7 Best Dog Subscription Boxes Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Subscription boxes are the secret pleasure you didn’t know you needed! Who says it can’t be Christmas every month? But when it comes to subscription boxes for dogs, they are not just adorable, but can also be very convenient.

Going out to get treats and the best toys for your dog can feel like just another chore on the list, but what if you could just get them delivered to your doorstep every month? 

Today, we’ll set out to find the best dog subscription box in Australia.

Australia's Best Dog Subscription Boxes Reviewed

Olly’s Box started in 2014 as a family-owned business based in a small garage in Brisbane. That was almost 10 years ago, but they are still one of the most beloved dog subscription boxes in Australia. The reason: consistency, quality, and the human touch.

With Olly’s Box, you get a box full of carefully selected goodies: they use only Aussie-made treats, their toys are mostly high quality, and they include an occasional handy accessory for the human too (such as a poop bag holder, for example).

You can subscribe to the classic Olly’s Box, or choose the Pup Box or Barkday Box (both of those are perfect as gifts too!).

Probably the best thing about Olly’s Box is that they are always open to customising your subscription. Your dog destroys plush toys and makes a huge mess every time? Just ask them to not send you any and they will include something more durable instead. Like a smaller or larger box? It can all be arranged.

A monthly subscription which you can cancel at any time is the basic option, but if you sign up for a 3 month or 6 month contract you will get a considerable discount. Ordering a one-off box is also possible, and so is setting your own plan and getting boxes delivered every 3 months, for example.

Key Features:

Ugly Box is another good, local option. Starting in 2018, the Ugly Box has quickly become one of the favourites among pet parents with subscription addiction. The Ugly Box keeps things simple, but at the same time lets you choose exactly what you need.

Let’s start with the packaging. What can we say? Well, some would say it’s ugly. It’s a simple cardboard box. But it makes perfect sense: dogs don’t care about ribbons and colourful prints and keeping the packaging simple is much more eco-friendly and economical. So why not?

When it comes to the contents of the box, there are various simple but effective options. Classic Ugly Box contains 2 toys and 2 treats, but you can also opt for a box consisting of toys only or treats only. There is also a no-plush option, perfect for power chewers who love to destroy plushy toys.

The toys are mostly decent quality (although some are better than others), but our favourite thing about the Ugly Box are the Aussie- or NZ-made treats. No compromising on the quality there!

As for the subscription plan, you can choose among various options, from a month-to-month subscription to a 6 month contract. You can also adjust the delivery intervals to suit your pup’s lifestyle.

Key Features

The Curious Box from Pet Circle is one of the lowest priced dog subscription boxes you can find. But what about the value? Well, from what we’ve seen, it’s not bad, but not amazing either. We recommend this subscription if you have a small to medium dog, as owners of big dogs have often found that the toys they receive are way too small.

As for what’s inside, the Curious Box is the only subscription box that will actually tell you what it contains. Yes, that spoils the surprise, but you also don’t have to look! Still, it’s good to get an idea of what you are paying for. For example, here is what’s included in the Big Dog Curious Box this month:

“Exact selection of products may vary”, says the description, but what this list tells us is that the products are medium quality at best. The contents of the box change every 6 weeks, though, so there is the element of surprise.

Speaking of which, you can choose the delivery intervals yourself when you set up your subscription, but it’s recommended to make them at least 6 weeks because otherwise, you might get the same box twice. One-off boxes are also available to test the service.

There are a few options available, including Big Dog, Small Dog, and Tough Dog boxes as well as a special Birthday Box.

Key Features

Waggly is another Australian business dedicated to dogs, with HQ in Melbourne but delivering Australia-wide. Although there have been some mixed reviews lately, Waggly is still one of the most popular and beloved subscription services around here.

To subscribe to Waggly, you’ll be asked to share details about your dog which they use to customise the boxes. But you also get to choose a box of your choice: Puppy, Original, Active, or Power Chewer.

The puppy box is especially cool for new pet parents, as it includes age-appropriate toys, puppy-friendly treats as well as training tips.

As for what exactly is inside the boxes, it remains a mystery, which is part of the concept. What you can expect are various toys (some tougher than others) as well as some snacks each month.

The good thing about Waggly is that they have their own line of Aussie-made snacks which are all made using just one ingredient (air-dried, locally-sourced meat). That’s really a plus!

The downside of the Waggly Cub is that you have to get a 6 month subscription minimum when you sign up for the boxes. This might be too long if you’ve never tried the boxes before and aren’t sure if you (or your pooch) will like them.

Key Features:

Pawfect Surprise is another great Australian subscription option. This is probably the most elaborate subscription box we’ve found, especially if you choose one of the larger boxes.

We liked the fact that Pawfect Surprise tells you quite specifically what kind of products you will get in each of their boxes, without telling you exactly what it is, thus preserving the mystery.

