Why do we want to know, or even care, where the Chihuahua came from ?
Most of you have come to this page expecting a novelty report, generically outlining the familiar story of what is commonly known as the Mexican Chihuahua History. This document is in its infancy stages but, my hope is, to one day bring some valuable insight as to why knowing your Chihuahua history is so important, especially if you are a breeder. Knowing the origin of a specific breed of dog can help you to understand what makes that breed weak or strong in one way or another. Knowing what traits were introduced when and why helps us to make better decisions as breed "fanciers" to maintain or improve the standard of the breed. As a breeder of Chihuahuas, I find this topic of history most important when setting out my plans for breeding my dogs, and when considering the options I have with my long term breeding goals. We as people, can either learn from history, or learn from the repetition of history.
As with any breed of dog, there is speculation and logical deduction involved in what has occurred in the past to understand the present. Archeology and paleontology has been used to determine what type of relationship existed between canines and humans. Through archeological digs and the work of paleontologists, they have pieced together a history that goes back at least to 5th century A.D. and to show the existence of the Chihuahua's ancestors not only in the central and southern regions of Mexico, but also in South America as well.
The history of the Chihuahua is one of the oldest lived and well documented examples of the important relationship that dogs have played in so many aspects of human life.
The Chihuahua has given us a companionship rarely matched by any other dog in history. Some of this history may explain the phenomenon of the Chihuahua's long lived popularity around the world. There are many theories regarding the development of this tiny breed of dog. The following are just a few of these theories of claimed origin and an approximate Time Line of the Chihuahua throughout history.
Special Note: The Chihuahua (or Techichi) is referred to as a "mute companion" of the Olmec, Toltec and Aztec civilizations. The "bark" was introduced by crossing the "Techichi" with the ancient equivalent to the "Chinese Crested". This change was made to improve the breeds' effectiveness as a watch dog.
Olmec: B.C. 1,200 to 600 A.D. ~ The Olmec tribes were thought to be the "mother" of Mexico and were known to raise and eat Chihuahua type dogs during their time.
Mayan: B.C. 1,000 to about 1,000 A.D. ~ The Mayan Indians of South America made clay sculptures of small dogs that resemble a Chihuahua "type" and were the first to develop a relationship with one of the Chihuahua's ancestors. These sculptures are dated back to the 5th century A.D.
Special Note: It is believed that the artifacts of Chihuahuas which were holding corn in there mouths were simbolic of the Chihuahuas who were fattened up for consuption by the native people as opposed to the thinner Chihuahuas who were kept for communicating with the Gods.
Toltec: 700 A.D. to 1,160 A.D. ~ Native people of Mexico, known as Toltecs, were known to have conquered the southern and central parts of Mexico by 1100 A.D. They possessed a dog of small stature, but at the same time it was heavy-boned and long-coated. This dog was known as a Techichi. It is described as being long-legged, with a thin body, almost fawn-like, and a humped back. The Techichi was kept by the Toltecs as a pet, and interestingly, this dog was used as part of the religious rites as well. There is a question as to whether or not the Toltecs crossed the Techichi with a dog that inhabited the mountains of Chihuahua, called the Perro Chihuahueno. It is said that the Perro Chihuahueno was a foraging type of dog that lived in holes in the ground. They had round heads, long nails, and short, erect ears.
Inca: 1,438 A.D. to 1,532 A.D. ~ when the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs and became the ruling class, they also used the dog as pets and in a religious function. From remains found at pyramids and in graves, it is believed that these people thought that the dog would function as guides for the human soul to proceed in the after-life. Another ritual that was practiced was the burning of a dog with a human corpse. This was done in the belief that the deceased human's wrong-doings would be transferred to the dog. This dog is then believed to have been crossed with an oriental dog, a hairless breed that gave modern Chihuahuas more of the look they have today, smaller and smooth-coated with vocal resources that surpass their size.
Where the stories differ is partly as to how this hairless breed came to that part of the world. Some say these early Chihuahua ancestors immigrated across the Bering Strait land bridge. Others claim they were brought by Spanish settlers who had established trade routes with China. In support for this theory is stated that China has well documented practices of cultivating both animals and plants to be smaller in size. In a historic letter found to be written by the famous Christopher Columbus is said that he found a small dog on the island of Cuba that was mute. This adds to the speculation of the origins of the Chihuahua. The story continues with the Spanish conquerors that invaded Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. It has been concluded; they had with them "a small, black and tan, terrier type dog." These Spanish dogs were far friendlier with the native dogs, than the Spanish conquistadors were with the native peoples. Due to this crossing of the black and tan terrier type dog with the Techichi, it is surmised that the Chihuahua resulted.
