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Did
you ever wonder where the smallest dogs in the world came from? The
history of the Chihuahua dates back to ancient Mexico. They were
believed to be sacred and they have never forgotten this.
Much of the
Chihuahua's history is speculation and theory, although everyone agrees
on some matters. The Chihuahua is named for the Mexican State that
borders Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. It is believed that the breed
descended from the Techichi, a small canine that dates back to Mayan
times (around the 5th century AD).
 The
Toltecs (the people that conquered the Mayans) 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.
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. | 
