book smells a bit like treats.
What we liked:
- Unique, high-quality products sourced from small businesses around the US
- A diverse mix of toys for pets and training tools
- Extensive educational resources that provide in-depth knowledge, actionable tips and exercises
- Genuinely enjoyable and enriching activities for both pets and their parents
Some Considerations:
- The kit requires a time investment to fully explore its contents and engage with your dog
- Lack of customization options, which means you might receive items you already have or don’t need
- The same offering applies to all dog sizes, so it may not suit extra-large or small breeds
Is the Dogby Subscription Box worth it?
Overall, our experience with the Discovery Kit was thoroughly enjoyable. Dogby strikes a remarkable balance between educational resources, engaging activities, and high-quality products. Every aspect of the box was thoughtfully curated, providing us with numerous activities.
I came away feeling like I could better understand my dog’s emotions and make his life more interesting and fun. We wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try for your furry companion.
