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This cache is not listed at the posted coordinates. It is hidden in Plaistow, NH.
I LOVE dogs...all breeds of dogs, but the Alaskan Malamute is amoung one of my favorites. They are really beautiful! (I love Husky's too). They remind me of Wolves. To find this cache you will need to solve the puzzle first:
Actual coords:
N 42 49.ABC
W 071 06.DEF
A - The UK Kennel Club did a Health Survey in 20_4
B - The breed was recognized by AKC in 193_
C - Klondike Goldrush was in 189_
D - The Female Malamute should be _3" tall at the shoulder
E - The Male Malamute should be _5" tall at the shoulder
F - The average live span of the Malamute is 10._ years old
The Alaskan Malamute is a generally large breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) originally bred for use as a utilitarian dog and later an Alaskan sled dog. They are sometimes mistaken for a Siberian Husky due to color and markings, but in fact are quite different in many ways including size, structure and personality. As pets, once mature, Alaskan Malamutes have a very quiet, dignified temperament and are loyal to their owners.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed in 1935, placing them in the Working Group. The ideal size for Males is 25 inches tall at the shoulder and 85 pounds. The Female should be 23 inches tall at the shoulder and 75 pounds.
The coat of the Alaskan Malamute is a double coat. The undercoat has an oily and woolly texture and can be as thick as two inches. The outer guard coat is coarse and stands off the body. Ears are small in proportion to the head and stand firmly erect when at attention. The Alaskan Malamute is a heavy, large dog with a more formidable nature and structure than the Siberian Husky who is a dog of small and slim stature (and can have either brown or blue eyes or one of each) and is fine boned and bred for speed. The Alaskan Malamute is bred for power and endurance. The usual colors are various shades of gray and white, sable and white, black and white, seal and white, red and white, or solid white. There are a wide range of markings in the breed including face markings, blazes, a splash at the nape of the neck, a collar or a half collar. In terms of color variants, some Malamutes exhibit a dark grey to buff colored undertone around their trimmings and white areas; presenting with a color-linked gene known as 'Agouti'. The eyes of the Alaskan Malamute are almond-shaped and are varied shades of brown; however, the darker eye is preferred. The purebred Alaskan Malamute never has a blue eye. The physical build of the Malamute is compact and strong with substance, bone and snowshoe feet.
According to the AKC breed standard, the Malamute's tail is well furred and carried over the back like a "waving plume". Corkscrew tails are occasionally seen but are faulted in the AKC breed standard (a corkscrew tail is commonly seen in the Akita). The Malamutes' well-furred tails aid in keeping them warm when they curl up in the snow. They are often seen wrapping the tail around their nose and face, which presumably helps protect them against harsh weather such as blowing snow. Their ears are generally upright, wedge shaped, small in proportion to the head and set to the side of the skull. The muzzle is broad, tapering slightly from the skull to the nose. Nose and gums are black but some Malamutes have a snow nose which is black with a pink undertone that can get darker or lighter, depending upon the season.
The Alaskan Malamute are still in use as sled dogs for personal travel and hauling freight; some however are used for the recreational pursuit of sledding, also known as mushing. Most Malamutes today are kept as family pets or as show or performance dogs in weight pulling, dog agility, or packing. The Malamute is generally slower in long-distance dogsled racing against smaller and faster breeds and their working usefulness is limited to freighting or traveling over long distances at a far slower rate than that required for racing.
The Malamute retains more of its original form and function than many other modern breeds. The malamute personality is one of strong independence. They require not only a lot of exercise but they require an owner who can serve in an "Alpha" role to gain respect of the dog. If a dog owner cannot cope with a dog that will not comply with the owner's every command, a more compliant breed should be selected. This dog has a long genetic foundation to conform with "survival of the fittest." Independence, resourcefulness, and natural behaviors are common in the breed. Because of their intelligence, they can be one of the most difficult dogs to train. However, if the trainer understands the malamute and how to keep them motivated, success is within reach.
Alaskan Malamutes sometimes cope poorly with smaller animals, including other canines; however, this has been difficult to document. Many Malamute owners have observed this behavior with smaller animals, though some might speculate this is due to the Malamute's uniquely divergent ancestry, at some points cross-breeding with wolves. Malamutes tends to have a heightened prey drive when compared to some other breeds of dog. So while Malamutes are, as a general rule, particularly amiable around people and can be taught to tolerate other pets, it is necessary to be mindful of them around smaller animals and children.
Malamutes are quite fond of people, a trait that makes them particularly sought-after family dogs. Malamutes are nimble around furniture and smaller items, making them ideal house dogs, provided they get plenty of time outdoors meeting their considerable exercise requirements. If they are year-round outdoor dogs, letting them play in a baby pool filled with cold water in summer keeps them cool. In the winter, they love snow.
The majority of Malamutes are fairly quiet dogs, seldom barking like most other dog breeds. When a malamute does vocalize, more often than not they tend to "talk" by vocalizing a "woo woo" sound. They may howl like wolves or coyotes, and for the same reason.
Health/Longevity:
There is only one known health survey of Alaskan Malamutes, a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey with a small sample size of 14 dogs. The median lifespan of 10.7 years measured in that survey is very typical of a breed their size. The major cause of death was cancer (36%). The most commonly reported health problems of Alaskan Malamutes in the 2004 UK Kennel Club survey (based on a sample size of 64 dogs) were musculoskeletal (hip dysplasia), and hereditary cataracts. There are additional health issues in the breed whose origins are unknown at this time including varied seizure disorders found in young puppies as well as adults, congenital heart problems, kidney problems and skin disorders.
Climate and Malamutes:
While Malamutes have been successfully raised in places such as Arizona, their dense coats generally make them unsuited for outdoor living in hot climates. When the weather gets hot, the Malamute needs plenty of water and shade. A malamute should not be shaved in the summer, as their double coat protects them against the heat as it does the cold. They will grow a winter coat and subsequently shed it in spring to prepare for the summer and in the fall to prepare to put on their winter coat. When they shed, they do it in large clumps of undercoat that can easily cover an entire back yard in hair. Daily brushing is recommended during this time to hasten the process and to make the dog comfortable.
History:
An Inuit family with a Malamute from 1915.The Malamute is a descendant of dogs of the Mahlemut tribe of Inuit in upper western Alaska. These dogs had a prominent role with their human companions – as a utilitarian dog, working, hunting, and living alongside them. For a brief period during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, the Malamute became extremely valuable to prospectors. The Malamute dog has had a distinguished history; aiding miners who came to Alaska during the Gold Rush of 1896, as well as serving in World War II as search and rescue dogs in Greenland, also used as freighting dogs in Europe. This dog was never destined to be a racing sled dog; instead, it was used for heavy freighting, pulling hundreds of pounds of supplies to villages in groups of 4 dogs for heavy loads.
The Alaskan Malamute is a member of the Spitz group of dogs, traced back 2,000 to 3,000 years ago to the Mahlemuits tribe of Alaska.
A bill in the Alaska House has been passed to name the Malamute the official state dog of Alaska.
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