Chihuahuas are one of the oldest breeds in the Americas and were used by royalty as hot
water bottles.
Let’s take a look at the smallest dog breed, the Chihuahua.
In the late 19th century, Mexican Merchants started selling small dogs to border tourists.
Those tourists then brought them back to the US to keep as pets.
It was a small dog about 6 to 9 inches tall and weighing between 3 and 7 pounds.
It remains the smallest dog breed on Earth today.
It didn’t have an official name back then, but people started calling this tiny but alert
and courageous dog after the region of Mexico in which it had been seen - Chihuahua, the
largest of Mexico’s 32 states.
However, the Chihuahua’s history starts at least a millennia earlier in perhaps the
9th century AD or earlier.
The Chihuahua is a descendant of the Techichi, a small-framed companion dog domesticated
by several pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations and Native North American tribes.
With an average weight of 10 to 20 pounds, the Techichi was roughly twice the size of
the modern Chihuahua but shared many of its physical characteristics.
Either the Maya or Toltec were the first to domesticate the Techichi.
And while they may have been bred for food and religious sacrifice, a more appealing
theory is that they were like today bred to be companion animals and probably remained
so for centuries.
The bold and confident Chihuahua is often described as being terrier-like.
Its alert nature and suspicion of strangers make it an excellent watchdog.
It's sensitive and thrives on affection and companionship.
Like their native owners, the Techichi didn’t fare well following the arrival of European
colonizers and was nearly eradicated.
Those remaining would go on to eventually become the Chihuahua breed we know today.
In the 1890s, Mexico's president gave a famous Italian-French opera singer, Adelina Patti,
a bouquet of flowers in which a small Chihuahua was hidden.
Patti felt an immediate connection with her new canine companion, taking Bonito across
the country as she toured.
At the time, many people had heard of Chihuahuas but never actually seen one.
Patti changed the Chihuahua's course in history by presenting this affectionate, fun-loving
breed to the world.
Patti discovered that Chihuahuas often bond to a single person, although they're usually
willing to make friends with new people if properly introduced.
They can be a little reserved at first, though.
Chihuahuas may be timid if they're not properly socialized at an early age.
It wasn't until 1904 when Texas resident H. Raynor registered the first Chihuahua, Midget,
with the AKC.
And just a few years later, the AKC had its first Chi champion.
By 1915, 30 Chihuahuas were registered with the AKC.
The Chihuahua Club of America was founded in 1923 to promote the breed and provide educational
resources on health, grooming, and general characteristics.
In 1952, the CCA separated the breed into two different varieties: the smooth coat and
the long coat.
The smooth-coated Chihuahua has a smooth, shiny coat that fits close to the body with
a ruff of thick, long hair on the neck.
The hair on the head and ears is thinner, and the tail is furry.
The long-coated Chihuahua has a soft coat that's flat or slightly curly.
On the body, it's almost as smooth as that of a smooth-coated Chihuahua, but the ears
have a fringe of hair, and the plumed tail spreads out like a fan over the back.
It also has a ruff on the neck and longer hair called feathering on its feet.
The hind legs are also covered with long hair that resembles pants — and that's what it's
called.
Word quickly spread about this pint-sized dog with a fierce yet loving personality,
sparking newfound popularity for the breed.
In 1964, the Chihuahua ranked #12 based on AKC registrations.
The Chi’s popularity really kicked into high gear in the mid-90s when Taco Bell hired
a talking Chihuahua named Gidget (voiced by Carlos Alazraqui) to star in its innovative
marketing campaign that birthed the iconic phrase “Yo Quiero Taco Bell”.
Gidget and the Chihuahua breed became instant pop icons.
The Chihuahua shot up in AKC registrations also aided by the appearance in movies such
as Legally Blond staring Bruiser Woods (played by a Chi named Moonie) and then Hollywood
it girl, Reese Witherspoon.
And let’s not forget Ren from Ren and Stimpy was modeled after a Chihuahua.
Popularity aside, the Chihuahua remains the healthiest and longest-lived breed on Earth.
Chihuahuas typically live between 15-20 years and have few major genetic illnesses.
A Chi is typically a healthy dog.
The amount of energy a Chihuahua can possess is surprising.
Your Chi is willing to play as long as you are.
Because of their small size, however, they can get all the exercise they need in the
comfort of your living room.
Training a Chihuahua can be an enjoyable task.
They are successful in several different dog sports such as agility and obedience.
Sadly, because of their small size, owners often make the mistake of skipping obedience
and socialization and the breed ends up with a reputation as being little monsters.
A well-trained and properly socialized Chihuahua is a pleasure to be around.
Besides coming in two coat types, Chihuahuas are found in a range of colors and markings.
They can be solid colors such as black, white, fawn, chocolate, gray, and silver as well
as tricolor, brindle, spotted, merle, and a variety of other markings.
But, the Chihuahua is a wash-and-go dog.
Grooming takes only a few minutes each week.
Brush your Chi weekly with a rubber grooming mitt or a brush with short, natural bristles
for a shorthaired Chihuahua and a pin brush for a longhaired Chihuahua.
A fine-toothed flea comb helps remove loose or dead hair.
I’ll put links for each in the description.
The Chihuahua’s story doesn’t end here.
The breed remains popular in the 21st century.
Between 2008 and 2012 Disney released the Beverly Hills Chihuahua series of movies starring
a pair of Chis named Angel and Rusco in real life as Chloe and Papi.
And we don’t see this tiny, intelligent, and loyal companion dog that is perfect for
both city life and tiny home living dropping out of popularity charts anytime in the near
future.
In fact, with people adopting more nomadic lifestyles van life, tiny homes, etc, we see
the Chihuahua’s small size and loving nature propelling it into the top spots once again.
It is the perfect dog for the modern world.
From ancient, lost civilizations to modern nomads, the Chihuahua’s charm transcends
time and cultural norms.
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