My name is Asher - located in CA!

#MADLoveAsher would like to introduce himself....

Hi, my name is Asher “Van den Zand” and I’m a just-over 1.5 year old Belgian Malinois living with my foster mom Lauryn in Southern California. She made me my own Facebook page to help me find my forever home! Asher the Malinois

When I was a puppy, someone abandoned me on a property in the middle of a desert near the Salton Sea. (That’s why my last name is Van den Zand - it means “of the sand” in Dutch). Neighbors said that for a year, the tenant living in the house on that property gave me food and water outside, but other than that, I didn’t have a home or family. When that person’s lease was up, they moved away and left me to fend for myself. I waited and waited for them to come back, but no one did, until the real estate agent showed up to check on the house, found me, and immediately reached out for help. Through the power of social media, and foster mom volunteering a lot, that’s how mom got me in September 2025, and got me into MAD Rescue.

I didn’t know anything about being inside, or really being a dog, but I LOVE everybody I meet and have always been a friendly and loving pup! I’ve come a long way building confidence and working on training; here are some things mom’s taught me since being her foster son:

I know:

Sit

Down

Stay

Come

Leave it

Off (I like to give big jump-hugs)

No (although, be nice when saying it, sometimes I’m sensitive to correction)

Find It (my favorite game! I’ve got a GENIUS nose)

Hold On (when foster mom walks me on a leash and needs to pause for something)

Wait (when foster mom opens the door I don’t run out until I get released)

Break (release command)

Drop It

Place

Up (for on the bed, couch, or jumping over logs!)

Kennel (I’m completely kennel trained).

And more!

I’m working on:

Heel

Muzzle

And some other commands mom thinks would be useful.

Some things mom loves about me:

Medium energy, medium working drive, high prey drive. I have an INCREDIBLE off-switch and love to cuddle.

I walk like a perfect gentleman on a leash.

I only bark occasionally but wiggle with excitement and want to jump up for hugs or lay on your lap and wiggle-cuddle! I’m a typical Mal when it comes to being mouthy, too.

I can be left uncrated in the home, but foster mom puts me in the kennel if she’s gone for more than 2 hours and I settle just fine.

Non-destructive, although I believe fine dining includes paper towels, so those would have to be out of reach.

Not phased by thunder or loud noises.

Extremely intelligent and I pick up on commands, boundaries, and my surroundings astutely.

Ball is life, and foster mom is working on cultivating my ball drive.

Obsessed with car rides and adventures, but I always love going home.

Some things I’m afraid of:

Other dogs. I am reactive, but mom’s been working on desensitization training and I’m showing progress. I have to be kept completely separate from her other dogs, but mom thinks with the right forever family and professional behavioral training, there’s potential to be around other dogs. I can be in the same vicinity as other dogs as long as I’m leashed and there’s some distance, but if they move too quickly or pay attention to me I get scared and react; I can be called off most of the time and redirected. Foster mom even took me to a little league baseball game once and I was able to sit and have a good time with 10 loud people I’d never met before, and 2 dogs only about 20 ft from me!

I haven’t been tested with:

Cats or other non-canine animals.

Small children (although breed-savvy kids would be okay. Foster mom thinks 10+ would be fine, but breed-experienced pawrents could supervise me with little ones).

I need to be your only dog, but I promise I’ll fill your entire heart! I’d do best in a home where at least one human was around most of the time, since I attach to my humans pretty hard, but I’m okay being left alone for a few hours, crated or free to roam once I understand my surroundings.

I could be just a pet, or as long as there aren’t other dogs around, foster mom thinks I’d be amazing at scent work or other sport activities.

if you think I’m your perfect fit, get ahold of my mom or my coordinator Erin Black. Then, mosey on over to the Malinois & Dutch Rescue website to apply to adopt me! Fill out the application and be sure to put “Asher - located in California” in the section where it asks what dog you’re interested in. If you’re unable to open your home to me, please follow and share my page. Can’t wait to meet you!

All MAD dogs come with a Fi Collar and six-months subscription. 

If you are interested in adopting this pet please complete an application at this link  https://petstablished.com/adoption_form/24689/generic. 

We are an official 501c3 organization that does not have a physical location. Our home address is in Michigan, however, the majority of our dogs are not located in Michigan. The physical location of each our our dogs is posted with the name of the pet or in the title area. If you are within 4 hours of the pet, please be prepared to pick the pet up. We do provide transport assistance up to 350 miles. The applicant must drive the remainder of the distance of the transport. 

The basic information that we have available is in our posting, but sometimes fosters will post updates on the MAD Rescue Facebook page as well,  https://www.facebook.com/groups/malinoisanddutchshepherdrescueinc.

If you would like to further inquire on this animal, please fill out this application. Applications that are completed in our process and being considered as a match will speak to the foster home to gain more information about our adoptable dog.

If you have questions about this pet please contact us at info@MADrescueinc.org. 

You may also call our toll free number at 844-MAD-RESQ or 844-623-7377. 

Additional information about all of our dogs for adoption can be located at our website MAD Rescue Inc.