Is KONG Made in USA?
Last verified: March 2026 · Based on 19 verified products and public manufacturing evidence
Partially — Some Products Made in USA
KONG's core product lines are made in the USA in Golden, CO, but the brand has known exceptions where some products are manufactured overseas. Look for explicit "Made in USA" labeling on individual items.
Verification Confidence
Average confidence score across 19 verified products — scores ≥70% are shown on this site.
Manufacturing Details
- Made in
- Golden, CO
- Headquarters
- Golden, CO
- Location detail
- Specific city confirmed
- History
- Long-established (50+ years)
- Founded
- 1976
- Note
- Some product lines manufactured overseas
Verification Evidence
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.
About KONG
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.
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.
American-Made KONG Products
View all 19 products →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KONG made in the USA?
KONG is partially made in the United States. Core product lines are American-made in Golden, CO, but some products have known exceptions. 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.
Where is KONG manufactured?
KONG manufactures its products in Golden, CO. The company is headquartered in Golden, CO.
Which KONG products are made in the USA?
We carry 19 verified American-made KONG products across Pet & Supplies. Every listing is linked directly to Amazon with verified manufacturing evidence.
Are all KONG products made in the USA?
Not all KONG products are made in the USA. The brand has known product lines or SKUs manufactured outside the United States. Look for explicit "Made in USA" labeling on individual products, or browse our verified KONG products which have all passed our verification threshold.