diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/CMakeLists.txt b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/CMakeLists.txt
index 3c8236809c..8888113548 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ add_subdirectory(gan)
 add_subdirectory(rbm)
 add_subdirectory(augmented)
 add_subdirectory(regularizer)
+add_subdirectory(util)
 
 # Add directory name to sources.
 set(DIR_SRCS)
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/ffn_impl.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/ffn_impl.hpp
index c16de548f4..401c094ca6 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/ffn_impl.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/ffn_impl.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #include "visitor/set_input_height_visitor.hpp"
 #include "visitor/set_input_width_visitor.hpp"
 
+#include "util/check_input_shape.hpp"
+
 namespace mlpack {
 namespace ann /** Artificial Neural Network. */ {
 
@@ -109,6 +111,10 @@ double FFN<OutputLayerType, InitializationRuleType, CustomLayers...>::Train(
       OptimizerType& optimizer,
       CallbackTypes&&... callbacks)
 {
+  CheckInputShape<std::vector<LayerTypes<CustomLayers...> > >(network, 
+                                                              predictors.n_rows, 
+                                                              "FFN<>::Train()");
+
   ResetData(std::move(predictors), std::move(responses));
 
   WarnMessageMaxIterations<OptimizerType>(optimizer, this->predictors.n_cols);
@@ -131,6 +137,10 @@ double FFN<OutputLayerType, InitializationRuleType, CustomLayers...>::Train(
     arma::mat responses,
     CallbackTypes&&... callbacks)
 {
+  CheckInputShape<std::vector<LayerTypes<CustomLayers...> > >(network, 
+                                                              predictors.n_rows, 
+                                                              "FFN<>::Train()");
+
   ResetData(std::move(predictors), std::move(responses));
 
   OptimizerType optimizer;
@@ -217,6 +227,10 @@ template<typename OutputLayerType, typename InitializationRuleType,
 void FFN<OutputLayerType, InitializationRuleType, CustomLayers...>::Predict(
     arma::mat predictors, arma::mat& results)
 {
+  CheckInputShape<std::vector<LayerTypes<CustomLayers...> > >(network, 
+                                                              predictors.n_rows, 
+                                                              "FFN<>::Predict()");
+
   if (parameter.is_empty())
     ResetParameters();
 
@@ -250,6 +264,10 @@ template<typename PredictorsType, typename ResponsesType>
 double FFN<OutputLayerType, InitializationRuleType, CustomLayers...>::Evaluate(
     const PredictorsType& predictors, const ResponsesType& responses)
 {
+  CheckInputShape<std::vector<LayerTypes<CustomLayers...> > >(network, 
+                                                              predictors.n_rows, 
+                                                              "FFN<>::Evaluate()");
+
   if (parameter.is_empty())
     ResetParameters();
 
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/atrous_convolution.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/atrous_convolution.hpp
index 478f62abe2..daddab76f2 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/atrous_convolution.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/atrous_convolution.hpp
@@ -263,6 +263,12 @@ class AtrousConvolution
     return (outSize * inSize * kernelWidth * kernelHeight) + outSize;
   }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inputHeight * inputWidth * inSize;    
+  }  
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/bilinear_interpolation.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/bilinear_interpolation.hpp
index 817763e973..8595bc4d57 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/bilinear_interpolation.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/bilinear_interpolation.hpp
@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ class BilinearInterpolation
   //! Modify the depth of the input.
   size_t& InDepth() { return depth; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inRowSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/convolution.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/convolution.hpp
index bcebf756cf..1571c3e414 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/convolution.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/convolution.hpp
@@ -259,6 +259,12 @@ class Convolution
     return (outSize * inSize * kernelWidth * kernelHeight) + outSize;
   }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inputHeight * inputWidth * inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/fast_lstm.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/fast_lstm.hpp
index 212fc8f503..80ddcabca6 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/fast_lstm.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/fast_lstm.hpp
@@ -182,6 +182,12 @@ class FastLSTM
     return 4 * outSize * inSize + 4 * outSize + 4 * outSize * outSize;
   }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/glimpse.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/glimpse.hpp
index 661fab551d..99a268b6a8 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/glimpse.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/glimpse.hpp
@@ -182,6 +182,12 @@ class Glimpse
   //! Get the used glimpse size (height = width).
   size_t GlimpseSize() const { return size;}
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/gru.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/gru.hpp
index b732b41af1..3d98a712d8 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/gru.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/gru.hpp
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@ class GRU
   //! Get the number of output units.
   size_t OutSize() const { return outSize; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const 
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/highway.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/highway.hpp
index 7e5893c424..aa539a4972 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/highway.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/highway.hpp
@@ -177,6 +177,12 @@ class Highway
   //! Get the number of input units.
   size_t InSize() const { return inSize; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_norm.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_norm.hpp
index ba0d3f4c29..c22408c221 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_norm.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_norm.hpp
@@ -148,6 +148,12 @@ class LayerNorm
   //! Get the value of epsilon.
   double Epsilon() const { return eps; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return size;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_traits.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_traits.hpp
index b9e2621d89..a6a447f43d 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_traits.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_traits.hpp
@@ -120,6 +120,10 @@ HAS_MEM_FUNC(Bias, HasBiasCheck);
 // we can use with SFINAE to catch when a type has a MaxIterations() function.
 HAS_MEM_FUNC(MaxIterations, HasMaxIterations);
 
