The KONG Dog Toy Story: Fritz, a VW Bus Part and 50 Years
KONG dates its work to 1976, and its story starts with a German Shepherd named Fritz and a rubber axle stop from a VW bus. Here is how that became the KONG Classic, and how to choose and fill one today.
In short
- KONG dates its work to 1976, and its own story starts with Fritz, a German Shepherd who loved chewing rocks and sticks, and the rubber axle stop his person, Joe, tossed him while working on a VW bus.
- That rubber part inspired the KONG Classic: a hollow, three-lobed natural rubber toy you can throw, chew and fill with food.
- KONG says all of its rubber toys are made in the USA at its headquarters in Golden, Colorado, the building that began as its first office and manufacturing facility.
- The rubber color tells you the strength: pink or blue for puppies, red for most adult dogs, black for the strongest chewers and purple for older dogs.
- Choose the size by your dog's weight and size up when unsure, start with a loose filling, freeze it once your dog finds it easy, and stay close during play.
The KONG dog toy started with one dog: a German Shepherd named Fritz, and a rubber part from a VW bus. KONG dates its work to 1976 and now speaks of 50 years of making toys. Here is the story as the brand tells it, what each part of the toy is for, and how to pick and fill the right one for your dog.
How Fritz and a VW bus part started KONG
KONG's own account is short and wonderfully specific. Fritz had a thing for chewing rocks and sticks. One day Joe, his dad, was working on a Volkswagen bus and tossed him a rubber axle stop, and Fritz was smitten. KONG says that moment sparked the idea for the KONG Classic. The story names the founder simply as Joe, Fritz's dad, and keeps the focus on the dog.
Hold a Classic and you can see why it lasted. It is a hollow cone of natural rubber, three rounded lobes stacked like a small snowman, with thick walls, a wide opening at the base and a small hole at the tip. Drop it and the uneven shape sends it bouncing off at an angle; KONG calls this an erratic bounce, and it turns the same toy into a fetch toy. The hollow middle makes it a food puzzle. One object, three jobs: chewing, chasing and working for a snack.
The KONG Classic, from extra small to extra large
The same red natural rubber; match the size to your dog's weight with the table further down.
From one red toy to a whole family
The range grew one idea at a time. KONG's timeline on its About Us page lists these steps after the Classic, in this order:
- KONG Extreme, a tougher line of rubber toys for large dogs and power chewers.
- Cool KONG, a floating rubber toy with a throw rope, later renamed KONG Aqua.
- A first office and manufacturing facility in Golden, Colorado, which is still KONG's World Headquarters.
- KONG ZoomGroom and KONG Dental, which mark the brand's move into grooming and care.
- Stuff'N Paste, a spread for filling toys, later renamed KONG Easy Treat.
That Golden building is where KONG makes all of its rubber products, and the brand says its rubber toys have always been made in America from natural rubber. The ZoomGroom takes rubber somewhere new: soft rubber fingers that lift loose hair as you brush, dry or in the bath with shampoo. More grooming tools sit on their own shelf.
Lines from KONG's own timeline
Black Extreme rubber for strong jaws, and rubber-fingered ZoomGroom brushes for dogs and cats.
What the colors and sizes mean
The color of KONG rubber tells you how firm it is, and the size should follow your dog's weight. KONG's guide to choosing sets out the colors like this:
| Rubber color | Line | Who KONG makes it for | A good fit when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pink or blue | Puppy | Puppies 9 months and younger, and light chewers | A new puppy is exploring everything with baby teeth |
| Red | Classic | Most adult dogs | Your dog enjoys a good chew but rarely wrecks toys |
| Black | Extreme | Power chewers; KONG's most durable rubber | Red toys wear down fast in your dog's mouth |
| Purple | Senior | Gentle chewers and older dogs | Your dog still loves to play but chews more softly |
Softer rubber for the youngest and oldest mouths
Puppy rubber in pink, a puppy-sized Goodie Bone, and a two-pack of the purple Senior.
| Size | Dog's weight (KONG Classic) |
|---|---|
| XS | Up to 5 lb |
| S | Up to 20 lb |
| M | 15 to 35 lb |
| L | 30 to 65 lb |
| XL | 60 to 90 lb |
| XXL | 85 lb and over |
What to put inside a KONG
Fill it with food your dog already eats. KONG's FAQ suggests its own Easy Treat, unsweetened peanut butter with no xylitol, plain yogurt, wet dog food, mashed banana, pumpkin puree or a portion of your dog's usual kibble. Ask your vet before adding anything new to your dog's menu, and count what goes in as part of the day's food.
A simple routine that builds up
- Start easy. Drop in loose kibble that tumbles out with a nudge. KONG suggests serving it unfrozen for dogs who are new to filled toys.
- Pack a little tighter. Mix kibble with something soft, then seal the wide opening with a smear of spread.
- Freeze it. KONG says a few hours in the freezer makes a filled toy last longer and adds a layer of challenge.
- Wash it. Most KONG rubber toys can go on the top rack of the dishwasher; KONG says to skip the heated dry cycle, which can wear down the rubber.
A filled toy also gives a dog a job on a busy evening. On a night full of doorbells, like Halloween at home, set one up in a quiet room before the first knock.
Toys and tools made for filling
Grippers at each end of the Goodie Bone hold food, the Gyro rolls kibble out as it spins, and the tray keeps toys upright while you fill and freeze.
Why a KONG has two holes
The wide opening at the base is where food goes in and comes out. The small hole at the narrow tip goes straight through, so the toy is open at both ends. KONG's own pages do not say why. The explanation shared most widely is about air: with an opening at each end, air can pass through the toy, so suction is less likely to build while a dog licks.
