SUPERZOO 2026 Part I: The Blood, Sweat and Treats of Dog Toy Design with BARK

What do birthing cows, treat-dispensing trolls, and character development have in common? They’re all part of the wonderfully weird world of BARK, where making great dog toys requires a surprising mix of creativity, engineering, behavioral science, and best of all, unhinged creativity. Recorded live from the SUPERZOO 2026 show floor, this special episode goes behind the scenes at BARK to explore the creativity, science, and obsession behind some of the brand’s most memorable and joy-inducing products.Show NotesLearn more at https://bark.co/.Check out BARK’s new Licksters enrichment system: https://bark.co/products/licksters-toy Searching for more? https://bark.co/pages/barkbox-changed-my-lifeRead more about what went down at SUPERZOO 2026! https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/keywords/429-superzoo (And stay tuned for more episodes from the show floor coming soon!)Episode Chapters00:00 – Welcome to SUPERZOO 2026 & Meet BARK01:34 – Bertha the Birthing Cow & BARK’s Weirdest Toys03:36 – Designing Dog Toys for Two Audiences07:30 – How BARK Turns Weird Ideas Into Play10:20 – Licksters, Enrichment & the Future of Dog Toys14:02 – Where Enrichment and Play Collide15:28 – Why Dogs Actually Want to Destroy Their Toys18:01 – The Surprising Science Behind How Dogs Play22:21 – Inside BARK’s Massive Toy Design Machine25:35 – Blood, Sweat & Treats: Bringing a New Toy to Life29:21 – Meet the Weird and Wonderful Characters of BARK31:50 – Putting Dogs First—and Loving Every Minute of It32:56 – Pet Parenting Around the World