ABOUT CLEAR DOG TRAINING
About CLEAR Dog Training
Good dog training should make life easier, calmer and more enjoyable — not leave owners feeling overwhelmed, guilty or confused.
At CLEAR Dog Training, the focus has always been on practical, real-world training that helps owners build rewarding relationships with dogs they genuinely enjoy living with.
Current owner and head trainer Caroline Strainig took over CLEAR Dog Training in 2016 from original founder Oliver Beverly.
Founded in 2001, CLEAR Dog Training has built a strong reputation for calm, practical dog training focused on helping owners navigate the real-life challenges of living with dogs.
Caroline says being mentored by Oliver has had a huge influence on both her training philosophy and the way CLEAR works with owners today.
“Oliver was an outstanding trainer, and being mentored by him had a lasting influence on the way CLEAR works with owners today,” she says.
Many of the calm, practical training principles still used by CLEAR today stem from Oliver’s training principles, methods and rationale.
A lifetime of excellence in training
Caroline’s involvement with animals stretches back to childhood through a lifelong passion for horses and equestrian sport.
As a young rider she excelled in training and working with animals, eventually becoming a qualified British Horse Society riding instructor and competing successfully at international level in Great Britain.
Among her achievements, Caroline won the title of Junior National Three-Day Event rider in Great Britain and later competed at prestigious international three-day events in Great Britain and Ireland. She also completed a double clear round at the famous Burghley Horse Trials.
Working closely with horses from a young age helped develop many of the skills she still relies on today — timing, consistency, reading behaviour and understanding how animals learn and respond under pressure.
From horses to dog sports
Over time, Caroline’s passion gradually shifted from horses to dogs — particularly the challenge and enjoyment of training dogs to work enthusiastically and willingly with their owners.
Over the years she has competed successfully in a wide range of dog sports including flyball, agility, rally obedience, obedience, dances with dogs and tricks, winning numerous state and national titles and Queensland Dog of the Year awards along the way.
But despite the success in competition, her greatest passion remains helping everyday owners with their family pets.
Caroline believes continuing to actively train and compete with her own dogs helps keep her skills sharp and ensures her training methods continue to work in real-world situations.
Putting training to the test in the pressure and unpredictability of competition remains one of Caroline’s favourite ways to keep improving timing, handling skills and problem-solving ability.
Real-world dogs. Real-world owners.
To keep things real, Caroline also occasionally takes on foster and project dogs, helping her stay connected to the very real challenges of living with adolescent dogs, rescue dogs and energetic young puppies.
She understands first-hand the frustration owners can feel when living with dogs that:
– pull on lead,
– jump on visitors,
– bark excessively,
– ignore recalls,
– become reactive,
– or simply seem impossible to settle.
Through CLEAR Dog Training, Caroline has now helped train hundreds of dogs and worked with owners facing everything from normal puppy chaos through to more complex behavioural challenges.
In a world full of quick fixes and conflicting advice, she believes practical experience and calm, consistent training still matter enormously.
The CLEAR philosophy
CLEAR Dog Training uses modern positive reinforcement methods combined with calm, practical household management.
The philosophy remains simple: reward the behaviours you want so they increase, while calmly managing and blocking the behaviours you don’t want so they gradually decrease.
That combination of positive reinforcement and sensible management helps owners build calmer, happier relationships with dogs that are easier and more enjoyable to live with.
Caroline finds helping owners through day-to-day challenges incredibly rewarding, particularly seeing the moment when training starts becoming fun rather than frustrating.
As owners gain confidence and consistency, dogs naturally begin looking to them more and more for guidance, interaction and enjoyment.
Caroline is known for a training style that is both empathetic and direct. She enjoys helping owners understand not just what to do, but why they are doing it.
She also understands that learning new skills can sometimes feel overwhelming. In fact, she jokes that ballroom dancing was never her natural talent, so she remembers very well how difficult learning and coordination can sometimes feel when you are outside your comfort zone.
That is one reason CLEAR places such a strong emphasis on making training enjoyable, achievable and rewarding for both dogs and owners.
Where appropriate, training games are also designed to involve children and help the entire family become part of the dog’s learning journey.
At CLEAR, the goal is simple: the best results happen when owners become fun, kind and calm leaders their dogs naturally want to follow.
Caroline also holds a Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training through the National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF) and continues to regularly attend seminars and courses with leading trainers and behaviour specialists from around the world.
The goal is to continually refine and improve CLEAR’s training methods using modern, reward-based techniques that work in real-life situations.
Unlock the secrets to your best dog life
Discover practical tips, expert guidance, and proven training techniques to create a happier, calmer, and more confident dog. Every dog and family is unique — we help you build the skills and routines