How to Train Your Dog to Bring Your Slippers
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Introduction
Of all the tricks you could teach your dog, training him to fetch your slippers has to be one of the most iconic. Imagine how nice it would be to come home from a hard day at work, kick back in the recliner, and have your pup bring your slippers to you. This "trick" is, in essence, a version of fetch. The big difference is your dog must learn what item it is you wish for him to fetch rather than simply tossing a ball a telling him to bring it to you.
It does, however, count on the fact you have already taught your dog the basic "fetch" command. To make this trick successful, you must be prepared to work with your dog to teach him a new world, "slippers." Once he knows what this word means, he can be taught to bring your slippers to you in a relatively short period of time.
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Defining Tasks
The best way to define this task is to say that you are simply adding to your dog's vocabulary along with his ability to do more for you on command. Although this particular chore is, in the great scheme of things, more about fun than practical, it does have a more practical side for those with medical issues that might make getting your own slippers challenging.
You can teach this simple trick to just about any dog, no matter their age. The most important thing to remember however is that your dog needs to be big enough to carry your slippers. Like most commands, this one is relatively simple, all you need is something like "Fetch my slippers" the idea being to take the basic "fetch" command and add in what you want your pup to fetch. It's even easier to teach your dog this trick if he already knows how to fetch.
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Getting Started
Teaching your dog to fetch your slippers doesn't require much in the way of actual supplies, but here is a short list of things you will need:
Treats: to reward your pup for obeying your commands without destroying your slippers.
Patience: you can never have too much of this when trying to teach your pup a new trick.
Peace and quiet: again, you can never have too much of this when trying to teach your dog a new trick.
An old pair of slippers: starting out with an old pair of slippers gives your pup time to learn his new trick without destroying your good slippers.
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The Click and Treat Method
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Offer slippers
Start by offering your slippers to your dog using a "take my slippers" command. When he takes the slippers, click the clicker and reward him.
Take slippers
Now that he knows what slippers are, have him "take" your slippers and step a few feet away before telling him to "bring me my slippers." When he brings them to you click and give him a treat.
Repeat
Repeat this process within eyeshot so that he gets used to the command and accompanying actions. Each time he gets it right click and treat.
Increase distance
Start moving further away and then try putting your slippers in another room. Use the command you have chosen and when he gets it right use the clicker and give him treats. Now he should bring your slippers whenever you ask him to.
The Start with Fetch Method
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Fetch a toy
Hide a treat in a toy and place it on the ground, say "Fetch" and wait for your pup to bring you the toy.
Reward
Reward your pup with praise and a treat.
Practice
Practice this until he has the whole fetch concept down.
Add slippers
Now place your slippers a short distance away with a treat hidden in one of them. Use your command word like "slippers" or "fetch my slippers" and point to your slippers so that he understands what you want and there is a reward in it for him.
Combine concepts
Combine the concept of fetch and slippers together until he finally puts 2 and 2 together and brings your slippers to you. When he does what you want him to, shower him with praise and treats. Practice, practice, practice.
The Room by Room Method
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Master fetch
Be sure your dog has already mastered the concept of fetch using a toy or ball.
Place slipper
In a quiet empty room, place one of your slippers on the floor on one side of the room.
Fetch slippers
Tell your dog to "fetch" your slippers. Reward him when he does.
Practice
Practice this for several days until he brings your slippers to you every time. Give lots of praise and rewards.
Change locations
Now try this same trick placing your slippers in different rooms of the house. Remember to give lots of praise and treats until he finally masters the trick.
Written by Amy Caldwell
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 10/06/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
More articles by Amy Caldwell
Training Questions and Answers
Bella
German Shepherd
Two Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
When she is around other dogs she starts barking and pulling. Also, I want to teach her the "attack" order. Can I do it by myself?
Sept. 11, 2023
Bella's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Is she aggressive when actually meeting another dog (don't test this on your own if you don't already know, for safety reasons) or simply excited or a lot of bluff so to speak? If she is reactive but not aggressive, I would work on desensitizing her to other dogs and counter conditioning by practicing a lot of obedience exercises with treats or other rewards with other dogs far enough away she isn't bothered by them. Work on lots of structured obedience to keep her mind on you. As she becomes more relaxed with the other dogs in the distance and stays more and more focused on you, decrease the distance between the dogs slightly overtime, to slowly work her up to closer proximity to them and change her feelings about other dogs gradually. Only decrease the distance when you notice her body language is staying happy or calm consistently with them at the current distance - its that emotional response you ultimately want to change so don't go too fast or you don't see progress. If there is true aggression, you will need additional safety measures and help, so I recommend hiring a professional trainer who has a lot of experience with aggression, counter conditioning, and has access to lots of other dogs and at least one other trainer, to be able to set up the type of training session that would be needed. For the Attack order, I would seek out professional help. That type of training will require other people, body suites, bite bags, and arm sleeves, as well as a foundation of a lot of obedience and control, so pup can respond consistently to you even when highly aroused or frightened. Good protection training is based on rewards and building confidence in the dog through things like bite bags and tugs to bring out a dog's natural defense drive while building a lot of control and responsiveness to you. If you are interested in training your dog yourself, I recommend finding a local schlutzhund or IPO club and they can provide the resources like suits and people, as well as guidance to learn how to train this safely. It's also a lot of fun. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 9, 2023
Appa
Siberian Husky
9 Months
Question
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0 found this helpful
Hey! I have a 9-month-old husky and whenever we bring him on a walk and he sees another dog he will lay down or start crawling. As soon as the other dog gets closer he will pop back up and run towards it, sometimes when I try to pull him away he will start barking. Appa won't try to attack the other dog, I think he just wants to play and he isn't aggressive at all. Unfortunately, not all the other dog owners know this so they seem stressed when Appa does this. It is also a bother to try and get him to get up and keep walking or walk normally whenever he sees another dog. What can I do?
June 1, 2021
Appa's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Rachael, Many puppies do this sort of stalk/play. You can generally tell if it's meant aggressively or playfully by looking for doggie grins, loose body language, a loose wag (not stiff and short - that just means arousal not always play), a play bow, and generally silly/loose/relaxed looking body and muscles once pup pops up. If pup is trying to play, then what's needed is simply more obedience practice around other dogs, so pup can learn how to calmly co-exist with other dogs without always having to play rough. Recruiting a friend with well mannered dog(s), joining an intermediate or basic obedience class, and eventually joining a dog walking or dog hiking group can be great outlets for pup practicing calm interactions with other dogs. Check out the Passing Approach and Walking Together methods from the article below. You will need a friend and their dog or a class to practice this in most likely, so that you can repeat the passes over and over again until pup starts calming down and is able to pass more calmly - at which point you can reward. The goal here is for other dogs to become normal and boring through training repetition. Passing Approach method and Walking Together method - start with passing approach, it's usually easier. https://wagwalking.com/training/greet-other-dogs Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 1, 2021