How a broken-down Volkswagen helped create a famous dog toy

One of the world’s best-selling pet toys has its origins in a Volkswagen repair garage. Although it sounds like a shaggy dog story, the popular Kong rubber chew was invented by a mechanic from Colorado during the 1970s.

Joe Markham’s attempts to stop his garage in downtown Denver from being burgled led him to find the perfect canine plaything.

Markham has turned to the local police for crime prevention advice, following a spate of burglaries at his dealership. Their suggestion was to get a guard dog, and Markham chose a German Shepherd named Fritz. 

Appetite for destruction

A reject from the local police academy’s canine division, Fritz had failed to make the grade due to ‘excessive chewing’. However, the young dog was available to Markham for free. 

Fritz quickly lived up to his reputation while guarding the garage. In particular, he would attempt to chew rocks, causing concern about damaging his teeth. Other substitutes, from animal bones to car radiator hoses, failed to entertain him. 

That was until Fritz discovered the rubber bump stop from a 1969 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus, which had been booked in for repairs.

Built to last

The rubber used for the air-cooled camper’s suspension was seemingly just the correct composition to survive being bitten – yet without causing canine dental damage. This led Markham to spend six years experimenting with different rubber types, and even attempting to buy parts in bulk from Volkswagen. 

Eventually, Markham settled on the finished Kong design. It would bounce randomly to encourage dogs to chase it, and it had space inside for treats to be hidden.

Markham founded the Kong company in 1976 and the rest is history. Yet he owes his global success to an unassuming Volkswagen bump stop.

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