+// This gives us a HasInShapeCheck<T> type we can use with SFINAE to catch when
+// a type has a function named InputShape.
+HAS_ANY_METHOD_FORM(InputShape, HasInputShapeCheck);
+
 } // namespace ann
 } // namespace mlpack
 
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear.hpp
index f2c8015e04..cc31117c53 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear.hpp
@@ -152,6 +152,12 @@ class Linear
     return (inSize * outSize) + outSize;
   }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.  
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear3d.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear3d.hpp
index e9a6a8615e..24e3de56e6 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear3d.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear3d.hpp
@@ -148,6 +148,12 @@ class Linear3D
   //! Modify the bias weights of the layer.
   OutputDataType& Bias() { return bias; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear_no_bias.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear_no_bias.hpp
index a06e97e735..7182e84238 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear_no_bias.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/linear_no_bias.hpp
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ class LinearNoBias
   //! Modify the gradient.
   OutputDataType& Gradient() { return gradient; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/lstm.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/lstm.hpp
index d535f0ee2b..125794cb46 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/lstm.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/lstm.hpp
@@ -183,6 +183,12 @@ class LSTM
   //! Get the number of output units.
   size_t OutSize() const { return outSize; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/minibatch_discrimination.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/minibatch_discrimination.hpp
index 88f8dff1ba..3448f36b5d 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/minibatch_discrimination.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/minibatch_discrimination.hpp
@@ -134,6 +134,12 @@ class MiniBatchDiscrimination
   //! Modify the gradient.
   OutputDataType& Gradient() { return gradient; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return A;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/multihead_attention.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/multihead_attention.hpp
index 3421fa4183..ec079d197d 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/multihead_attention.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/multihead_attention.hpp
@@ -176,6 +176,11 @@ class MultiheadAttention
   //! Modify the parameters.
   OutputDataType& Parameters() { return weights; }
 
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return embedDim * (tgtSeqLen + 2 * srcSeqLen);
+  }
+
  private:
   //! Element Type of the input.
   typedef typename OutputDataType::elem_type ElemType;
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/noisylinear.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/noisylinear.hpp
index 84bacbe472..993f80725f 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/noisylinear.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/noisylinear.hpp
@@ -139,6 +139,12 @@ class NoisyLinear
   //! Modify the gradient.
   OutputDataType& Gradient() { return gradient; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   //! Modify the bias weights of the layer.
   arma::mat& Bias() { return bias; }
 
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/positional_encoding.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/positional_encoding.hpp
index 1e6cb445a0..8678426414 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/positional_encoding.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/positional_encoding.hpp
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ class PositionalEncoding
   //! Get the positional encoding vector.
   InputDataType const& Encoding() const { return positionalEncoding; }
 
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return embedDim * maxSequenceLength;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/radial_basis_function.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/radial_basis_function.hpp
index b867e9e936..2387d612ab 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/radial_basis_function.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/radial_basis_function.hpp
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ class RBF
   //! Modify the delta.
   OutputDataType& Delta() { return delta; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer.
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent.hpp
index 88f6d97ab4..b82fcb175b 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent.hpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "../visitor/delta_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/copy_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/output_parameter_visitor.hpp"
+#include "../visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp"
 
