Denver dog trainer Gina DeStaffany trains her 2 dogs, Deli & Gemma, using positive reinforcement and always, joy!

About Gina

And her late inspirations - Gemma and Deli

Gina DeStaffany is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT) and a Fear Free Certified Trainer (FFCT).

Gina’s goal is to provide you with the knowledge and skills to build a wonderful relationship between you and your dog through understanding, compassion, and guidance! This includes coaching the humans to better understand the “why” behind our dog’s behaviors; providing behavior modification plans rooted in the science of how dogs learn and behave; and modeling and training with your dog in humane, compassionate ways. Gina does not believe using pain, fear, or force in training is ever necessary or ethical, no matter the breed, age, or behavior needs.

For over seven years, Gina helped lead a volunteer program at Austin Animal Center that worked with the shelter’s highest needs behavior dogs. The program not only implemented positive reinforcement behavior modification and management plans to set the dogs up for successful placements but trained and managed the volunteer group as well. Gina took the leap to marry her passion with her career in 2020 and began working full time as a trainer with Dog Possible Austin.

After supporting Austin’s people and pups for years, Gina recently made the move to Colorado and started The Joyful Dog Co., bringing access to one of the few highly certified, positive reinforcement dog trainers to Denver.

Gina’s work will also forever be inspired by her two late adopted pups Gemma and Deli. Both pups helped Gina move away from the outdated idea of “obedience”. They taught Gina the importance of meeting both their physical and mental needs, and ensuring they were not only physically safe, but truly felt safe to learn, grow, and let their personalities shine. Both pups were true joy specialists - living life in the moment and to the fullest - something Gina hopes to share and instill in those she works with!

The Joy Specialists - Gemma and Deli!

  • Gemma, owned by dog trainer in Denver, Gina, a white, pointy-eared pitbul shines the biggest smile up at the camer, while sitting in a backyard
  • Gina of The Joyful Dog, Co., Dog Trainer Denver, laughs while her two training inspirations, Gemma and Deli, surround her with joy
  • A white dog stands in a white sand park, she was owned by Gina, Dog Trainer in Denver, CO
  • A dog and human stare at each other lovingly - Deli the dog on the left and Gina, the dog trainer in Denver, on the right
  • Dog Trainer Denver, Gina kneels on the ground with her 2 former shelter dogs, Deli and Gemma, as they wait for treats
  • A grey pitbull dog wears a bright orange lion's mane costume on a grassy hill
  • Gina, the dog trainer in Denver, and her white dog Gemma lay on the floor looking up at the camera

Professional Affiliations

The orange and white logo of CCPDT - Certification for Professional Dog Trainers
The Certified logo for the IAABC, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants for Gina, now a dog trainer in Denver
The blue and white logo for Free FreeTM Professional, showing that Gina, a dog trainer in Denver, is certified