Chihuahua

Anyone who has ever owned or encountered a Chihuahua knows that this breed is only small in terms of size but not in spunk and attitude. To quote a cliché, the Chihuahua is small but terrible. So how about that?

Origin

The history of Chihuahua dogs lacks details and is vague for the most part. However, there is no debate that the breed got its name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua near west Texas and New Mexico.

For years, it was believed that Chihuahuas might be descendants of an ancient breed of dog kept by members of the royal family of the Mayan civilization. But for lack of archaeological findings to prove this claim, that theory has long been debunked in favor of the more likely possibility that the Chihuahua comes from the ancient Techichi dogs of the Toltecs.

Incidentally, the Toltecs were the ones who conquered the Mayans and paved the way for the rise of the Aztec Empire. Thus, the old theory may not be that far from the truth. It is not entirely impossible to believe that the Toltecs got the idea of domesticating these dogs from the Mayans. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the Techichi dogs played a very important role in many of the Toltecs’ religious ceremonies. Later, when the Toltecs were conquered by the Aztecs, the empire likewise adopted the use of Techichi in religion.

The modern Chihuahua dog of today is said to be a cross between the Techichi dogs and the hairless dogs popular in the Orient. According to historians, the Techichi is a breed of heavy-boned small dog sporting a long coat. It is indigenous to Central America, connected as it is with the Toltec civilization which thrived in present-day Mexico City.

The breed historian K. deBlinde stated that the Techichi was somehow bred with the Oriental hairless dogs which made its way across the Bering Strait through the land bridge. The union between these two breeds produced the pint-sized, smooth-coated Chihuahua dog.

Appearance

Of all the breeds registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Chihuahua is the smallest. Although there is no standard height for a full-grown Chihuahua, the average height ranges from six to eight inches at the withers.

Although small, the Chihuahua is a sturdy dog with a muscular, fined-boned physique, revealing its highly active nature. It has a distinctively shaped, round skull with large eyes and ears. When alert, the ears stand up, appearing perky, but when resting they flare out to the sides.

There are actually two distinct types of Chihuahuas: long-haired and short-haired. But either coat can vary in color, either solid or marked with color on a white background.

Nature

The Chihuahua is a saucy creature, graceful and alert. It is also swift-moving as with any dogs of its size with boundless energy. When not trained properly in socialization, the Chihuahua can have nasty habits, its sauciness turning easily to haughtiness and grumpiness when provoked.

The good news is that Chihuahuas are easy to train. Because of their intelligence, they respond well to training in both behavioral and obedience aspects. Chihuahua puppies can be trained to respond to simple commands such as “sit,” “stay,” or “down.” Once older, they can be trained to learn more complex commands.

Chihuahuas make adorable companion dogs. In fact, they are one of those dogs affectionately referred to as “Velcro” pets because of their tendency to always stick to their master’s side. They are devoted, loyal and trusting dogs that are just a wee bit obstinate. But its obstinate nature can be trained out of it.