About Daley Obedience

Daley Obedience sits at 1007 State Route 28, on the road out of Kingston towards the Catskills, and it is run by Mark and Kristine Daley, who describe themselves as "lifelong residents of Ulster County." The About page is written as a conversation rather than a brochure, and it is the better for it. Kristine spent about ten years as an LPN and was on her way to becoming an RN when she began teaching herself dog training, prompted by her own German Shepherd – reactive, and at times aggressive with other dogs, and thrown out of a puppy class for being too disruptive. She enrolled in CATCH Canine Academy, certified, then went further into behavior modification. Mark left a twenty-year career in refrigeration to join the business, does the morning drop-offs, and is working through the same mentorship Kristine completed.

What is on offer

The training page splits the work cleanly. Basic Obedience is the foundation – "From leash manners to rock-solid recall." Behavior Modification is for "dogs struggling with reactivity, anxiety or aggression" where basic training is not enough. Then four paths through it. Private 1-on-1 Sessions, weekly, for the owner who wants to do the work themselves. Day Train, where the dog is dropped off for structured repetitions and goes home at night, described as best for "busy professionals who want faster results but prefer their dog sleeps at home." Board & Train – the site calls it the Immersion Program – for "complex behavior issues OR owners who want the highest level of reliability in the shortest time." And group classes: a basics class, explicitly open to dogs of all ages and not only puppies, and an Enrichment class for dogs who already have their basics, which uses games to work a dog mentally and physically. A September basics class was being advertised on the front page at the time of writing.

How it starts

Everything begins with an in-person consultation: "We evaluate their temperament, your goals, and the current relationship to ensure we place you in the program that guarantees results." There is also an online community with training drills for clients.

The rest of the business

Boarding and daycare run alongside, and the pitch is consistent with the training: "Premium care that maintains the standard of behavior you've worked to build." The couple have added a second kennel and say they hope eventually to move to their own property where they can live and work in the same place.

Who it suits

Owners who want the whole ladder in one place, from a Saturday group class to a residential program, from people who live in the county and are not going anywhere. Best for: basic obedience classes, reactivity and aggression cases, day training and board and train.