Genius Dog Trick: How to Teach Your Dog to Match Shoes Together

Before we dive into the training, let’s get our ducks (or, in this case, shoes) in a row. Proper preparation is key to making the learning process smooth and fun for both you and your dog. You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment, but having the right tools on hand will make a world of difference. Think of this as setting the stage for your dog’s big performance!

Key Supplies:

• Shoes, of course!: Start with shoes that have a distinct and relatively strong scent. Well-worn sneakers or leather shoes are perfect because they hold your scent really well. Begin with just one pair. As your dog gets better, you can introduce different types and more pairs.
• High-Value Treats: This is a challenging trick, so your dog’s usual kibble might not cut it. We need the good stuff! Think small, smelly, and delicious morsels like tiny pieces of cooked chicken, cheese, or commercial training treats that your dog goes wild for. The goal is to make the reward so amazing that your dog is super motivated to figure out the puzzle.
• A Clicker (Optional but Recommended): A clicker is a fantastic tool for marking the exact moment your dog does something right. The ‘click’ provides clear, instantaneous feedback, which can speed up the learning process significantly. If you’re not using a clicker, you’ll need a consistent verbal marker, like a sharp ‘Yes!’.
• A Quiet Training Space: Choose a room with minimal distractions. A living room or hallway where you can close the doors is ideal. We want your dog to be able to focus entirely on the task at hand without getting sidetracked by squirrels, mail carriers, or other pets.
• Patience and a Positive Attitude: This is the most important tool in your kit! This is an advanced trick that combines multiple skills. There will be moments of confusion and setbacks. Your job is to stay positive, keep sessions short and fun, and celebrate the small wins along the way. Your energy will set the tone for the entire training experience.

Expert Tip: For the initial training stages, try to use shoes that you’ve worn recently. Your fresh scent will be much easier for your dog to pick up and differentiate, making the first steps of the game much clearer for them.

Before we can ask our dogs to match a pair, they first need to understand the basic game: ‘your scent on this object is important.’ This foundational phase is all about introducing the concept of scent identification in a simple, rewarding way. We’re teaching a ‘scent-based targeting’ behavior.

Step 1: Charging the Scent

The first goal is to make one shoe incredibly interesting. Sit on the floor with your dog in your quiet training space. Hold one shoe from the pair you’ve chosen.

1. Let your dog investigate the shoe. The moment their nose touches it, click (or say ‘Yes!’) and immediately give them a high-value treat.
2. Pull the shoe away for a second, then present it again. Repeat this process 5-10 times. We are building a strong positive association: Nose touches shoe = Click = Delicious treat!
3. Don’t rush this! We want the dog to be eagerly booping the shoe with their nose.

Step 2: Introducing a Choice

Now, we need to make sure the dog is targeting the shoe because of its specific scent, not just because it’s an object in your hand. Let’s introduce a neutral, unscented item.

1. Place the target shoe on the floor a short distance from you. Next to it (but not touching), place a neutral object your dog has no experience with, like a new plastic cup or a block of wood.
2. Gesture towards the two items. If your dog moves towards or sniffs the target shoe, click/say ‘Yes!’ the instant their nose makes contact and reward them generously.
3. If they sniff the neutral item, simply say nothing and don’t reward them. Wait for them to eventually investigate the shoe. This is a process of self-discovery. They learn that only the shoe produces the reward.
4. Practice this until your dog is consistently choosing the shoe over the neutral item.

Remember: Keep training sessions short and sweet, especially in this early phase. Five to ten minutes at a time is perfect. We want to end on a high note, leaving your dog eager for the next session, not tired or frustrated.

Alright, your dog understands that a specific shoe is a source of great things! Now it’s time to teach them the ‘matching’ part of the trick. This is where their super-sniffer really gets to shine. We will build this skill piece by piece.

Step 1: Find the Match

This is the core of the trick. We’re asking the dog to find the shoe that smells just like the one we give them.

1. Place one shoe from your chosen pair on the floor (let’s call this the ‘target shoe’).
2. A few feet away, create a small pile of two other, different shoes. These should be shoes you haven’t worn recently to minimize scent confusion.
3. Take the mate to your target shoe (the ‘matching shoe’) and hand it to your dog or let them sniff it thoroughly. Give your cue, which could be ‘Find it!’ or ‘Match!’.
4. Encourage your dog to go towards the small pile. At first, you may need to walk with them.
5. The moment they show interest in—or better yet, touch their nose to—the correct matching shoe in the pile, have a treat party! Click/say ‘Yes!’ and give them lots of praise and treats.
6. If they sniff the wrong shoes, that’s okay! Don’t say anything. Just wait. Let them work out the puzzle. Their nose will eventually lead them to the one that smells like the one you gave them.

