Identifying the balls in the park

[BasiliskStare]

By which I mean how do you identify which is your dog's ball if another picks it up . So we have lost a lot of those orange and blue ones and people just look at you and say - No no definitely my dog's ball. Some don't and we always help them find it

So to the point - we have started writing DDog's name on the ball with a Sharpie. But it wears off.
Is there a better idea or do we just keep overwriting it ? I know these things are only £4 a pop but after a while I'd rather we took our dog's ball home rather than someone trousering it.

To be honest, I don't bother. Mine has swapped balls with other dogs many times, and has found a few extras while walking, so I just regard it as the great ball swap game.

What breed is yours? Maybe a gun dog dummy would be a more easily identifiable toy?

We have one with a string, good for throwing and easier to spot!

@HappiestSleeping - tennis balls I don't mind , the little orange and blue ones are a bit more expensive ( well £16 for 4 ) so I would rather not be buying them all the time ( does that sounds mean )

@HappiestSleeping Ours are Border Terriers - I have never heard of a gun dog dummy but will google . Does it bounce & go a fair way with one of those chucking things

@Ylvamoon Is the string attached to the ball or did you just tie round

Anyway thank you all for advice and ideas - much appreciated

Basilisk

It's one of these... but you can make your own from tennis balls!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skylety-Interactive-Training-Exercise-Fetching/dp/B08JG8MYFP/ref=mp_s_a_1_7_sspa?crid=17V8GFV76DFYX&keywords=dog+balls+with+rope&qid=1696857430&sprefix=dog+balls+wi%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-7-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

No, unfortunately it doesn't bounce. It is used to train gun dogs to retrieve birds, but it does have a string on it so you can throw quite far.

Get what you mean about the expensive balls, it's why I don't use them to be honest. Also, I have a labrador so the dummy works well as he will sit and wait while I hide it for him to find. He loves nose work.

Honestly I'd just try leaving the balls at home. Ball flingers and balls that bounce erratically are hideous for their joints. Fine for occasional garden play but not good for repeatedly sprinting after in the park.