Training the CLEAR way
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.
At CLEAR Dog Training, the focus is practical, real-world training that helps owners build better relationships with dogs they genuinely enjoy living with.
CLEAR uses modern, reward-based methods that are practical, kind and designed for everyday life. The emphasis is on teaching dogs what is wanted, rather than relying on punishment when they get things wrong.
CLEAR owner Caroline Strainig believes good training is built on clarity, trust and understanding, with a healthy dose of love.
Training for all ages
Puppy training is a big part of what CLEAR does, and those early weeks are the perfect time to start building good habits. The approach combines positive reinforcement with sensible management, clear communication and realistic expectations, helping puppies learn what to do rather than simply being corrected when they make mistakes.
The same principles apply to older dogs. Whether the issue is everyday manners, pulling on lead, recall, over-excitement, reactivity or a more complicated behaviour problem, the aim is to understand why the behaviour is happening and then develop practical strategies that fit into everyday life.
Reward, guide, manage
Food rewards are an important part of training because they make it easy to reinforce good choices and help dogs enjoy learning. But training is not about carrying treats forever. As behaviours become stronger, rewards can become less frequent and everyday things a dog values — attention, play, going for a walk or simply getting what they want — can become part of the picture.
Management is just as important, particularly in the early stages. Sometimes the easiest way to change a behaviour is to stop the dog repeatedly practising the unwanted version while a better alternative is being taught. That might mean using a lead or long line, a baby gate, a mat, changing the environment or simply setting things up so the dog has a better chance of getting it right.
Training should be fair, clear and realistic. That means being kind, but also consistent, with sensible boundaries and good timing. Rather than looking for a quick fix, CLEAR aims to give owners practical tools they can use in everyday life.
Helping owners train better
Owners are also taught how to read their dogs and understand what is driving a behaviour. There is rarely one magic exercise that fixes everything. Good training is usually a combination of teaching, management, consistency and knowing when to make things easier or more challenging.
Most importantly, training should be enjoyable for both ends of the lead. The aim is for owners to leave a session understanding what to do, why they are doing it and how to keep building on it long after the session is over.
To ensure CLEAR’s training reflects the latest and best positive-reinforcement methods, Caroline undertakes professional development every year, attending seminars and completing online training with leading trainers from Australia and around the world.