Meet Jen, The Founder & CEO of Reliant Medical Alert Dogs

Jen Dean, Founder and CEO of Reliant, has devoted her life to understanding, training, and partnering with animals to improve human lives. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jen’s passion for working with animals began at just four years old, when she spent hours at a local stable. By age eleven, she was teaching others to ride, and in high school, she was already instructing dressage—demonstrating both natural leadership and a deep connection to animal behavior.

Jen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, with a minor in Psychology, from Virginia Tech in 1998. During her senior year, she participated in a specialized bomb-dog scent detection research project and, upon graduation, was appointed Head Trainer of the program in Blacksburg. This experience laid the foundation for her expertise in advanced scent detection and working-dog performance.

After relocating to Gainesville with her husband, Jason Dean, Jen founded a behavior training business that quickly earned national recognition. Her first major contract involved consulting with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), training dogs to detect point-source pollutants—an innovative application of scent work with meaningful environmental impact.

With more than 35 years of animal training experience and over three decades specializing in dogs, Jen’s background spans a wide range of disciplines, including:

  • Aggressive dog consultation

  • Puppy selection and litter evaluations

  • National-level herding competition (Australian Shepherds), Grand Champion level through the AHBA

  • High-level agility competition qualification

  • Private lessons, workshops, seminars, group classes, and online behavior consultations

Jen’s training excellence has reached beyond competition and service work. She has trained Frisbee Dog World Champions (2017), worked with prominent clients including Ted Turner, and her dog, Gru, has appeared in major productions such as Marvel’s Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame, The Haunting of Hill House, and Ozark.

Through her extensive experience in scent detection and behavior science, Jen recognized a critical and growing need for highly trained, reliable medical detection dogs. She founded Reliant with a clear mission: to provide alert dogs that are not only professionally trained to the highest standards, but also deeply bonded, compassionate partners for the individuals and families they serve.

At Reliant, Jen combines science, skill, and heart—ensuring that every dog is prepared to offer safety, independence, and peace of mind to those who depend on them.

A person bending over with a dog walking on their back, outdoors on a grassy field with trees in the background.
A woman is playing with a dog on a grassy field during an outdoor event, with a tent and cars in the background.
A dog with a merle coat pattern participating in an agility competition, mid-jump over a hurdle on an indoor dirt course.
A small dog with tan and white fur running on snow-covered grass near three black cows and metal fencing in a rural farm setting during daytime.
A person bending down to pet a dog on a grassy field with a yellow metal fence in the background.
Front page of a newspaper with a headline about a dog named Gru, featuring a photo of a dog standing on grass. The page also shows two smaller photos at the bottom: one of a smiling woman with the dog, and another of a woman crouching next to the dog outside.