 #include "layer_types.hpp"
 #include "add_merge.hpp"
@@ -138,6 +139,9 @@ class Recurrent
   //! Get the number of steps to backpropagate through time.
   size_t const& Rho() const { return rho; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const;
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent_impl.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent_impl.hpp
index 43d807dd1a..e6b933bd20 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent_impl.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/recurrent_impl.hpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "../visitor/backward_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/gradient_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/gradient_zero_visitor.hpp"
+#include "../visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp"
 
 namespace mlpack {
 namespace ann /** Artificial Neural Network. */ {
@@ -125,6 +126,53 @@ Recurrent<InputDataType, OutputDataType, CustomLayers...>::Recurrent(
   this->network.push_back(recurrentModule);
 }
 
+template<typename InputDataType, typename OutputDataType,
+         typename... CustomLayers>
+size_t Recurrent<InputDataType, OutputDataType, CustomLayers...>::InputShape() const
+{
+  const size_t inputShapeStartModule = boost::apply_visitor(InShapeVisitor(), startModule);
+  // Return the input shape of the first module that we have.
+  if (inputShapeStartModule != 0)
+  {
+    return inputShapeStartModule;
+  }
+  // If input shape of first module is 0.
+  else
+  {
+    // Return input shape of the second module that we have.
+    const size_t inputShapeInputModule = boost::apply_visitor(InShapeVisitor(), inputModule);
+    if (inputShapeInputModule != 0)
+    {
+      return inputShapeInputModule;
+    // If the input shape of second module is 0.
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      // Return input shape of the third module that we have.
+      const size_t inputShapeFeedbackModule = boost::apply_visitor(InShapeVisitor(), 
+                                                                   feedbackModule);
+      if (inputShapeFeedbackModule != 0)
+      {
+        return inputShapeFeedbackModule;
+      // If the input shape of the third module is 0.
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        // Return the shape of the fourth module that we have.
+        const size_t inputShapeTransferModule = boost::apply_visitor(InShapeVisitor(),
+                                                                     transferModule);
+        if (inputShapeTransferModule != 0)
+        {
+          return inputShapeTransferModule;
+        }
+        // If the input shape of the fourth module is 0.
+        else
+          return 0;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 template<typename InputDataType, typename OutputDataType,
          typename... CustomLayers>
 template<typename eT>
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/reparametrization.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/reparametrization.hpp
index f6e6fe3b7f..65aa96da53 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/reparametrization.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/reparametrization.hpp
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ class Reparametrization
   //! Get the value of the beta hyperparameter.
   double Beta() const { return beta; }
 
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return 2 * latentSize;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential.hpp
index f4466161a0..ebf3c6fd6a 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "../visitor/output_height_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/output_parameter_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/output_width_visitor.hpp"
+#include "../visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp"
 
 #include "layer_types.hpp"
 #include "add_merge.hpp"
@@ -184,6 +185,8 @@ class Sequential
   //! Modify the gradient.
   arma::mat& Gradient() { return gradient; }
 
+  size_t InputShape() const;
+
   /**
    * Serialize the layer
    */
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential_impl.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential_impl.hpp
index 5e9c4cd6f6..1290a15ebb 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential_impl.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/sequential_impl.hpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "../visitor/gradient_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/set_input_height_visitor.hpp"
 #include "../visitor/set_input_width_visitor.hpp"
+#include "../visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp"
 
 namespace mlpack {
 namespace ann /** Artificial Neural Network. */ {
@@ -94,6 +95,24 @@ Sequential<
   }
 }
 
+template<typename InputDataType, typename OutputDataType, bool Residual,
+         typename... CustomLayers>
+size_t Sequential<InputDataType, OutputDataType, Residual, CustomLayers...>::
+InputShape() const
+{
+  size_t inputShape = 0;
+
+  for (size_t l = 0; l < network.size(); ++l)
+  {
+    if (inputShape == 0)
+      inputShape = boost::apply_visitor(InShapeVisitor(), network[l]);
+    else
+      break;
+  }
+
+  return inputShape;
+}
+
 template<typename InputDataType, typename OutputDataType, bool Residual,
          typename... CustomLayers>
 template<typename eT>
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/transposed_convolution.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/transposed_convolution.hpp
index 04ec5c7cc5..f637ca3355 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/transposed_convolution.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/layer/transposed_convolution.hpp
@@ -274,6 +274,12 @@ class TransposedConvolution
   //! Modify the right padding width.
   size_t& PadWRight() { return padWRight; }
 
