BARK Is Now Co-Owned by Dogs

For more than a decade, we’ve reimagined what life could look like if we truly put dogs first. This was the mindset that we applied in creating BarkBox, giving dogs the joy of surprise with a monthly delivery of toys and treats designed just for them, then extending that same magic to retail stores. It’s why we launched BARK Air, where dogs fly first. It’s why we've donated millions of dollars in products to shelters and rescues nationwide, why we hired Brian Grochal, Director of Safety and Quality, three years ago to lead the development of the first-ever international toy safety standards for dogs, and why each of our offices were designed to be places where dogs look forward to being.

Every move has brought us closer to the idea that dogs don’t just deserve better – they deserve a seat at the table. So, we’re making it official by embracing a new brand promise: BARK is now Co-Owned by Dogs .

We’re rolling that promise out with a new campaign, which you can check out here, but this isn’t just a campaign. It’s a shift in how BARK works. Dogs are more than just our customers. They’re our partners, our advisors, and co-owners of our company. They sit beside us every day, in our offices and our lives, helping us co-create everything we make.

We discussed giving dogs actual shares in BARK, but it turns out, there are a lot of rules about who can own a company - and dogs don’t make the cut (yet). So, here are all the ways we’re making dogs co-owners that steer the future of BARK:

• We’re launching the Dog Committee: We’re launching an official advisory group made up of dogs from our community of subscribers. They’ll weigh in on everything from toys and treats to the causes we support. To join this committee right NOW, you can sign up for a BARK subscription here (oh..and since the dogs are calling the shots now, they are giving away FREE toys for a year to all new subscribers).

• We’re hiring a Chairdog (Yes, a Real Dog): To lead the Dog Committee and advise me and the rest of the executive team, we’ve opened a real role for a real dog - with real input and real compensation. This isn’t a gimmick, we mean this literally. The Chairdog will join quarterly leadership meetings, with a little help from a telepathic dog communicator to make sure their voice (and the Dog Committee’s voice) is heard on product development and charitable giving. Applications for the Chairdog role are now open at bark.co/careers , and we’ll introduce our first Chairdog later this Summer. Tell all the dogs you know to apply.

• We’re giving back to dogs in need: We’ll continue donating millions of dollars worth of products to dog-focused causes. Last year alone we donated nearly $800,000 in products and support to dog rescues and shelters nationwide, including Colorado Pet Panty, Dog Star Rescue, Austin Pets Alive, East Bay SPCA Rescue and others. We’ll share more soon, but our upcoming food launch will similarly support dog-focused causes. We’re also earmarking $50,000 for our new Chairdog to direct toward a dog-focused cause they care about the most.

• We’re inviting all dogs to be co-owners: All dogs are invited to help shape the future of BARK because every dog deserves a say in how we do things. By signing up at bark.co/coownedbydogs , your dog becomes a Co-Owner of BARK – sharing feedback, receiving company updates and helping shape the products we create together.

We’ve always believed that nobody knows what dogs want better than dogs themselves. Now, we’re giving them the chance to prove it. For dogs, by dogs.

I can’t wait to build what’s next, together with dogs.

Matt