On our recent Golden Woofs Road Trip to BlogPaws, we spend two days in Colorado.
Our intent was to enjoy the scenery of Colorful Colorado, visit a Golden friend Moose and visit brands that Sugar loves like InClover (which will share more in a future post) and Sugar’s favorite chew toy, KONG. The KONG Company is located in Golden, Colorado.
Lots of Golden Thanks to the City of Golden, CO for admiring Sugar’s photo on Instagram. We hope Golden, CO becomes a bit friendlier dining with your dog.
According to a staff from KONG company, KONG is not open for public tours. We were very honored that they allowed our request. Sugar was Golden Thrilled. It was an honor to meet Mark Hines, KONG’s Canine Behavior and Training Specialist. Mr. Hines provided us a PAWsome presentation and a KONG manufacturing tour.
How Did KONG Company Get Started?
KONG was founded on 1976 by Joe Markham inspired by his German Shepard Fritz. Fritz was a retired police dog who got very interested in a car rubber part from a 1967 Volkswagen van. Joe was inspired with the odd shape and seeing Fritz’s enjoyment from playing with the rubber part. Joe, as an inventor, brought the part to his shop and his partner commented ” looks like King Kong’s ear plug” … the name KONG stuck and the company was created.
We were at awe from Mr. Hines presentation in regards to the importance of “PLAY” and using KONG as a mentally stimulating tool for dogs (and other pets like birds and dolphins). Mr. Hines is very passionate on what he does. He travels around the world and works with veterinarians, trainers, other behaviorist, shelter/service dog/k9training (explosives and narcotics) organizations. Mr. Hines has a tremendous knowledge about dog’s body language. He has provided us a very inspiring perspective and understanding of animal bond relationships.
Mr. Hines emphasized “how important it is to PLAY with your DOG.” Many trainers uses KONG toys as a tool to change and manage unwanted behaviors and stimulating play.
Golden Happy to tour the manufacturing facility and see how KONG was made. KONG is made of natural rubber + non-toxic fillers. Bands of rubbers are fed then heated into the forming machine. The rubber melts into a liquid and poured into a KONG mold. It’s VERY HOT! We are Golden HAPPY to share that KONG is made from a machine but involves a human touch to process each KONG after its formation.
We saw many happy smiles form KONG workers. PAWsome to hear that many of employees have been working at the KONG factory for considerable number of years.
We can’t thank Mark Hines enough for the wonderful knowledge he instilled in us and his personalized tour of the KONG company. Mr. Hines also provided us a first look of KONG’s new product (which we promised not to tell). Woofs and Lots of Golden Thanks! for all the toys and treats.
Visiting KONG was one of our best unforgettable Golden Woofs Road Trip highlights.
Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR n mom Rosalyn
Love this post! What an interesting story behind the company name! I am surprised they don’t ordinarily give tours but am happy they gave you one. That way we all got a peak inside.
THAT is just Wonderful. We are glad that you wore your being safe glasses.
How neat! KONG is our favorite toy maker 🙂
So wonderful you got such an amazing tour! Kongs are a favorite around here (especially when they’re filled with peanut butter). Thanks for the sneak peak inside a place most of us will never get to visit!
Seeing all those piles of kongs must be a doggy dream come true! You sure hit the souvenir mother lode! And how cool that they’re located in a place called GOLDEN!
What a pawsome tour – how lucky were you !
How exciting you got to visit there. Kongs are awesome!
Holy macaroni Sugar! You hit the jackpot
Lily & Edward
SugR what a great tour we love your safety glasses…very chic…you might start a new fashion trend.
Hugs
Madi your bfff
Wow Sugar lucky you but then again you deserve all those goodies. LOL love the safety googles. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
What a neat story did not have any idea how they started. And did not know they were made in the US. Thanks Sugar! Love Dolly
What an incredible post Sugar and you are sooooooo lucky to have had a tour and all!! That is sooo cool! Thanks for sharing such a fun and informative trip! Barks and licks and love, Dakota
That’s very interesting about how they are made-we’d never really thought about it. Looks like you had so much fun! =) Love the photo of Sugar in the protective eye-ware.
That was such a wonderful adventure and a super great post. Many thanks to you ! I would love to take the kong-tour :o) Oh and you really have your own city? how great is that?
That’s pretty cool that you got to see how your Kong’s are made Sugar! Even though our mommy and daddy lived in Colorado a long time they didn’t know Kong was made in Golden so that was cool to learn! We also think we heard that they have kitty toys too so we’ll have to check them out!
What a nice visit to KONG! My Angel sisfur Samantha would be very jealous! That was her favorite toy!
I’m glad you get to visit the factory and now we get to “visit” the factory with you through your blog!
Golden hugs,
June
What a great visit.
Hi Sugar, we jut had to take time to comment cause KONG is the only toy (Ball) that My vickie will let me play with. We have two balls and two of the funny shaped ones. These are the only toys that I have not been able to destroy. Seriously great stuff.
Glad you got to go inside and learn so much and that you shared it with us.
Love
Bert and My Vickie
Great that you were given the GOLDEN carpet treatment at Kong! I, too, am surprised that they don’t do public tours.
Can’t wait to see the new toy when it comes out!
That is so cool that you got to see how the KONG is manufactured. I love Sugar in the safety goggles! haha What an awesome tour and Golden fun!
That was a whole lot of fun Sugar, except for that dining part. We hope they improve on that one too!
What a Kongeriffic visit. Loved that GIANT Kong. Sugar that must have been pawsome!
–Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats
For some reason, rubber stuff just isn’t well received at our house, BUT, Bailie loves her Kong Wubba and she now has a second one which we named Kong Bear Wubba. We do enjoy Kong treats as well. What a cool tour and place to go. Makes us like CO a bit better now.
How cool! What fun you must have had!!!
Oh wow, how cool that you got a personalized tour of Kong! My boys don’t really care for their toys (I think it’s because they find them too heavy. My boys only seem to like very lightweight toys.), but my mom’s beagle can’t get enough of his red Kong ball.
OMD, OMD, OMD!!! You gots a special tour??? Oh that is seriously PAWSOME!!! those Kong peeps sure sound like a bunch of lovely dog lovers!
Thanks for the tour, and I REALLY want to know what the new toy is!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
Sugar, you went on Beamer’s dream tour. Looks like fun!
What a great tour, thank you for sharing it with us.
Sugar was really fortunate. Did he get a pawsent?
Hi there Sugar, so nice to meet you – you sure are gorgeous! What a lucky dog to have gone to the place where Kong toys come from! My girl Isis is a Siberian Husky and a SERIOUS chewer so Kong toys are a must in our house. Thanks for this fantastic, informative post.
Catherine Armato
http://www.dogsluvusandweluvthem.blogspot.com
Lucky ducky, Sugar! 🙂 Looks like you had an awesome time touring the facility. Also, I find it extremely appropriate that Kong (your fav toy) is made in Golden, CO.
What a fun and unique experience! I always appreciate hearing about companies that are really passionate about their product.
By the way, I can’t get over the photo of Sugar wearing the shop glasses!! 🙂