Jesse Gaboury

Founder and Lead Trainer of Commonwealth Canine Services

Background

Jesse Gaboury, founder of Commonwealth Canine Services, is a certified professional dog trainer (KPA-CTP) with a lifelong passion for working with dogs. His journey began almost as soon as he entered the world. The first dog to welcome him home was Zoe, a laid-back Shih Tzu who was already part of the family before Jesse was born. Zoe’s calm and gentle demeanor sparked Jesse’s early connection with dogs. When Jesse was four, Babe, a joyful black lab and golden retriever mix, joined the family. Babe’s boundless enthusiasm and friendly nature strengthened Jesse’s bond with dogs. Years later, Suzie the Puli brought her affectionate personality and spirited “Napoleon complex” to the family, further enriching Jesse’s experiences with different canine temperaments.

Jesse’s professional journey began with a degree in Kinesiology, followed by work as a clinical research assistant in the Boston area. However, he soon realized his true passion lay elsewhere and transitioned to coaching tennis full-time. Around this time, fate brought Jesse and Tessie together at the Northeast Animal Shelter. Tessie, a timid dog overwhelmed by her surroundings, found solace in Jesse’s calm presence. From their first moments together, playing with stuffed toys and exploring the shelter’s outdoor space, an unbreakable bond formed. Tessie became Jesse’s constant companion, and with time, patience, love, and a lot of training, she transformed into a more confident, self-assured, and mild-mannered version of herself.

In 2019, after Tessie underwent surgery and rehabilitation for a luxating patella, Jesse began walking with groups of dogs and their owners at the Middlesex Fells Reservation each morning. This experience inspired the creation of Tessie and Jesse Dog Hiking, which quickly grew from a side gig into Jesse’s full-time passion. Over the years, he led thousands of solo and group hikes, working with dogs of all breeds, temperaments, and personalities. These hands-on experiences not only refined his skills but also fueled his interest in science-based, positive reinforcement dog training.

Jesse pursued this passion formally by enrolling in and graduating from the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Dog Trainer Professional Program, an internationally recognized school for professional animal trainers. As a certified KPA trainer (KPA-CTP), he mastered force-free, ethical training techniques grounded in the latest behavioral science. These methods help dogs learn desired behaviors without the behavioral fallout associated with punishment-based or “balanced” training approaches.

Today, Commonwealth Canine Services offers:

• Private training sessions tailored to your dog’s unique needs and your goals, teaching techniques like capturing, shaping, and targeting to build attention, focus, and strong bonds.
• Solo hikes for dogs who thrive in one-on-one experiences, including reactive dogs or those still in training, combining enrichment with skill-building in a safe, supervised environment.
• Small group hikes (2–3 dogs) that provide structured socialization, play, and enrichment, allowing dogs to safely build confidence and positive experiences with other dogs while being guided with positive reinforcement.

See what people are saying about their training and hiking experiences with Commonwealth Canine Services. Read our Client Testimonials.

Our mission is to help dog owners build stronger relationships, achieve behavioral goals, and enjoy confident, happy companions — all through modern, ethical, science-based training and enrichment.ethods.