How to NOT lose a water toy?
 

I'm thinking of getting a water toy, like the Chuckit Amphibious Shark Fin, instead of using sticks, to encourage my dog to swim. She'll only swim to fetch, won't swim for the sake of swimming. She loves to fetch and I love making her swim. However, I've noticed that with sticks, sometimes she can't find them if it sinks or she drops it 3 feet away from the shore and it floats away.

Question: how do you guys make sure the toy you throw into the water always get retrieved back to you? Do you tie a rope to it? Or do you teach a good retrieve before you try it out on water?

The swimming is in the lakes or creeks or ocean so I won't be getting in the water to retrieve the toy myself if my dog won't.

I bought cheap frisbees and balls from the dollar store. I'd bring about 5-6 $1 frisbees or a couple of the $2 hard foam bouncy balls (which mostly fit in the Chuk-it) and if it sank of floated away I didn't care. Most of the times we went out it was with the intent to stay out until all the frisbees and/or balls were gone. We lost a lot of stuff before we got a good double retrieve down. Never did get a consistent triple.

I just use cheap toys lol

Or, you can keep a little handful of small rocks and throw them so that they make a splash beside the toy. That will redirect her attention to the right spot to find the toy.