History of Chihuahua breed

The Chihuahua is the oldest breed on the American continent. The Chihuahua’s history is a puzzling one as there are many theories surrounding their true origin. One theory is that they originated from the Fennec Fox, a tiny animal with big eyes and ears. This could explain the petite frame, luminous eyes and large ears the breed has today. The Chihuahua was used in sacred rituals as they were considered holy to Pre-Colombian Indian nations. They were also popular pets to the upper class. The breed draws its name from the Mexican State of Chihuahua, where the first specimens of the breed were discovered.

Some historians believe that the Chihuahua came from the island of Malta in the Mediterranean. Supporters of this theory say a very small dog with a molera (soft spot on the head) became recognized there and journeyed on trading ships through European seaports. More evidence for this theory are European paintings of small dogs who resemble the Chihuahua. One of the most famous paintings is a fresco in the Sistine Chapel by Sandro Botticelli in 1492. The painting, Sons of Moses, shows a woman holding two tiny dogs with round heads, large eyes, big ears, and other characteristics similar to the Chihuahua. The painting was finished ten years before Columbus sailed to the New World, which shows that Botticelli had in no way seen a Mexican dog, yet he depicted an animal strikingly similar to a Chihuahua.

Another theory suggests that the Chihuahua was brought to Mexico from China over 200 years ago. Supporters of this theory believe the Chinese were recognized for dwarfing plants and animals, and when rich Chinese merchants moved to Mexico, they brought Chihuahuas with them. The Aztecs had a little dog named the Techichi, however analysis of the Chihuahua’s mitochondrial DNA suggests that it is of Old World origin, such as from a European toy dog. The mitochondrial DNA analysis only looks at what is inherited from the mother; therefore the fathers of the Chihuahua could have been the Techichi.

Both folklore and archeological finds show that the breed originated in Mexico. The most common theory and most likely is that Chihuahuas are descended from the Techichi, a companion dog favored by the Toltec civilization in Mexico.

Historical records indicate that the Techichi hunted in packs. They can only be traced as far back as the ninth century but it is highly likely that this is the Chihuahua's native Mexican ancestor. Evidence of this is that the remains of dogs closely resembling, but slightly larger than the average Chihuahua have been found in such places as the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which dates back to the 2nd century BC and predates the 16th century. There is also evidence to suggest that the Techichi may also predate the Mayans.

The Toltecs were conquered by the Aztecs, who believed that the Techichi held mystical powers. In terms of size, the present day Chihuahua is much smaller than its ancestors, a change thought to be due to the introduction of miniaturized Chinese dogs, such as the Chinese Crested Dog, into South America by the Spanish.

A progenitor of the breed was reputedly found in 1850 in old ruins near Casas Grandes in the Mexican state of Chihuahua from which the breed gets its name.The state borders with Texas, Arizona and New Mexico where Chihuahuas first rose to prominence and were further developed in the United States. Since that time, the Chihuahua has remained consistently popular as a breed, particularly in America when the breed was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904. Genetic tests place the Chihuahua with other modern breeds originating in the 1800s.

Information taken from www.wikipedia.org