History of Chihuahuas

Facts And Info On Chihuahuas

The history of Chihuahuas is based some on fact and some on assumptions. Because the original civilizations that were associated with it have disappeared from the face of the earth, we have to piece together their history and make some assumptions.

Perhaps the origin of no other dog breed is cover in so much mystery, yet the Chihuahua's popularity has risen to place them in the top ten of the most popular dog breeds in America year after year according to the American Kennel Club.

One of the most commonly accepted theory in the history of Chihuahuas is that they originated from a small dog called Techichi which belonged to the Toltec people.

The Toltecs were a primitive race living in Mexico about the time of the Mayan civilization was declining. The Toltecs were destroyed by the Aztecs who supposedly had a dog known as the Biche.

It is believed by some historians that the Techichi and the Biche interbred to produce the Chihuahua. However, since both the Toltecs or Aztecs did not have horses, cows, sheep, goats, or pigs it's a little difficult for one to believe that somehow they had dogs.

The Aztecs themselves were conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors who destroyed completely the Aztec way of life. The Conquistadors claimed that the Aztecs did have dogs, and some modern historians accepted this fact.

Another theory about the history of Chihuahuas is that the Techichi was crossed with the wild Perro Chihuahua to form the Chihuahua dog. But the Perro Chihuahua was not a dog. It was a gopher, so this would be impossible.

Among the mysteries that surround its origin, one cannot overlook the fact that between the time of the Spanish Conquest, 1519, and about ninety-five years ago, there is no evidence of such a thing as a Chihuahua dog in Mexico.

So the strange history of Chihuahuas will likely always remain somewhat mysterious.