KONG
Last verified: April 2026
Read our full verification: Is KONG Made in USA?Verification Summary
American Score
Manufacturing Location
Golden, CO
Headquarters
Golden, CO
Founded
1976
Products Verified
20 products
Evidence Breakdown
Factory Location Specificity
Specific factory city identified
Website Claim
Brand website explicitly claims Made in USA
Manufacturing History
20+ years of USA manufacturing
Known Overseas Production
This brand also makes some products overseas. Only verified USA-made items are listed.
Verification Notes
Classic rubber KONG toys manufactured in Golden, CO since 1976. Flagship rubber toys are USA-made, but the expanded KONG product line includes imported items.
Last verified: April 2026
KONG has been manufacturing products in Golden, CO since 1976. We carry 20 verified American-made KONG products.
Heritage & History
Joe Markham founded KONG in Golden, Colorado in 1976 after his German Shepherd, Fritz, developed a destructive chewing habit. When Markham noticed that Fritz was particularly obsessed with the rubber suspension bumper from his Volkswagen bus, he recognized that the irregular shape and resilient natural rubber were what made it compelling. Markham developed the Classic KONG — a hollow, snowman-shaped natural rubber toy with an irregular bounce — specifically designed to satisfy Fritz's drive to chew while being indestructible enough to last.
The toy worked. Veterinarians and trainers began recommending the KONG as a safe chew outlet and as a behavioral enrichment tool that could be filled with food to keep dogs occupied. The KONG became the world's most recommended dog toy, a distinction earned through genuine utility rather than advertising. The hollow center and unpredictable bounce that Markham borrowed from Fritz's VW bumper obsession remain the defining features of the Classic KONG nearly five decades later.
Made in Golden, Colorado
KONG manufactures its Classic rubber toys in Golden, Colorado, where Joe Markham founded the company in 1976. The natural rubber used in Classic KONG products is vulcanized and formed at the Golden facility, producing the distinctive red rubber that has become one of the most recognizable objects in American pet ownership. The manufacturing process controls rubber compound consistency to achieve the durability rating that has made KONG synonymous with tough toys for heavy chewers.
Golden is a city in Jefferson County at the base of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, and the outdoor recreation culture of the region is a natural fit for a company whose products are carried on trails, to dog parks, and into backyards across America. KONG has expanded its line significantly beyond the Classic — introducing treat dispensers, puppy toys, and senior formulations in softer rubber compounds — but all core products trace back to the Golden facility and the natural rubber chew toy that a dog named Fritz inspired.
Quick Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KONG made in the USA?
Yes. KONG manufactures 20 verified products in Golden, CO. KONG has been manufacturing its iconic natural rubber dog toys in Golden, Colorado since 1976, when founder Joe Markham invented the Classic KONG after watching his dog Fritz obsessively chew the rubber suspension bumper off a Volkswagen bus.
Where is KONG manufactured?
KONG is headquartered in Golden, CO. Manufacturing takes place in Golden, CO.
What KONG products can I buy?
We carry 20 verified KONG products across Pet Supplies. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was KONG founded?
KONG was founded in 1976. KONG has been manufacturing its iconic natural rubber dog toys in Golden, Colorado since 1976, when founder Joe Markham invented the Classic KONG after watching his dog Fritz obsessively chew the rubber suspension bumper off a Volkswagen bus.
Does KONG ship from Amazon?
Yes, all KONG products listed here are available on Amazon with free shipping for Prime members.
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