Shoes
Grooming & Handling · 19 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to enjoy having shoes put on and wearing them on a walk.
**Puppies:** Getting your puppy happy about wearing shoes is wonderful socialization during the puppy window (around 4 to 16 weeks), when puppies learn what is safe and normal in their world. Because a young puppy usually has no fear to undo and soaks up new experiences fast, you can often run this plan in **proof mode** (proof levels 1 and 2, the harder review steps) so your puppy breezes through it faster than an adult dog might need. Keep every rep positive and let your puppy set the pace.
**Split:** If Your Dog is frightened of their shoes, start the plan on the first split.
Training steps
Pair the sight of the shoes with treats at a distance
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the shoes from a distance and then surprise them by tossing a generous handful of tasty treats so they do not have to get close to the shoes.
Success: Your Dog eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pair the sight of the shoes with treats
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the shoes, then surprise them with a generous handful of tasty treats. Do not approach Your Dog with the shoes. Stay where you are and encourage them to come get the treats so they choose to approach on their own. Between reps, sit with Your Dog without feeding them and keep the shoes hidden. This contrast builds anticipation so Your Dog starts thinking, “Where are those shoes? I want to see them again because great things happen when they appear!”
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the shoes on the floor and sprinkle treats around them
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, put the shoes on the floor, sprinkle a generous handful of tasty treats onto and around them and then back away so Your Dog can get close and find the treats without any social pressure.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on 1 shoe halfway with a loose fit, front paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the shoe straps so it fits loosely before taking one of Your Dog's paws and putting it halfway on. Feed a treat with your other hand and then take it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on halfway.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on 1 shoe with a loose fit, front paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the shoe straps so it fits loosely before taking one of Your Dog's paws and putting the shoe on. Feed a treat with your other hand and then take it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on and fasten 1 shoe, front paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Take one of Your Dog's paws. Put the shoe on and fasten it. Put their paw down so they can feel the shoe and feed treats for 5 seconds before taking it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on 1 shoe halfway with a loose fit, other front paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the shoe straps so it fits loosely before taking one of Your Dog's paws and putting it halfway on. Feed a treat with your other hand and then take it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on halfway.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on 1 shoe with a loose fit, other front paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the shoe straps so it fits loosely before taking one of Your Dog's paws and putting the shoe on. Feed a treat with your other hand and then take it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put a shoe on the other front paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Take one of Your Dog's paws. Put the shoe on and fasten it. Put their paw down so they can feel the shoe and feed treats for 5 seconds before taking it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on 1 shoe with a loose fit, back paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the shoe straps so it fits loosely before taking one of Your Dog's paws and putting the shoe on. Feed a treat with your other hand and then take it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put a shoe on the back paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Take one of Your Dog's paws. Put the shoe on and fasten it. Put their paw down so they can feel the shoe and feed treats for 5 seconds before taking it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on 1 shoe with a loose fit, other back paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the shoe straps so it fits loosely before taking one of Your Dog's paws and putting the shoe on. Feed a treat with your other hand and then take it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put a shoe on the other back paw
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Take one of Your Dog's paws. Put the shoe on and fasten it. Put their paw down so they can feel the shoe and feed treats for 5 seconds before taking it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoe to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put shoes on both front paws
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the shoes on both front feet, then feed treats for 5 seconds before taking them off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoes to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put shoes on both back paws
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the shoes on both back feet, then feed treats for 5 seconds before taking them off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoes to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put shoes on all 4 paws
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the shoes on all 4 feet, feeding a treat per shoe, then continue feeding for 5 seconds before taking them off. Or Push to the next step to practice walking with the shoes on.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the shoes to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with them on, feed every 2 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the shoes on Your Dog and then walk around your house, feeding a treat every 2 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the shoes.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with them on, feed every 4 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the shoes on Your Dog and then walk around your house, feeding a treat every 4 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the shoes.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with them on, feed every 6 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the shoes on Your Dog and then walk around your house, feeding a treat every 6 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the shoes.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Congratulations! You now have a dog who loves their shoes.
Use plenty of high-value treats on the first few walks and keep the positive association strong by giving Your Dog a treat every time they put them on for a few weeks.
If Your Dog starts avoiding their shoes, that's completely okay! Simply Drop back to a step they're comfortable with and work through the plan again or restart the plan with proof steps. Go at Your Dog's pace and do as much training as they need.