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SD - Shih Tzu Mystery Cache

Hidden : 2/14/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is not located at the posted coordinates. It is located in Hampton, NH. You will have to solve the puzzle to locate the cache. My favorite dog breed is a Shih Tzu...no question about it. They are a really great breed. They are small, non allergenic (have hair, not fur) and do not shed. They are happy, affectionate and love to be held. They are very socialable, always close by and keep my feet warm at night. They love people of all ages.

Froedo got me my first Shih Tzu for my birthday in 1994. A beautiful little gold and white female we named Puddles. Then the following year, in 1995, we bought a Valentine's gift for Puddles...a little black and white male puppy we named Grommett. They were a wonderful pair and truly enjoyed each other's company (be sure to visit their cache: GC23X51). In 2008, we lost both of them to old age and were heart broken. Later in 2008 we got an adorable little black and white female Shih Tzu, a bundle of energy we named Willow. She is an April Fool's baby, born 4/1! Then in 2010 Willow's breeder contacted me to see if we wanted to adopt Willow's mom, Jasmine. How could I say no? Willow looks alot like her mom Jasmine, as Jasmine has the same coloring. Jasmine has turned into a very sweet girl. Am I a Shih Tzu lover? You bet!!! Shih Tzu Facts: A Shih Tzu is a breed of dog weighing 4–7 kilograms (8 - 16 lb) with long silky hair. The breed originated in China, and is the closest known descendant of the prehistoric Chinese wolf, the "Senji". Shih Tzu were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969. Shih Tzu (literally "Lion Dog"), is the Chinese name rendered according to the Wade-Giles system of romanization in use when the breed was first introduced in America; the Chinese pronunciation is approximately SHIRR-tsə. The name translates as Lion Dog, so named because the dog was bred to resemble "the lion as depicted in traditional oriental art, such as the Chinese guardian lions. The Shih Tzu is also often known as the "Xi Shi quan", based on the name of Xi Shi, regarded as one of the most beautiful woman of ancient China, and, less often, the Chrysanthemum Dog, a nickname coined in England in the 1930s. The dog may also be called the Tibetan Lion Dog, but whether or not the breed should be referred to as a Tibetan or Chinese breed is a source of argument, the absolute answer to which "may never be known". Standard: A small dog with a short muzzle and large, dark eyes. With a soft and long double coat, the Shih Tzu stands no more than 10.5" at the withers and can weigh 8-16 lbs. Drop ears are covered with long fur, and the heavily furred tail is carried curled over the back. The coat may be of any color, although a blaze of white on the forehead and tail-tip is frequently seen. The Shih Tzu is slightly longer than tall, and dogs ideally should carry themselves "with distinctly arrogant carriage." A very noticeable feature is the underbite, which is required in the breed standard. Coat: The traditional long, silky coat that reaches the floor requires daily brushing to avoid tangles. Because of their long coat and fast growing hair, regular grooming is necessary which may be a costly expense and should be considered when looking at this breed. Often the coat is clipped short to simplify care, in a "puppy clip". For conformation showing, the coat must be left in its natural state. Genealogy: DNA analysis placed the ancestors of today's Shih Tzu breed in the group of "ancient" breeds indicating "close genetic relationship to wolves". Ludvic von Schulmuth studied the skeletal remains of dogs found in human settlements as long as ten thousand years ago. Von Schulmuth created a genealogical tree of Tibetan dogs that shows the "Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog", a scavenger, evolved into the "Small Soft-Coated Drop-Eared Hunting Dog who would fight lions in packs" which evolved into the Tibetan Spaniel, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. Another branch coming down from the "Kitchen Midden Dog" gave rise to the Papillon and Long-haired Chihuahua and yet another "Kitchen Midden Dog" branch to the Pug and Shih Tzu. Origins: There are various theories of the origins of today's breed. Theories relate that it stemmed from a cross between Pekingese and a Tibetan dog called the Lhasa Apso. Dogs during ancient times were selectively bred and seen in Chinese paintings. The first dogs of the breed were imported into Europe (England and Norway) in 1930, and were classified by the Kennel Club as "Apsos". The first European standard for the breed was written in England in 1935 by the Shih Tzu Club, and the dogs were recategorized as Shih Tzu. The breed spread throughout Europe, and was brought to the United States after World War II, when returning members of the US military brought back dogs from Europe. The Shih Tzu was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969 in the Toy Group. The breed is now recognised by all of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world. Color: The Shih Tzu comes in a range of colors that include various shades of gold, white and brown. Other colors include black mask gold, black and white, solid black, solid liver, liver and white, brindle and white and silver and white. Though not as common there are also solid blue Shih Tzu. An interesting point (and often a point of confusion) is that while the coat color of those with black pigmented skin (nose, lips, pads, also referred to as "leather") is determined by the color of the coat itself; the coat color on dogs with either liver or blue pigment is categorized by the colour of the pigment. Thus a parti colored (white and another shade) Shih Tzu with blue pigment is a "blue and white" regardless of the tint of the hair which might very well appear similar to a gold and white or other colors. The same principle applies to solid blue, liver and liver and white. Temperament: As the sole purpose of the Shih Tzu is that of a companion and house pet, it is essential that its temperament be outgoing, happy, affectionate, friendly and trusting towards all. Now, for the puzzle... Cache Coords: N 42 56.ABC W 070 50.DEF A - Puddles came to live with us in 199_ B - The breed can weigh _ to 16 lbs C - Grommett came to live with us in 199_ D - Breed was imported into Europe in 19_0 E - Willow came to live with us in _008 F - Jasmine came to live with us in 201_ ******PLEASE REPLACE WHERE IT WAS FOUND!! *****

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

gval...yvxr gur oerrq!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)