allpetsco.com

The History of Chihuahuas

Chihuahuas are fascinating little dogs – with a fascinating history as well. The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog known to man, and some scientists believe that the Chihuahua is also the oldest living breed of dog as well.

The Chihuahua gets its name from Chihuahua, Mexico, located in the northern part of Mexico. It is often stated that this is where the dog was ‘discovered,’ but that isn’t necessarily true, since the Chihuahua has been around at least as far back as the 2nd century.

Science and archeology has proven that Chihuahuas existed thousands of years ago on both the North American continent and the South American continent. Clay sculptures of what appear to be Chihuahuas have been discovered in South America, and are believed to be the work of the Mayan Indians.

It is widely believed that the Toltecs also had dogs that resembled the Chihuahua, although those dogs were just a bit stouter than the Chihuahuas of today. These dogs are known as Techichis. It is further believed that the tiny stature of the Chihuahua today is a cross between the Techichi and miniature Chinese dogs.

Another theory is that the small size comes from Techichi mating with Perro Chihuahueno, which was a tiny wild dog that lived in the mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico.

During the time of the Toltecs these dogs were used in religious ceremonies. The Spanish Conquistadors kept these dogs as a symbol of the higher classes, so Chihuahuas do indeed hold a special place in history. It is also believed that the Aztecs believed that the Chihuahua was a spirit guide for the dead. Sadly, due to this belief, when a person died, a Chihuahua was burned with the body. The belief was that any wrong that the person had done in life would be transferred to the dog, and the dog would lead the person’s soul into the afterlife.

When Columbus came to the Americas, he sent a letter to the King of Spain, describing a tiny dog that fits the description of the Chihuahua that we know today. It is believed that it was Columbus who introduced the Chihuahua to the European continent because of this, and there is no evidence to dispute this to date.

However, there are also stories that circulate stating that the Chihuahua actually comes from Europe, and was introduced to the Americas by Columbus. There is some evidence to suggest this, but it isn’t solid evidence, any more than the letter from Columbus to the King of Spain is evidence.

In the world of Chihuahuas, only one thing is certain. They are very special dogs who can be just as ferocious as they are loveable, and as a Chihuahua owner, you see just how unique and special he is each time he looks at you.