Here are 2 examples:

• The Pawfully Fun Box (the cheapest option) includes :
• 2 x supaw fun toys,
• 1 x soft and cuddly toy,
• 1 x fun accessory and
• 1 x bag of 100% natural meat treats each month.
• The Empawrium Box (the fanciest option) includes:
• 1 x supaw fun toys,
• 1 x soft and cuddly toy,
• 1 x puzzle or interactive toy,
• 1 x bag of 100% natural meat treats,
• 1 x grooming products,
• 1 x fun accessory and
• 1 x health and wellness product each month

You can choose between 3 different types of boxes, but they will also be additionally customised for your dog. When you sign up, you’ll be asked a few questions about your canine companion which helps them pack stuff your dog will actually enjoy.

Another great thing is the fact that you can cancel your subscription anytime you want. No getting locked into a service you no longer like!

Key Features

Pawgie is another Australian subscription box that has been around for quite a few years. What sets Pawgie apart from the rest is the variety of the specialised boxes.

For a basic option, you could get the Toy & Treat Pawgie Box, which is a combo of different treats and toys, just like most other doggie gift boxes. You can also opt for toys only or treats only. But then, there are also special occasion boxes like the Birthday Box which also includes party hats and an edible birthday card - perfect as a gift for a friend’s canine companion!

One unusual offering is also the Hygiene box. This one gets you cosmetics for your dog, like shampoo, conditioner, and toys for healthy teeth.

One thing that we like about the Pawgie Box are the treats. The selection varies from box to box, but they tend to use high-quality Australian-made treats, which is always a plus.

Key Features

Last but not least, we have the Go Get Me subscription box. It’s another Australian company that’s focused specifically on doggie gift boxes. The subscription is a tad more expensive than some other options, but they really tend to focus on quality and get you some really nice toys and treats.

Plus, the Go Get Me goodies come in a signature yellow box with a rope on top. If you do get a subscription, your canine companion will probably learn to recognise it and get all excited for the presents!

Key Features

What to Consider When Choosing a Monthly Dog  Subscription Box

Subscription boxes are cool, but are they worth the money? Well, some are better than others, but it’s really difficult to know if the contents will work for your dog until you get one. It does not help that the contents of a subscription box are usually a secret, because, well, that’s the fun of it - to be surprised!

Related: Are Dog Subscriptions Worth It?

However, we do have a few tips to help you avoid negative surprises. Here is what to think about before signing up to a doggie subscription box:

Subscription Conditions 

This has nothing to do with the contents of the box itself, but before settling on a subscription, it’s best to check the terms & conditions! The best kind of subscription box is one you can cancel at any time if you don’t like it, but sometimes that’s not an option and you are locked in for a certain period of time, so make sure to check.

Often you can get discounts if you sign up for 3 or 6 months, and that’s actually quite cool if you are a faithful customer. But, if you are just trying out a new subscription box, it’s better to choose an option that doesn’t lock you in immediately.

Frequency

A monthly box sounds quite cool, but does your dog really need that many toys & treats? For dogs who love playing with toys & munching on treats, this can be the right amount, but for some, it can be too much. In that case, it might be more effective to have a subscription box that comes every 2 or even 3 months. Luckily, many subscriptions allow you to adjust the frequency of the deliveries.

Customisation

Now, about the contents of the box. Pretty much every doggie subscription box contains a combination of toys and treats. Sometimes you can choose to opt for toys only or treats only, and some subscriptions also include other goodies like hygiene products and nifty accessories. The trick is in finding something that suits your dog the most.

But it’s not just the type of item that will go inside the box that matters. Not every toy works for every dog, for example. It’s important that the toys are the right size for your dog in order for them to be safe. For that reason, it’s best to choose a subscription box that offers a good degree of customisation. Many of them will offer options tailored to dogs of different sizes, plus extra options such as “no plush toys” - perfect for power chewers who would just destroy them in a matter of minutes.

Quality

This is the most difficult part about dog subscription boxes. You never know what you’ll get, and if you want quality stuff for your dog, you’ll have to keep your eyes and options open, at least until you can find a brand you trust. Finding the best dog treats are a real minefield in that regard:

Some subscription boxes will include treats that look cute, but are made of terrible ingredients. Treats should not make up more than 5-10%  of your dog’s diet anyway [2], but it’s always better to choose high-quality options when it comes to treats too!

The story is similar with dog toys. The dog toy market in Australia is not in any way regulated, so it’s up to you to decide whether the toys in the box are safe for your dog or not.

My Final Verdict

As it turns out, there are quite a few options in Australia when it comes to dog subscription boxes. Which one is the best? It’s difficult to say, especially because the contents change all the time!

However, many of the subscription services on the list above have been around for quite a long time, so it must mean they are doing something good.

References

1. Kerns, N. March 30, 2021. “Best Dog Treats”. Whole Dog Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2023. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/best-dog-treats/
2. Xu, E. December 5, 2016. “6 Healthy Treat Ideas for Dogs”. PetMD. Retrieved May 16, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/6-healthy-treat-ideas-dogs