Chihuahua: a History of the Breed

The Chihuahua breed has a long and distinguished history as a dog. The breed originally came from the ancient Techichi breed of dog that belong to the Toltec Civilization near Mexico City. This ancient breed of dog was larger than today’s modern breed and was also mute. The breed became a sacred icon of the upper class members of society and as a religious symbol when they were used in ceremonies to help guide dead spirits after the Aztec empire conquered the Toltecs.

By the time the Chihuahua breed was discovered in the United States in the 1850s it had been crossed with a hairless breed from the Orient, which led to the modern breed we see today. The Chihuahua was discovered in the Chihuahua state of Mexico, which is located near Texas and New Mexico, this is also where the name for the breed comes from. The breed was then added to the American Kennel Club in 1904.

Officially the American Kennel Club describes the Chihuahua breed as graceful, alert and agile with a compact and terrier like quality. Although every dog of this breed has its own unique personality some Chihuahuas can be terrier like to the extreme and be very grumpy, haughty or even nasty if they are provoke. However, more often then not the Chihuahua is a dog with curiosity, intelligence and loyalty that makes them a wonderful companion.

The Chihuahua still may not be a suitable pet for households with small or noisy children due to the chance that they can be clannish at times and occasionally a dog may be suspicious of people other than their owner. But for the individual or elderly couple they can be an excellent pet that loves to be pampered and are good for apartment living or those with limited incomes. It is best to get a feel for the temperament of a Chihuahua before determining if this is the right breed for you.

The small Chihuahua breed is a dog that isn’t aware of their small stature. You can often find a Chihuahua being much bolder than other dogs that are three times the size of themselves. The breed is also highly protective of their owners and fiercely loyal to only one or two individuals, which is why they are often wary of strangers or any new guests that are introduced to the household that the Chihuahua considers it's personal domain. This is why the Chihuahua makes an excellent watch dog, not a very good guard dog though.

A Chihuahua requires a lot of human contact in the form of touching, petting and general attention. Without this, the breed often resorts to various attention getting tricks until they gain attention. For some the Chihuahua comes across as too needy, but the breed will give you so much back in return for your love, affection and care.

As a dog lover the Sandra Dean has spent time studying the history of dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a diverse breed with no two dogs being the same. As a bold breed, the Chihuahua is highly protective and loyal of their owners. Knowing Chihuahua information can help you determine if it is a breed right for you.