Step 2: Adding the ‘Bring It’ Command

Once your dog is reliably identifying the correct shoe, we can add the retrieve. This assumes your dog has a basic understanding of ‘fetch’ or ‘bring’. If not, you’ll want to teach that separately first.

1. Repeat the ‘Find the Match’ game. This time, when they identify the correct shoe, get really excited and use your retrieve cue, like ‘Bring it!’ or ‘Get it!’.
2. Reward any attempt to pick up the shoe. Even if they just mouth it at first, click and treat.
3. Gradually shape the behavior, rewarding them for picking it up, then for taking a step towards you with it, and finally for bringing it all the way to you.

Step 3: Putting It All Together

Now we combine the find and the retrieve into one fluid action.

1. Hold one shoe for your dog to scent.
2. Place its mate in a small pile of other shoes across the room.
3. Give your final cue, something like ‘Match the shoe!’.
4. Your dog should now go to the pile, use their nose to identify the correct shoe, pick it up, and bring it back to you for a huge reward. You’ve done it!

Step 4: Increasing the Difficulty (Generalizing)

A trick isn’t truly mastered until it can be done in different situations. Once your dog is a pro at matching one pair, start mixing it up!

• More Shoes: Gradually increase the number of ‘distractor’ shoes in the pile. Go from two to three, then four, and so on.
• Different Locations: Move the game to a different room in the house.
• Different Types of Shoes: Try matching sandals, boots, and slippers.
• Your Family’s Shoes: The ultimate test! Can your dog match a pair of your partner’s or kid’s shoes? This requires them to lock onto the specific scent you present and ignore others.

Even with the best plan, you might hit a few snags. That’s a normal part of any advanced dog training! The key is to recognize the issue and adjust your approach. Here are solutions to some of the most common problems you might encounter while teaching the shoe-matching trick.

Problem: My Dog Keeps Chewing the Shoes!

Solution: This is very common, especially with younger dogs or breeds that are naturally ‘mouthy’. The shoe is an interesting object that smells like you, so chewing is a natural impulse.

• Focus on a Quick Retrieve: Keep the ‘bring it’ portion of the trick fast and exciting. As soon as they pick up the shoe, enthusiastically call them back to you. The goal is to make bringing it to you more rewarding than stopping to chew.
• Teach a ‘Drop It’ Cue: A solid ‘drop it’ or ‘give’ command is essential. Practice this separately with toys, rewarding your dog handsomely for releasing an item on cue.
• Reward the Hold, Not the Chew: Use your clicker or marker word to pinpoint the moment the dog is holding the shoe gently in their mouth without chewing. If they start to gnaw, briefly withhold the reward until they stop.

Problem: My Dog Gets Distracted and Loses Focus.

Solution: A lack of focus usually means the training session has gone on too long, the environment is too distracting, or the reward isn’t motivating enough.

• Shorter Sessions: Cut your training time in half. Aim for multiple, ultra-short sessions of just 2-3 minutes throughout the day instead of one long 15-minute session. Always end on a successful repetition so your dog feels like a winner.
• Control the Environment: Go back to your quietest, most boring room. Ensure other pets are put away and televisions or radios are off. Your dog’s full attention is required for this complex task.
• Up the Reward Value: Is your dog just ‘meh’ about the treats? It’s time to bring out the big guns. Try real meat, tiny bits of hot dog, or whatever your dog considers five-star dining.

Problem: My Dog Just Can’t Seem to Find the Right Match.

Solution: This indicates a breakdown in the scent work foundation. The dog might be confused about what they’re supposed to be looking for.

• Go Back to Basics: Revisit Phase 1. Spend more time just rewarding your dog for targeting a single shoe. Make that initial association incredibly strong.
• Make it Easier: When you reintroduce the matching game, make it ridiculously easy. Place the matching shoe just a foot away from the ‘distractor’ shoes, which should be very different in shape and smell (e.g., a rubber boot vs. a leather sneaker).
• Amplify the Scent: Make the target scent undeniable. Wear the pair of shoes for an hour right before the training session. You can even store them in a sealed plastic bag together to concentrate the scent.

Crucial Advice: Never punish your dog for making a mistake. If they bring the wrong shoe, simply say ‘Oops!’ in a neutral tone, take the shoe, and reset the exercise to make it a little easier. Training should always be a positive and confidence-building experience.