How long it takes a dog to get used to it (and what to do if he won’t)

Every dog has his own pace

Anyone who tells you “in 7 days” is selling you something. Timing depends on age, habits and character: a young male who has just started lifting his leg may get there in a few days, while an adult who has always used the grass has to unlearn a lifetime of habits first. That is why the PIPPI Method sets no deadlines: it sets the steps, and asks you to be consistent for as long as your dog needs.

And one point to make first: some dogs never accept it, full stop. If a seller does not tell you that, be wary. We would rather tell you beforehand and stay with you along the way: help is included.

What helps him

The right spot. First watch how he lives in the house: where he sleeps, where he eats, which door he uses to go in and out, which spots he already checks or marks. Then choose the spot, and do not move it too soon: moving it all the time is one of the most common mistakes.

His own smell, if needed. A familiar smell in the right spot can help him understand what the cone is for, but every dog reacts in his own way: with an adult dog set in his ways, it is better not to add other stimuli unless they are needed. If in doubt, ask us.

His pace, and rewards. Do not force him or keep pushing: if at first he watches it, avoids it or barks at it, let him get used to it on his own. When he uses it, reward him: your voice, a treat, a stroke or your enthusiasm can help him link that act to something good.

If in the meantime your male keeps aiming at the wall next to the training pad, setting up the target properly helps the timing too: there is a guide just for that.

Signs he is learning (even if it does not look like it)

In the first few days it may seem that nothing is happening. Sniffing the cone is the invisible part of the work: he is working out what has come into his surroundings. A dog who goes up to it, walks around it, sniffs and walks away is not ignoring PIPPI: he is studying it. By the time he lifts his leg, that work has already been done.

If there is still nothing after weeks

First question: has the spot stayed the same, and have you let him take his time? Often the problem is not the dog but discouragement: people step in too soon, moving PIPPI or pushing. Second question: has something changed at home, a move, a spot that was shifted? The reference point can be rebuilt, with a few days of patience.

If an adult dog who had learned suddenly stops, or pees little and often, the first step is the vet, not the method: health causes are ruled out before anything else.

And if you have checked everything: write to us on WhatsApp and a person will reply. We have already seen nearly all the difficult cases.