Ruff Dawg in the News

Jefferson Rubber Works finds opportunity in loss with dog toy line

Article featured in Rubber News by Martin McConnell, April 2025.

Inspiration comes from unexpected places for Dave Pentland. As CEO of Jefferson Rubber Works, Pentland and his team produce a variety of rubber products including bellows, grommets, expansion joints and hoses. The 50-employee firm manufactures rubber products for the U.S. government, along with the automotive and health and safety industries, among others.

But it was actually a loss of business that gave the company the idea for perhaps its signature product line: Ruff Dawg rubber pet toys.

Playing It Safe

Ruff Dawg’s philosophy is that anything a pet puts in its mouth should be harmless, and for the company, that starts with U.S. manufacturing.