Ever stood in the pet store aisle overwhelmed by dozens of potty training sprays and pads, wondering which ones actually work? In this episode, Kenji Takahashi shares hard-won lessons from helping his sister house-train a Golden Retriever puppy—despite his expertise being in fish tanks, not dogs. He breaks down exactly what separates effective training aids from expensive air fresheners and explains why matching products to your dog's age and training stage makes all the difference.

• Effective potty training sprays contain pheromone compounds or scent markers that trigger dogs' natural instincts—products listing only essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus without these attractants won't communicate "go here" to your puppy.

• Puppies under six months respond better to pheromone-based attractants because their sce ...