The NovaMal Story..

 We are Lynsay & Evan Bayers. Together we run and maintain a small in home Alaskan Malamute Kennel in Lawrencetown Nova Scotia, Just outside of Halifax.

We met when we were in high school, and have been together ever since. We didnt start out with the same views, dreams and aspirations but as time passed, Evan began to love dogs as much as Lynsay did. 

We did lots of research on the breed before committing to adding one to our family. We attended shows, met with breeders, read many books and researched our hearts out until one faithful day, We met Janis. Janis Waecther runs Moonsnoe Kennels in Baden Ontario. 

We met Janis at the September 2011 Malamute Speciality in Halifax. She had with her a magnificent Seal Male, Sherman. Sherman won BPISS (Best Puppy in Specialty Show) that weekend. When we told Janis we wanted a pup, preferably a seal, much like Sherman, she said she had planned to breed his parents again that spring. Getting to know Janis really helped us realize that not only did we want to share our lives with Malamutes, and we wanted to do our part to better the Alaskan Malamute breed by raising healthy, happy dogs with solid loving temperaments. After much discussion and getting to know each other, we were put on the list for that litter.

Enter Maverick. Our first Malamute and the heart of NovaMal. He came into our lives in the Spring of 2012 and we knew we would forever be Malamute people. At that time, we werent ready to start our own kennel just yet, and due to him being oversized and his incorrect ears, we chose to neuter Maverick. He is an excellent uncle and obedience superstar! 

We brought our second Mal, Maida home in the Spring of 2013. She started her show career with months of shows with no breed competition. However, once up against others in her breed, we finished her championship in one weekend!! Maida has gone on to become the #1 Malamute in Atlantic Canada, as well as #6 in all of Canada and #3 Bitch, all in the year of 2014.

Here at NovaMal we strive to produce the best overall Malamute. We put a very high importance on temperament in our dogs, along with health and type. We will NEVER breed a dog if said dog does not have a bulletproof temperament. Malamutes can have a bad rap and we strive with all of our being to change that.

Our main objective is to produce healthy Alaskan Malamute dogs who will in turn give us well-rounded offspring with great temperaments, comply to Alaskan Malamute standard and will also make great family pets.

For information on our kennel, upcoming litters or just to ask a question, call or Email us at any time. We encourage all persons thinking of adding an Alaskan Malamute to their family to visit NovaMal and meet our dogs. We also have a facebook page! "NovaMal Alaskan Malamutes" and instagram - @NovaMal_AlaskanMalamutes - That we update quite regularly with new pictures and goings-on in our lives.

We believe that if you breed, you MUST show in conformation. Working towards performance and champion titles (obedience too!) allows us the opportunity to measure our dogs against the breed standard, show our dogs off to the world, and verifies our breeding efforts are always heading in the right direction. Our breeding program is in accordance with the Canadian Kennel Club Code of Ethics and Code of Practice for Breeders. 

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I am a dog breeder. I spend a lifetime learning pedigrees, going over dogs, talking and learning from those in my breed and those outside it. I raise each litter as if I gave birth to them and spend an equal amount of time finding them loving forever homes. I only put puppies on this planet that I think will be the healthiest (mentally and physically) and nicest examples of their breed. I support each family who chooses one of my puppies and let them know they are now a part of our extended family. I am there if one needs to come back and will aggressively pursue the return of one of my dogs if its in the wrong place. I support my breed in rescue and education. I hold them when they arrive and leave this world, not only my own, but my brethren in the fancy. I share my knowledge and socialize my dogs so that they will be the advertisement for my dedication.
I don't keep track of the money and time I put in to my love of dogs, it would not be true measure of how I feel. I support my friends in the fancy, because it takes a village sometimes and only WE know how things are for us.
The price I charge for my puppies is never profit, but investment in the next generation. I will not be ashamed of who I am, I work hard at being a good dog person and encouraging others to be the same. I am a breeder and I am proud of it.  If we don't support each other - we are doomed as a fancy.

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Breeder Education.. Is it important to you? It should be!

Potential puppy buyers rarely stop and think about what their prospective breeder is doing to better themselves when it comes to the care, maintenance, training and overall understanding of dogs and puppies. They are often blinded by the excitement of getting a new furry family member!

 As a potential puppy buyer, you should be asking yourself whether your breeder has taken any interest in learning about breeding, training, nutrition, health courses, seminars, certificates, programs or any formal training/education in those subject areas on dogs/puppies or their chosen breed?

We are always working towards a better understanding of our dogs/puppies and their health and happiness. Lynsay has several canine (and companion animal) health, nutrition and training certificates, as well as a veterinary assistant diploma and canine first aid, but it doesnt stop there! Lynsay is usually enrolled in at least one course/seminar at a time. With the latest being "Animal Behaviour" held by the University of Melbourne.

Each one of these courses was taken to better our understanding of the dogs we love so much and to help us become better "grandparents" to the future puppies we produce, as well as to aid in educating our new puppy owners on the needs their new dog will have. We believe that breeding and owning dogs is a ever-increasing learning process and we strive to learn as much as we can. 

