Chihuahua History & Theories

There are many speculations on the exact origin of the Chihuahua. The name itself comes from the largest state in Mexico also called Chihuahua, which borders on Arizona and Texas. In fact, when the dogs first started being imported to the United States in the late 1800’s they were known only as Arizona dogs, or Texas dogs. Around 1850, three breeds of dogs were identified out of Mexico. The short haired and longhaired varieties were called the Chihuahua, and a third without hair became known as the Mexican hairless.

The first Chihuahua was officially registered with the AKC in 1904, by the name of Midget. This dog was owned by H. Raynor of El Paso Texas. Five Chihuahuas were registered that year, and all were bred by Mr. Raynor. The first reference to the breed in print was an article written by James Watson in 1914, but Watson had been a Chihuahua enthusiast since 1888. The breed was relatively unknown up into the early 1900’s. It was not until a celebrity named Xavier Cugat (the rhumba king) was seen with his chis on television and the movies that the breed received nationwide exposure, eventually reaching their peak of popularity in 1964, when it was third ranking in AKC registrations.

The Origin of the Chihuahua

Ancient clay sculpture of a techichi.

Theories abound as to where the very first chis came from and are as interesting as they are speculative. One possible origin of Chihuahua ancestry begins with the ancient Americans. A think necked, round-headed dog known as the Techichi has been found in carvings and ancient artifacts of the Olmecs, Mayans, Toltecs, and the Aztecs. There is evidence to believe that these ancient peoples thought that this small dog was able to guide a spirit through the afterlife.

Ancient clay sculpture of a techichi.

Many mummified dogs and skeletal remains have been found at burial sites. It has also been suggested that they used them in sacrificial rituals as well, and that some of these ancient cultures thought their sins could be passed on to the dog. Particular attention was given to the blue and red dogs and they were considered sacred. One theory was proposed in an article from 1904 that the Techichi were crossed with a wild dog known as the Perro Chihuahueno. This other dog supposedly lived in the mountains of Chihuahua and had the familiar features of the modern day breed, pointed noses round heads and large pointed ears. This other breed however, was wild and untrainable. The Chihuahueno also foraged for whatever it could find and burrowed holes to live in. This theory seems credible when comparing the deer head Chihuahua with the apple head.

Another theory suggests that the Chihuahua was brought to the Americas by Spanish invaders from the island of Malta. There was a small dog with a molera that was known to occupy the island at that time. There are also several paintings completed before Columbus sailed that depict a small Chihuahua like dog in them. One such painting by Sondro Botticelli is displayed in the Sistine chapel, and there have been other appearances as well.

Look close in the right hand corner to find this cut out. It is a little boy with a white dog that resembles the modern day chi. This painting was completed in 1482, ten years before Columbus sailed to America.
Botticelli detail

Other authorities claim that the Chihuahua came from a mix of a small Asiatic hairless dog brought in from migrating tribes and the Techichi. Another theory states that the Chihuahua came from Central Asia and is not related to any native central American dogs.

With all the theroies abound, the one with the most proof seems to be that this little dog did indeed come from Mexico. This is because there is a small skeleton of a chihuahua-like dog in the Mexico National History Museum. What makes many believe that this is a chihuahua is the precense of not one, but several moleras in the rounded dome of the skull, also this dog has an unnatually short nose when compared to wolf. This skeleton also has the ears set very low on the head, almost straight across from the eyes.