Another theory is the Chihuahua is actually of European descent. That it was the Spanish conquistadors that brought this dog with them to the New World. For proof, the people who support this theory point to the island of Malta where a small breed of dog existed that possessed a natural molera. A molera is like an open fontanel in a human child, a soft spot on the top of the skull where the three sections of the skull bone meet. The molera is extremely rare, and uncommon to other breeds of dog. The Chihuahua, however, does possess this natural molera; it is believed that this points to its descendants as being from Malta. Further proof is offered in of all places, the Sistine Chapel. A painting by Sondro Botticelli, completed in 1482, depicts a dog that is very much like today's Chihuahua. Since this painting was completed before Columbus sailed for the New World, it offers proof that the dog is of European ancestry.
One last theory is: It is commonly known the Chinese were masters at developing miniatures of almost everything including, larger breeds of dogs. It is possible the Chinese developed a dog similar to the Chihuahua; the Spanish traders came to possess this dog, and from China, traveled to Mexico with it. As the Spanish traders crossed Mexico, they had contact with the native population, both the traders and the dogs. There is some evidence that Chihuahuas may have already existed in Africa and Asia before they were discovered in America, but none so conclusive to say that they originated in any of those places. We are just now discovering that seafarers may have visited our shores long before Columbus or even the Vikings. This may account for the presence of Chihuahuas in other parts of the world.
No one really knows the exact origin of the Chihuahua. The newest DNA evidence might shed some light onto the actual genetic precursor Chihuahuas. There have been Techichis included in ancient graves all over Mexico. Perhaps some of them can be tested to unravel the true Chihuahua history. In any case, after the Spanish were finished with destroying the Aztec culture, buildings, and as many people as they could, the fate of the dogs were left to the native people that adopted it into their families, and nature. Montezuma II, last of the Aztec rulers, is said to have had hundreds of Chihuahuas in his palace. More recently, General Santa Ana, (the dictator of Mexico who sold northern Mexico to the United States in 1848) also kept large numbers of golden fawn Chihuahuas. They went with him into battle, no doubt to guide his soul across the ninth river should he be slain. In fact, they were in his camp when he was finally defeated and captured in 1836 !
1850 A.D. to Current ~ The Americans
The Chihuahua received its name from the a city called, "Chihuahua" in a northern part of Mexico which borders on the Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico boundary lines. The word, "Chihuahua" translates to "Dry Sandy Place" and also represents the original climate the dog was adjusted to living in. In 1850 small dogs with long hair and short hair, some even without hair were found near the Mexican border state of Chihuahua. The long and short-haired dogs were named Chihuahuas. The hairless varieties were called, "Mexican Hairless." The modern Chihuahuas were first discovered as a breed in 1884. In the United States, the American Kennel Club exhibited Chihuahuas for the first time in 1890. Throughout the early 1900s the Chihuahua remained a rarity. The first Chihuahua was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1903 or 1904. The Chihuahua Club of America was established until 1923, along with a written breed standard that has not changed significantly since. In 1952, the Chihuahua Club of America did vote to split the Chihuahua into two varieties. The two are judged on the same standard, the difference being is that one variety is smooth coated and the other is long coated. When people from the United States first "discovered" this tiny dog, they were referred to as "Texas Dogs" or "Arizona Dogs" probably because those are the borders which were used to bring the dogs from Mexico to the U.S. Americans fell in love with the little dogs and since then, the Chihuahua has been a favorite of American Families. Interestingly, the "Chi's" have undergone a great deal of change since the 1950's. Breeders have made great strides in improving the temperament, the number one concern, and type. Evidence of the growing popularity over the past several decades from American Kennel Club (AKC) registrations show the Chihuahua ranking at 16th in the early 90's, 10th in 2004, and 11th in 2005. The Taco Bell Chihuahua promotion introduced in 1997 fueled some of the popularity growth.
Special Note: It wasn't until the people of the United States began breeding the Chihuahua dog that they started having the refined features of today's "Bred to Standards" dog. The ancestors of Chihuahuas are recorded as having long noses, large "web-like" feet with long, finger-like toes, bearing long claws, and a "humped" back. Today's most popular Chihuahuas have been bred away from these traits for various health reasons.
