How the Rescue Dog Jali Grew Into a Balanced Family Member
When the Belgian Malinois Jali arrived in his new home in January 2023, no one yet knew what kind of everyday life this fiery whirlwind would bring with him. Now, almost three years later, Jali is an example of what patience, proper training and rewarding can achieve especially with a challenging dog.
Life With a Rescue Dog
Jali’s owner, Katarina Kruus, has worked with challenging rescue dogs for 20 years. Shyness, fear, distrust and unpredictable reactions are familiar to her. Still, she admits that Jali is the most difficult dog she has ever worked with. Jali’s sense of humor and mischievous nature were also noticed early on. Jali stayed in the household because no one else would have managed with him. Along the way, they’ve seen everything: fear barking, nervousness and long days spent practicing. A rescue dog does not forget. It remembers both good and bad experiences even from the age of three weeks.
The Night of the Fire Was a Push Toward a New Beginning
Jali’s story also includes difficult moments. From the family’s previous home, only two people, two phones and two dogs were evacuated on the night of the fire. After that, everyday life had to be rebuilt. The new home meant a single-story floor plan. The change also brought clear routines: a safe space of their own for the dogs, limiting the number of visitors, and a predictable daily rhythm. These were small but crucial steps in calming the dog’s mind.
When Nothing Helps – Except Sausages
When Jali first joined the family, he was extremely restless and couldn’t focus on anything. ADHD-level chaos, jumping, grabbing with his teeth and general restlessness made daily life exhausting. Then the Train’N’Treat treat dispenser came into the picture, something Katarina had seen on social media.
“Sausages are the only thing that help Jali wait, stay still and learn.”
The device allows rewarding at exactly the right moment, and that’s the A to Z of dog training. Without a reward given at the right time, a timid or impulsive dog does not understand what is expected of him.
Jali loves puzzle games, and of course his favorite treats there are also small sausage pieces. Katarina still wonders how such a tiny piece of sausage is enough to motivate such a lively dog.
How the Train'N'Treat treat dispenser and Treats Are Used to Make Everyday Life Easier
Jali is rewarded through the device whenever he calms down, stays still or is quiet. In the forest, treats are thrown on the ground to be searched for, allowing the dog to use his nose. Scent work calms dogs effectively. When Jali is left home alone, a porcelain bowl is always left with small pieces of sausage. Jali has strongly learned that to earn a reward, being calm is the best option.
The Train'N'Treat treat dispenser works because quick rewards matter. Timing is everything, and a clear signal calms the dog. Train’N’Treat helps exactly with this: fingers stay safe when handling a large and restless dog. The dog focuses on the reward, not the person or jumping. Daily life has changed from chaos to waiting and focusing.
A Breed That Requires Both Body and Brain Work
The Belgian Malinois is not the easiest breed. It needs constant activity, nose work, mental challenges and clear routines. The dog is all muscle, so jumping against people easily hurts. That’s why controlled rewarding is important – the Train’N’Treat training tool and treats are an excellent combination for this.
The Journey Together Continues
Today, Jali can patiently wait for a piece of sausage. He stands still when the gate opens and no longer jumps on people. Jali now tolerates different dogs and people around him well.
“A dog that used to be an explosive boy is now incredibly fine.” Forest dog parks and puzzle games still offer stimulation. The puzzles tire him out effectively, and Jali shines when he gets to use his brain.
Without the combination of the device and sausages, this story could be very different.
Katarina’s Tips for Living With a Rescue Dog
- Give time. Get to know the dog as if it were a puppy.
- Proceed carefully. You won’t learn much in a week or two.
- Identify the dog’s favorite reward: sausage, toy or both?
- Routines calm everyday life.
- No visitors at first – family comes first.
- Nose work tires the dog best.
"Jali is living proof that with the right tools and love, even the most challenging dog can find his calm."
