The Chihuahua – Oldest Breed on American Continent

The Chihuahua History

The Chihuahua is the oldest breed on the American continent.  They are named for the Mexican state which borders Texas and New Mexico.  Some historians believe that Chihuahuas evolved from a wild dog called the Techichi that was domesticated by the Toltecs in the 9^th century.   It is believed that they were sacred to Pre-Columbian Indian nations and were popular with their affluent.  They were discovered around 1850 in Mexico, where merchants were selling them to tourists.  The Chihuahua quickly became popular and the AKC recognized them in 1904.

Breed Description

The Chihuahua is a tiny, toy sized canine.  The head is rounded and the muzzle is short and pointed.  Puppies have a soft spot on the top of their head called a “molera”.  This usually closes up by adulthood.  Eyes are large, round and wide-set.  Eyes can be dark or ruby, and may be lighter in white dogs.  Ears are large and stand erect.  The tail is long and curved and may even curl over the back.  The coat can be short, long and wavy, or flat.  All color – solids, marked or splashed – are accepted by various kennel clubs.  Coat colors include black, white, chestnut, fawn, sand, silver sable, steel blue and black and tan.  The short coated canine should be gently brushed occasionally, or wiped with a damp cloth.  The longer coated breed should be brushed daily with a soft bristle brush.  Chihuahuas are average shedders.  They can live for more than fifteen years.

Personality & Training

The ideal human companion for a Chihuahua is the elderly, housebound individuals, singles, and apartment dwellers.    This breed does well with apartment living.  They like warm weather and are not fans of the cold.  Although the Chihuahua is small, does not mean that they do not need room to run.  They require a daily walk, as they are active canines.  They also enjoy free play in a large fenced in area.  They are courageous, proud and adventurous canines who enjoy affection.  Even though the Chihuahua is small, they still require consistent training with positive reinforcement.  They are very intelligent, so they are able to learn quickly.

The Chihuahua may not do well with small children, so he should be monitored closely around kids.  Because of the size of this breed, they tend to be babied, which causes them to be spoiled – therefore the Chihuahuas may get their way a lot because they can be so “cute.”  : )

 Photo:  Courtesy of Stuart Richard via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)