+  //! Get the shape of the input.
+  size_t InputShape() const
+  {
+    return inputHeight * inputWidth * inSize;
+  }
+
   //! Get the size of the weight matrix.
   size_t WeightSize() const
   {
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/rnn_impl.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/rnn_impl.hpp
index 75749982f5..2852dcceef 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/rnn_impl.hpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/rnn_impl.hpp
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "visitor/gradient_visitor.hpp"
 #include "visitor/weight_set_visitor.hpp"
 
+#include "util/check_input_shape.hpp"
+
 namespace mlpack {
 namespace ann /** Artificial Neural Network. */ {
 
@@ -147,6 +149,10 @@ double RNN<OutputLayerType, InitializationRuleType, CustomLayers...>::Train(
     OptimizerType& optimizer,
     CallbackTypes&&... callbacks)
 {
+  CheckInputShape<std::vector<LayerTypes<CustomLayers...> > >(network, 
+                                                              predictors.n_rows, 
+                                                              "RNN<>::Train()");
+
   numFunctions = responses.n_cols;
 
   this->predictors = std::move(predictors);
@@ -191,6 +197,10 @@ double RNN<OutputLayerType, InitializationRuleType, CustomLayers...>::Train(
     arma::cube responses,
     CallbackTypes&&... callbacks)
 {
+  CheckInputShape<std::vector<LayerTypes<CustomLayers...> > >(network, 
+                                                              predictors.n_rows, 
+                                                              "RNN<>::Train()");
+
   numFunctions = responses.n_cols;
 
   this->predictors = std::move(predictors);
@@ -223,6 +233,10 @@ template<typename OutputLayerType, typename InitializationRuleType,
 void RNN<OutputLayerType, InitializationRuleType, CustomLayers...>::Predict(
     arma::cube predictors, arma::cube& results, const size_t batchSize)
 {
+  CheckInputShape<std::vector<LayerTypes<CustomLayers...> > >(network, 
+                                                              predictors.n_rows, 
+                                                              "RNN<>::Predict()");
+
   ResetCells();
 
   if (parameter.is_empty())
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/util/CMakeLists.txt b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/util/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dffec0c265
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/util/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Define the files we need to compile
+# Anything not in this list will not be compiled into mlpack.
+set(SOURCES
+  check_input_shape.hpp
+)
+
+# Add directory name to sources.
+set(DIR_SRCS)
+foreach(file ${SOURCES})
+  set(DIR_SRCS ${DIR_SRCS} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${file})
+endforeach()
+# Append sources (with directory name) to list of all mlpack sources (used at
+# the parent scope).
+set(MLPACK_SRCS ${MLPACK_SRCS} ${DIR_SRCS} PARENT_SCOPE)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/util/check_input_shape.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/util/check_input_shape.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..566c363e3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/util/check_input_shape.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/**
+ * @file methods/ann/util/check_input_shape.hpp 
+ * @author Khizir Siddiqui
+ * @author Nippun Sharma
+ * 
+ * Definition of the CheckInputShape() function that checks
+ * whether the shape of input is consistent with the first layer
+ * of the neural network.
+ * 
+ * mlpack is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+ * terms of the 3-clause BSD license.  You should have received a copy of the
+ * 3-clause BSD license along with mlpack.  If not, see
+ * http://www.opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause for more information.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MLPACK_METHODS_ANN_UTIL_CHECK_INPUT_SHAPE_HPP
+#define MLPACK_METHODS_ANN_UTIL_CHECK_INPUT_SHAPE_HPP
+
+#include <mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp>
+
+namespace mlpack {
+namespace ann /** Artificial Neural Network. */{
+
+template<typename T>
+void CheckInputShape(const T& network, const size_t inputShape, 
+                     const std::string& functionName)
+{
+  for (size_t l = 0; l < network.size(); ++l)
+  {
+    size_t layerInShape = boost::apply_visitor(InShapeVisitor(), network[l]);
+    if (layerInShape == 0)
+    {
+      continue;
+    }
+    else if (layerInShape == inputShape)
+    {
+      break;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      std::string estr = functionName + ": the first layer of the network " +
+          "expects " + std::to_string(layerInShape) + " elements, but the " +
+          "input has " + std::to_string(inputShape) + " dimensions!";
+      throw std::logic_error(estr);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+} // namespace ann
+} // namespace mlpack
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/CMakeLists.txt b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/CMakeLists.txt
index 43bcf71225..fa207d6092 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ set(SOURCES
   weight_set_visitor_impl.hpp
   weight_size_visitor.hpp
   weight_size_visitor_impl.hpp
+  input_shape_visitor.hpp
+  input_shape_visitor_impl.hpp
 )
 