Some of the courses we have taken are geared towards breeding dogs, dog nutrition, and health. Where others are geared more towards dog training. Some are even specifically for sled dogs and working dogs. You can see everything we have done below:

Various Programs, Courses and Certificates Completed, Seminars Attended:

• Veterinary Assistant Diploma - Eastern College 
• Animal Science Degree - Dalhousie University Agricultural Department
• Companion Animal First Aid Certificate - Saint Johns Ambulance 
• Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference - various seminars on canine health & nutrition - Halifax NS 
• Companion Animal Enterprise Management Course - Nova Scotia Agricultural College 
• No Disclaimer - Association of Pet Dog Trainers Seminar - Halifax NS 
• SPCA Animal Wellness Conference - various seminars on canine health & behavior - Dartmouth NS 
• Canine Aggression Seminar - Tristan Flynn, CPDT-KA - Jollytails inc 
• Canine Reproduction - Dr. Jeff Grognet, DVM, Bsc - University of Central Florida 
• Multi-Dog Households - Patricia McConnell 
• Canine Hip Dysplasia: a complex issue - 8 part series - John C. Cargill, MA MBA, MS & Susan Thorpe-Vargas, MS - www.farmdogusa.com (2013)
• Patellar Luxation - Greg Harasen - www.farmdogsusa.com 
• Brucillosis - Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics - Iowa State University 
• Canine Intelligence - Dr. Brian Hare - APDT 
• Fun Activities for you and your dog - Mychelle Blake, MSW, CDBC - APDT 
• Give Your Dog A Job: Service, Assistance and Therapy Dogs - Allie Phillips - APDT 
• HOOLIGANS! Living With Canine Teenagers - Teoti Anderson CPDT-KA -APDT 
• House & Crate Training - Teoti Anderson CPDT-KA, CPA-CTP - APDT 
• House Training Basics - Teoti Anderson CPDT-KA -APDT 
• Thyroid Disease and Autoimmune Thyroiditis - Dr. Jean Dodds DVM - www.farmdogsusa.com 
• Loose Leash Walking - Gail Fisher - APDT (
• Separation Anxiety in Dogs - Melissa Bain DVM, DACVB, MS - APDT
• Multi-Dog Households: From first date to after the honey moon - Patricia McConnell -ASPCA Webinar
• Socializing Your Puppy Right - Ariana Kincaid KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, OSCT - APDT 
• The Inclusion of Family Dogs for Success: Building Dog-Child Bonds - Jennifer Shyrock B.A., CDBC - APDT (Jan 2014)
• Setting Dog and Baby up for Success - Jennifer Shyrock B.A., CDBC - APDT 
• Of Wolves and Dogs - Charles Berger DMV - Online Webinar 
• The Revelance Of Breed to Pet Dog Issues - Janis Bradley - APDT 
• "Curing the Reactive Dog" - Tristan Flynn, CDBC, CPDT-KA - Jollytails inc 
• "Feeding A Raw Diet With Confidence" - Dr. Peter Dobias DVM 
• "Holistic Approach To Vaccination in Dogs" - Dr. Peter Dobias DVM 
• Synergy or Synthetics: how you can create a healthier dog by reducing synthetic nutrients - Marina Ringo B.GS, DHMHS - Dogs Naturally Webinar
• Scary Pet Food Truths - Roxana Stone - Dogs Naturally Webinar 
• "Growing The Connection": Journeying Together - Susan Garrett 
• The Raw Roundup with Dogs Naturally Magazine - Online Conference 
• - Why Whole Foods Are Best - Doug Knueven DVM
• - RAW BASICS: Key Concepts to Start Building a Raw Diet - Kymythy Shultze CN AHI
• - Making the Switch: Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Transition - Jodie Gruenstern DVM
• - Advanced Diet Concepts: Tweaking the Basic Diet for Individual Dogs - Kymythy Shultze CN AHI
• - Supplementing the Raw Diet for Maximum Nutrition - Jodie Gruenstern DVM
• - The Ultimate How To Guide: Tricks for Sourcing and Saving Money on a Raw Diet - Rodney Habib
• Nutritional Expert Program - Levels 1,2,3 - Petcurean Pet Nutrition 
• Curing the Leash Reactive Dog - Seminar - Tristan Flynn CPDT-KA, CDBC
• Conformation Handling Seminar - Allison Foley 
• Canine Reproduction - Dr. Eric Carnegy, DVM 
• Navigating Genetic Disease Testing for the Breeder - Dr. Aubrey Webb 
• Why should you CAER? Grin and BAER it! - Dr Cheryl Cullen & Dr. Aubrey Webb 
• Canine Emotion and Cognition - Dr. Brian Hare - Duke University 
• Jane Killion's Puppy Culture 
• The Truth about Canine Herpes Virus (CHV-1) - Dr Emmanuel Fontaine - Webinar
• Basics in Canine Reproduction, Part I, Part II and Part III - Dr Emmanuel Fontaine - Webinar 