What it means at home: KONG's own stuffing guide starts by plugging that small hole with a treat or a smear of spread, so the filling stays put, then layers food on top. Whichever way you fill it, stay close while your dog licks it clean.
Beyond rubber: tug, fetch and cat toys
KONG's softer toys follow the same idea of giving a pet something real to do. The Wubba wraps a tennis ball and a squeaker ball in tough nylon fabric, with long tails to grab for tug. The Jumbler hides a tennis ball inside a tough outer shell with handles, so it is easy to pick up and shake. Floppy Knots toys have knotted rope inside and very little stuffing, which means less mess on the rug. The red Ball with Hole is solid natural rubber made for fetch; see more balls for every size of mouth.
Cats get a share too. The Feather Mouse is a plush mouse with a feather tail and a pouch you refill from the vial of catnip in the pack, and the Cat Wubba mouse crinkles and rattles, with long tails to bat. Find more catnip toys for indoor play.
Tug, fetch and feline play
A fabric tug toy, a ball inside a ball, rope-filled plush, a solid rubber fetch ball and two cat toys.
Our picks to start with
The one that started it
The KONG Classic for large dogs is the red toy Fritz inspired, sized for dogs of about 30 to 65 pounds.
- Natural red rubber with KONG's erratic bounce
- Wide opening for filling, small hole at the tip
For a first puppy
The small Puppy KONG in blue uses KONG's softest rubber, made for baby teeth.
- Same snowman shape, gentler rubber
- Fill with a little of your puppy's own food
For a dog who finishes toys
The KONG Extreme in large is the black rubber line KONG built for power chewers.
- KONG's most durable rubber strength
- Fills and freezes like the Classic
For water days
The KONG Aqua, once called Cool KONG, floats and comes with a long rope for throwing farther.
- Bright orange for spotting on water or grass
- Rope makes a longer throw easy
For an older friend
The purple KONG Senior is soft rubber for gentle chewers and older dogs who still love a game.
- Softer rubber than the red Classic
- Still bounces for an easy game of fetch
See every KONG toy we carry to compare sizes and colors side by side.
Questions people ask
When was the KONG Company founded?
KONG dates its work to 1976. Its own story begins with Fritz, a German Shepherd whose person, Joe, tossed him a rubber axle stop from a VW bus, which led to the KONG Classic. Its headquarters in Golden, Colorado began as its first office and manufacturing facility.
Who founded KONG?
KONG's own story names him as Joe, the dad of a German Shepherd called Fritz. Joe was working on a VW bus when he gave Fritz a rubber axle stop, and Fritz's delight sparked the idea for the KONG Classic.
What can you put inside of a KONG dog toy?
Food your dog already eats. KONG's FAQ lists its Easy Treat, unsweetened peanut butter with no xylitol, plain yogurt, wet dog food, mashed banana, pumpkin puree and regular kibble. Ask your vet before trying a new food.
Why do KONGs have two holes?
The wide opening is for filling and emptying. KONG does not say why the small hole at the tip is there; the explanation shared most widely is that it lets air through, so suction is less likely to build while a dog licks. KONG's own stuffing guide starts by plugging it with a treat or a smear of spread. However you fill it, stay close while your dog licks it clean.
Do you put treats inside KONGs?
Yes, the hollow center is made to be filled. Treats, kibble or a soft spread all work; start with a loose fill so it is easy to empty, then pack tighter or freeze as your dog gets the hang of it.
Where are KONG products made?
KONG says all of its rubber products, and a few others, are made in the USA. Its rubber toys are made from natural rubber at its headquarters in Golden, Colorado. For plush, rope and fabric toys, check the packaging for where each one was made.
About the numbers
- KONG Company, About Us, read 2026-10-06: Fritz the German Shepherd, rocks and sticks, Joe and the rubber axle stop from a VW bus, the idea for the KONG Classic; working since 1976 and 50 years; the timeline (KONG Extreme, Cool KONG renamed KONG Aqua, Golden, Colorado office and manufacturing facility still the World Headquarters where rubber products are made, KONG ZoomGroom and KONG Dental as its turn to grooming and care, Stuff'N Paste renamed Easy Treat); rubber toys made in America from natural rubber
- KONG Company, Choosing the Right KONG, read 2026-10-06: Rubber colors: Puppy pink or blue for puppies 9 months and younger and light chewers, Classic red for most adult dogs, Extreme black as the most durable, Senior purple for gentle chewers and aging dogs; the largest ring should be bigger than the back of the dog's mouth; size up when between sizes or unsure
- KONG Company, KONG Classic product page, read 2026-10-06: 100% natural rubber; sizes by weight: XS up to 5 lb, S up to 20 lb, M 15 to 35 lb, L 30 to 65 lb, XL 60 to 90 lb, XXL 85 lb and over; supervised use, discontinue if damaged
- KONG Company, FAQ, read 2026-10-06: Stuffing options; start by plugging the small opening with a treat or a smear of peanut butter, layer in food and cap it with something sticky; freezing a stuffed KONG for a few hours; size up when in doubt; all KONG rubber products made in the USA along with a few other products; top rack of the dishwasher without the heated dry cycle; supervise play; discard a cracked or worn toy
- KONG Company, KONG Stuffing Basics, read 2026-10-06: Seal the opening with a spread; serve unfrozen for beginner KONG chewers
- Google search 'Why do KONGs have two holes', read 2026-10-06: Results explain that the small hole lets air pass through so suction is less likely to form while a dog licks; KONG's About Us, FAQ and KONG Classic pages do not give a reason for the small hole
