History and Statistics of the CHIHUAHUA!!!! 
The History
The Chihuahua is the only breed of dog truly indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. Legend and history are rich in tales of the ancestors of the present Chihuahua. The breed's name indicates the ancestors of the dog came from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. However, the breed's origins more properly belong to the southern part of Mexico or to the whole of the country rather than to the specific state that bears its name.
It is thought that the Chihuahua is derived from an earlier breed known as the Techichi, which was popular during the Toltec period around the seventh century. This breed was well known among the Aztecs as well as the Toltecs (the people that conquered the Mayans).
The Toltecs are believed to be the first to domesticate the Techichi and brought the canine into the home as pets and also used them for religious purposes. After the Aztecs became the ruling class of Mexico, they also used the dog as a companion and in religious ceremonies. This has been learned due to the writings in Mayan, Toltec, and Aztec writings in tombs, temples, and pyramids. Also, remains of the small dogs were found in graves in both Mexico and the United States so this could back up the religious theory.
Legend has it that the Chihuahua was presumed to have the power of leading the dead through the fearful regions of the underworld. When a dog was sacrificed at the time of the death of a human, the sins of the human were supposed to be transferred to the animal that appeased the gods. The pyramids of Cholula, Mexico are of Toltec construction. One finds here some carvings of the early specimens of the breed.
The dogs were found in the state of Chihuahua in 1850 in old ruins near Casas Grandes, and are thought to be the ruins of the palace built by Emperor Montezuma I. The relics and remains of the Techichi indicate that the breed was longhaired and mute, very different from the modern Chihuahua. The Aztec wealthy and clergy thought the Techichi to be sacred while the lower class had little use for the dogs and sometimes used them as food.
When the explorers arrived in the New World it is believed the Techichi breed with a dog that was brought over and the result is the Chihuahua that we have today. The tiny modern day Chihuahua has gone through many changes and become very popular since their discovery. The American Kennel Club first registered the Chihuahua as a breed in 1904. Color variations are limited only by the imagination. The smooth coated variety is still the most publicly recognized, but the long-coat variety has increased in numbers and popularity. Chihuahuas are a long lived breed, often achieving 16 or more years of age.
Statistics of the Chihuahua
Chihuahua |
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| Height: (Approx.) 5-10 In. |
| Group: Southern |
| Weight: (Approx.) 1-7 Lbs. |
| Coat: Short & Smooth; Long & Soft |
| Color: All Colors |
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Appearance: : Head: Rounded, “apple-dome” skull, with a short muzzle. Eyes: Set wide apart, full and dark in color. Ears: Large and erect. Neck: Slender and slightly arched. Chest: Deep, but not barrel shaped. Ribs are well-sprung. Body: Back is level, straight and as short as possible. Legs: Forelegs are straight, fine and set well under the body. Hind legs are positioned well under the body, with bent hocks. Feet: Small, with soft pads and toes separated, but not spread. Tail: Medium length, carried upward, low, or curled over back, but never tucked. Movement: Smooth flowing gait, with graceful movements. Temperament: Alert, and a good family pet.
*The Chihuahua is the smallest dog in the world & comes in 2 varieties; the Long-coated & the Short-coated. The breed is alert & an excellent house pet. |