 # Add directory name to sources.
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c27135aae3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/**
+ * @file methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor.hpp 
+ * @author Khizir Siddiqui
+ * @author Nippun Sharma
+ *
+ * This file provides an abstraction for the InputShape() function for
+ * different layers and automatically directs any parameter to the right layer
+ * type.
+ *
+ * mlpack is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+ * terms of the 3-clause BSD license.  You should have received a copy of the
+ * 3-clause BSD license along with mlpack.  If not, see
+ * http://www.opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause for more information.
+ */
+#ifndef MLPACK_METHODS_ANN_VISITOR_INPUT_SHAPE_VISITOR_HPP
+#define MLPACK_METHODS_ANN_VISITOR_INPUT_SHAPE_VISITOR_HPP
+
+#include <mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_traits.hpp>
+#include <mlpack/methods/ann/layer/layer_types.hpp>
+
+#include <boost/variant.hpp>
+
+namespace mlpack {
+namespace ann {
+
+/**
+ * InShapeVisitor returns the input shape a Layer expects.
+ */
+class InShapeVisitor : public boost::static_visitor<size_t>
+{
+ public:
+  //! Return the input shape of layer.
+  template<typename LayerType>
+  size_t operator()(LayerType* layer) const;
+
+  size_t operator()(MoreTypes layer) const;
+
+ private:
+  //! If the module doesn't implement the InputShape() function return 0.
+  template<typename T>
+  typename std::enable_if<
+      !HasInputShapeCheck<T>::value, size_t>::type
+  LayerInputShape(T* layer) const;
+
+  //! If the module implements the InputShape() function returns the input shape.
+  template<typename T>
+  typename std::enable_if<
+      HasInputShapeCheck<T>::value, size_t>::type
+  LayerInputShape(T* layer) const;
+};
+
+} // namespace ann
+} // namespace mlpack
+
+// Include implementation.
+#include "input_shape_visitor_impl.hpp"
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor_impl.hpp b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor_impl.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bda5f7b604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mlpack/methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor_impl.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/**
+ * @file methods/ann/visitor/input_shape_visitor_impl.hpp
+ * @author Khizir Siddiqui
+ * @author Nippun Sharma
+ *
+ * Implementation of the InputShape() function layer abstraction.
+ *
+ * mlpack is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+ * terms of the 3-clause BSD license.  You should have received a copy of the
+ * 3-clause BSD license along with mlpack.  If not, see
+ * http://www.opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause for more information.
+ */
+#ifndef MLPACK_METHODS_ANN_VISITOR_INPUT_SHAPE_VISITOR_IMPL_HPP
+#define MLPACK_METHODS_ANN_VISITOR_INPUT_SHAPE_VISITOR_IMPL_HPP
+
+// In case it hasn't been included yet.
+#include "input_shape_visitor.hpp"
+
+namespace mlpack {
+namespace ann {
+
+//! InShapeVisitor visitor class.
+template<typename LayerType>
+inline std::size_t InShapeVisitor::operator()(LayerType* layer) const
+{
+  return LayerInputShape(layer);
+}
+
+inline std::size_t InShapeVisitor::operator()(MoreTypes layer) const
+{
+  return layer.apply_visitor(*this);
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+inline typename std::enable_if<
+    !HasInputShapeCheck<T>::value, std::size_t>::type
+InShapeVisitor::LayerInputShape(T* /* layer */) const
+{
+  return 0;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+inline typename std::enable_if<
+    HasInputShapeCheck<T>::value, std::size_t>::type
+InShapeVisitor::LayerInputShape(T* layer) const
+{
+  return layer->InputShape();
+}
+
+} // namespace ann
+} // namespace mlpack
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/mlpack/tests/feedforward_network_test.cpp b/src/mlpack/tests/feedforward_network_test.cpp
index bd240a794f..c1399e8bf3 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/tests/feedforward_network_test.cpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/tests/feedforward_network_test.cpp
