About CLEAR Training
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 works with dogs of all ages, but puppy training is a big part of what we do. Our popular Foundation Package is an ideal way to give a new puppy a great start, while we also help older dogs with manners, everyday training, reactivity and behavioural issues.
CLEAR was founded in 2001 by Oliver Beverly, who built the business around calm, practical training and helping owners understand their dogs. Current owner and head trainer Caroline Strainig joined CLEAR Dog Training in 2016, and says those early years had a big influence on the way she still works today.
“Oliver was an outstanding trainer, and I learnt an enormous amount from working alongside him,” she says. “He had a very practical way of looking at problems and explaining things so owners could understand what was going on and what to do about it. That has always stayed with me.”
Many of those same principles still sit at the heart of CLEAR today: clear communication, practical solutions, fair expectations and helping owners understand not just what to do, but why it works. Oliver also remains available as a consultant when Caroline wants a second opinion on a particularly complex behavioural case, so that connection with CLEAR is still very much there today.
A lifetime of excellence
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 of Great Britain and later competed at prestigious international three-day events as a senior. She also completed a double clear round at the famous Burghley Horse Trials, albeit with a few time faults.
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.
Training for the world
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.
