Housewolves: The Pet Dog Collective

E13 - The Critical Stages of Puppy Development You Must Know with Sharon Mills

Sharon Mills · July 15, 2026

Life Coach

Interview with Sharon Mills

E13 - The Critical Stages of Puppy Development You Must Know with Sharon Mills

Podcast: Housewolves: The Pet Dog Collective

July 15, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

Listen to Sharon Mills on Housewolves: The Pet Dog Collective.

Listen

E13 - The Critical Stages of Puppy Development You Must Know with Sharon Mills

0:00 / --:--

Housewolves: The Pet Dog Collective

GO TO APPLE PODCASTS →

Key topicsHow Teaching Owners Dog Language Ends Puppy ChaosMany new puppy owners struggle because they don’t truly understand how their dog thinks and communicates, leading to frustration and confused puppies. They resort to commands or punishment without real connection, which can exacerbate bad behaviours or breed mistrust. This gap between human and canine communication leaves many feeling defeated in their training efforts. Sharon Mills offers a unique approach based on decades of watching dog mothers and raising German Shepherd litters. She educates owners on simple, observable canine behaviours and explains why teaching owners the ‘language’ of dogs is essential to effective training. Her methods are less about rote repetition and more about building mutual understanding, respect, and reliability. Listeners will gain insights into how dogs interpret human signals and learn how to bridge that communication gap with clear, dog-centred techniques. Sharon’s approach reduces behavioural issues by fostering a relationship where the puppy willingly follows guidance, resulting in less stress and more harmony at home. Why Early Puppy Training Is a Secret to Lifelong CalmMany new puppy owners underestimate just how crucial the first few weeks at home are for a dog's future behaviour. They often feel overwhelmed by the immediate challenges but don’t realise the lasting impact early lessons have on a puppy’s brain development and temperament. Without the right guidance, small issues can snowball into big behavioural problems later in life. Sharon Mills draws on over 34 years of breeding and training experience, having raised 450 puppies with a deep understanding of canine psychology. She explains how puppies develop an adult brain by 16 weeks and why owners need to harness this window to teach calmness and obedience early. Her Train Your Puppy in Just 3 Days framework empowers owners with practical, simple steps that mimic natural maternal dog behaviours to instill lifelong good habits. Listeners will walk away understanding exactly when and how to apply early training to shape a confident, well-mannered dog. Sharon provides actionable tools that prevent common issues like biting, jumping, and leash pulling by starting right from day one, making puppyhood less stressful and more rewarding for the whole family. The family dog can expose every disagreement a couple has about boundariesA puppy often enters a relationship as a shared dream, but it can quickly become a source of resentment when one partner enforces rules and the other allows exceptions. Sharon has worked with couples where disagreements over feeding, sleeping arrangements, jumping, discipline, and who carries the daily workload create confusion for the dog and repeated tension between the adults. She explains why the dog’s behaviour is often a symptom of inconsistent communication within the household, and how couples can agree on a small set of clear, realistic boundaries without turning every incident into an argument. The conversation gives listeners a practical way to reduce conflict, share responsibility more fairly, and stop the dog from becoming the battleground for deeper disagreements about parenting, leadership, and care. View all topics →

About Sharon Mills

Puppy Trainer and Canine Behaviour Educator for New Puppy Owners

34+ years Dog training & breeding experience21 years Ran a licensed German Shepherd kennel450 Puppies placedSince 2012 Operating Success Puppy Training

Sharon Mills is a puppy trainer and canine behaviour educator who teaches owners how to understand the canine mind and raise well-mannered dogs.

Her credibility is built on over 34 years in the dog training and breeding industries, including 21 years running a licensed German Shepherd kennel and placing 450 puppies; she has operated Success Puppy Training since 2012 from Queensland, Australia. Her offerings include in-home coaching in regional Queensland towns, virtual consultations, eBooks, and the Train Your Puppy in Just 3 Days online program.

Day to day she delivers one-on-one in-home coaching that typically includes three visits to establish reliable basic commands and loose-lead walking, runs remote video and telephone consultations, and manages online training products that address biting inhibition, jumping prevention, and basic obedience. Her clients range from new puppy owners and families adopting puppies to breeders, rescue staff and owners of problem dogs seeking fast, practical improvements.

Her central message is that owners need simple, observable communication techniques grounded in how dogs learn; she emphasizes teaching the owner why a method works rather than relying on rote repetition, drawing lessons from maternal dog behaviour and decades of applied practice. Her signature framework is embodied in the Train Your Puppy in Just 3 Days online course.

Featured onApple Featured onSpotify

View profile →

About this episode

In this episode,Sharon Millsshares her extensive knowledge on puppy development, training, and behaviour, emphasizing the importance of early socialization, boundaries, and understanding canine psychology for lifelong success.

COUPON CODE $30 off puppy training: SPTPUPPY

Links:

Website: https://www.successpuppytraining.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_RsnG5IdOG/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successpuppytraining/

Puppy Love: https://www.successpuppytraining.com/product/puppy-love/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Puppy Training and Breeding

02:06 The Importance of Matching Puppy Personalities

03:13 Critical Stages of Puppy Development

06:48 Training Techniques for New Puppies

09:02 Natural Corrections by Mother Dogs

12:36 The Role of Socialization in Puppy Development

22:57 Common Issues New Puppy Owners Face

25:44 Effective Communication with Dogs

30:44 Building Trust and Understanding

36:57 The Importance of Boundaries

43:27 Training vs. Medication

56:55 The Foundation of Training

Guest: Sharon Mills

Book Sharon Mills for your show

1+ podcast & stage appearances. Remote or in studio, broadcast-grade audio.

Request an interview →