@@ -908,3 +908,39 @@ TEST_CASE("OptimizerTest", "[FeedForwardNetworkTest]")
   ens::DE opt(200, 1000, 0.6, 0.8, 1e-5);
   model.Train(trainData, trainLabels, opt);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Test to see if an exception is thrown when input with
+ * wrong shape is provided to a FFN.
+ */
+TEST_CASE("FFNCheckInputShapeTest", "[FeedForwardNetworkTest]")
+{
+  // Load the dataset.
+  arma::mat trainData;
+  data::Load("thyroid_train.csv", trainData, true);
+
+  arma::mat trainLabels = trainData.row(trainData.n_rows - 1);
+  trainData.shed_row(trainData.n_rows - 1);
+
+  arma::mat testData;
+  data::Load("thyroid_test.csv", testData, true);
+
+  arma::mat testLabels = testData.row(testData.n_rows - 1);
+  testData.shed_row(testData.n_rows - 1);
+
+  FFN<NegativeLogLikelihood<>, RandomInitialization, CustomLayer<> > model;
+  // Purposely putting wrong input shape so that error is thrown.
+  model.Add<Linear<> >(trainData.n_rows - 3, 8);
+  model.Add<CustomLayer<> >();
+  model.Add<Linear<> >(8, 3);
+  model.Add<LogSoftMax<> >();
+
+  std::string expectedMsg = "FFN<>::Train(): ";
+              expectedMsg += "the first layer of the network expects ";
+              expectedMsg += std::to_string(trainData.n_rows - 3) + " elements, ";
+              expectedMsg += "but the input has " + std::to_string(trainData.n_rows) + " dimensions! ";
+
+  ens::DE opt(200, 1000, 0.6, 0.8, 1e-5);
+
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(model.Train(trainData, trainLabels, opt), std::logic_error);
+}
diff --git a/src/mlpack/tests/recurrent_network_test.cpp b/src/mlpack/tests/recurrent_network_test.cpp
index bf75410902..0993b78d5c 100644
--- a/src/mlpack/tests/recurrent_network_test.cpp
+++ b/src/mlpack/tests/recurrent_network_test.cpp
@@ -868,3 +868,66 @@ TEST_CASE("LargeRhoValueRnnTest", "[RecurrentNetworkTest]")
   model.Train(inputs[0], targets[0], opt);
   INFO("Training over");
 }
+
+/**
+ * Test to make sure that an error is thrown when input with
+ * wrong input shape is provided to a RNN.
+ */
+TEST_CASE("RNNCheckInputShapeTest", "[RecurrentNetworkTest]")
+{
+  const size_t rho = 10;
+
+  // Generate 12 (2 * 6) noisy sines. A single sine contains rho
+  // points/features.
+  arma::cube input;
+  arma::mat labelsTemp;
+  GenerateNoisySines(input, labelsTemp, rho, 6);
+
+  arma::cube labels = arma::zeros<arma::cube>(1, labelsTemp.n_cols, rho);
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < labelsTemp.n_cols; ++i)
+  {
+    const int value = arma::as_scalar(arma::find(
+        arma::max(labelsTemp.col(i)) == labelsTemp.col(i), 1)) + 1;
+    labels.tube(0, i).fill(value);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Construct a network with 1 input unit, 4 hidden units and 10 output
+   * units. The hidden layer is connected to itself. The network structure
+   * looks like:
+   *
+   *  Input         Hidden        Output
+   * Layer(1)      Layer(4)      Layer(10)
+   * +-----+       +-----+       +-----+
+   * |     |       |     |       |     |
+   * |     +------>|     +------>|     |
+   * |     |    ..>|     |       |     |
+   * +-----+    .  +--+--+       +-----+
+   *            .     .
+   *            .     .
+   *            .......
+   */
+  Add<> add(4);
+  // Purposely providing wrong input shape of 3.
+  // The correct input shape is 1.
+  Linear<> lookup(3, 4);
+  SigmoidLayer<> sigmoidLayer;
+  Linear<> linear(4, 4);
+  Recurrent<>* recurrent = new Recurrent<>(add, lookup, linear,
+      sigmoidLayer, rho);
+
+  RNN<> model(rho);
+  model.Add<IdentityLayer<> >();
+  model.Add(recurrent);
+  model.Add<Linear<> >(4, 10);
+  model.Add<LogSoftMax<> >();
+
+  std::string expectedMsg = "RNN<>::Train(): ";
+              expectedMsg += "the first layer of the network expects ";
+              expectedMsg += std::to_string(3) + " elements, ";
+              expectedMsg += "but the input has " + std::to_string(1) + " dimensions! ";
+
+  StandardSGD opt(0.1, 1, input.n_cols /* 1 epoch */, -100);
+
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(model.Train(input, labels, opt), std::logic_error);
+}