• Happy Healthy Dog Summit - Online Webinars
  • Understanding Allergies in Dogs - Dr. Patrick Mahaney
  • Overweight Dogs - Dr. Katy Nelson
  • Raw Food 101 - Dr. Ian Billinghurst
  • Grooming 101 - George Bendersky
  • Bonding with Dogs Through Play - Arden Moore
  • Will my Pet make a Good Therapy Dog? - Mary Margaret Callahan
  • How real food can add years to your dogs life - Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Becker
  • The Truth about Pet Food - Susan Thixton
  • Dogs and Anxiety - Mickel Becker
  • Holistic Veterinary Care - Dr. Barbara Royal
  • Body Language: How people and Dogs Communicate - Dr. Nicholas Dodman
  • Trends in Pet Food - Dr. Donna Spector
  • Common Dog Ailments you need to know - Dr. Andy Roark
  • Travelling with your dog - Amy Burkert
  • Are we giving our dogs too much vaccines? - Dr. Jean Dodds
  • Being an Advocate for your dog - Nicki Moustaki
  • Puppies 101 - Victoria Stilwell
  • Dog first aid you need to know - Dr. Deborah Mandell
  • How Dogs Help Humans - Kristen Jacobson
  • Is Pet Insurance Right for you and your Dog? - Laura Bennett
  • Essential Oils for dogs - Dr. Janet Roark
  • Dogs, Cancer and Hospice care - Dr. Jessica Vogelsang
  • Animal Communication - Dr Sonya Fitzpatrick
• Leading Edge Dog Show Academy:
  • The Ultimate Guide to Handling your dog
  • 12 ways to excel as an owner/handler part one
  • 12 ways to excel as an owner/handler part two
  • Cavaletti Pole training for dogs
  • Handling Unruly, Young or Hesitant show dogs
  • Understanding the Stack
  • Training your show puppy
  • The subtleties of breed-specific handling part one and two
  •  Coping with coat change, shedding and weather
  • Drying techniques for double coated dogs
  • Finishing touches for show grooming
  • Handling Finesse
  • Fantastic Free Baits
  • Grooming essentials: Success starts in the bath
  • Reputable Breeding Series
  • The BEST dog in 2 minutes
  • Advanced Handling
  • Campaigning your dog
  • interpreting breed standards
• CKC Symposium on Healthy Dog Breeding
• AKC CHF Canine Cancer Series: Lymphoma: The State of This Disease in Dogs and How Epigenetics May Open Future Doors
• Feeding Foundation: Nutrition for the beginning of life, with Shoshana Verton-Shaw, RVT, VTS
• Canine Reproductive Nutrition & Pediatrics
• Q&A Bonanza with Dr. Greer DVM
• All about AI with Dr. Hutch DVM
• Whelping and Post Whelping Care of Mothers and Pups with Dr. Marty Greer, DVM
• BEGging for Answers? DCM and Feeding Trials: Dr. Bradley Quest, DVM
• Managing Your Brood Female for Fertility & Success with Dr. Marty Greer, DVM
• Genetic Neurological Diseases in Dogs with Dr Casey Cart, DVM
• AMCUK: A conversation with Jennifer Remazki (Spiritrun Malamutes)
• Neonatal Puppy Care with Myra Savant-Harris
•  The Human-Dog Bond: Dr. James Serpell, BSc, PhD 
• GDV - What we Know, AND what we wish we knew! - Elizabeth Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVECC 
• Breeding Success Starts with Managing Your Brood Bitch : Dr Marty Greer, DVM
• Stages of Labor with Dr. Hutchison, DVM
• Crawling Babies, Conflicted Dogs: 5 Ways to Decrease Heartbreaking Dilemmas: Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP
• Alaskan Malamute Club of America Judges Education Webinar with Shilon Bedford - BlackIce Kennels
• Medical Marijuana and your pet
• SHOW DOG PREP SCHOOL:
  • Stacking Boxes, Platforms and steps for show dog training
  • From Shy to Showy
  • Show Stopping Stacks
  • Show Ring Curve Balls
  • Raising Champions
  • Mental Management with Nancy Reyes
  • Mastering Your Dogs Movement
  • Help for your Reactive Dog with Chelsea Murray (Illanak Malamutes)
  • DOGMANSHIP WITH LAURA REEVES:
    
    • Showmanship Part one and two
    • Training
    • Breeding
    • Husbandry
  • Dog Show Basics
  • Crates are Great with Chelsea Murray (Illanak Malamutes)
  • Conditioning for Show Dogs
  • Correcting Pacing for Show Dogs
  • From Whelping to Winning
  • Life Skills for Show Dogs
  • Managing your Multi-Sport Show Dog
  • Taking the challenge out of challenging breeds
  • Ultimate Dog Sport Mindset Course
  • Canine Structure 101
  • Litter evaluations - the planning, the process, the picks