Chihuahua Central: History of the Chihuahua

It is speculated that the Chihuahua's history dates back to the ancient Toltecs (the people that conquered the Mayans) and their little Techichi. As of present date, no records of the Techichi are available prior to the 9th century, but it is probable their ancestors were present prior to the Mayans. The Techihi was a heavy-boned small dog with a long coat indigenous to Central America. The Toltecs are believed to be the first to domesticate the Techichi and bring the canine into the home and religious ceremonies.

The conquering Aztecs adopted the little dogs and made them sacred icons of the upper classes, using them in religious ceremonies to vanquish sins and as quides for the spirits of the dead. It is theorized that the Techichi was crossed with an Oriental hairless breed (probably the Chinese Crested) that made its way to the New World via the Bering Strait land bridge and the smaller, smooth-coated, vocal Chihuahua of today was born.

In 1850, the dogs were found in the state of Chihuahua, which borders Texas and New Mexico. The old ruins near Casas Grandes, in which they were found, and are thought to be the ruins of the palace built by Emperor Montezuma I. Their name is taken from this Mexican state. The Chihuahua quickly became popular and was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1904.

Our personal Chihuahua history started with the rescue of Pippi (full name Pippi Squeaks) from an unresponsible breeder in 2000. She is very much daddy's girl, as you can see by the picture to the right.

The History of the Chihuahua

Do you ever wonder where the smallest dogs in the world orginated from?