Like many breeds of dog, the true origins of the Chihuahua are buried beneath the sands of time. One common theory is that he is a descendant of an ancient breed of dog, known as the Techichi, that was raised by the Toltec people as far back as the 9^th century, A.D. Some even suggest that the foundation breed dates even further back, perhaps into the times when the ancient Mayans first settled into Central America, where the Techichi was indigenous. While the Techichi was larger and more heavily-boned than the Chihuahua, the similarity between the two dogs is unmistakable. Perhaps, when people traveled across the land bridge that is now the Bering Strait, smaller breeds of Asian dogs, quite possibly the Chinese Crested, were brought into Alaska, where they were then able to cross with the Techichi. This is a common theory on how the Chihuahua came to be. Others speculate that he is the result of extensive inbreeding. Regardless how he came about, however, this tiny hero of a dog is determined to remain a popular favorite, even with the passing of time.

The Chihuahua is named for the Mexican city where the earliest record of this unique little breed has been found, and he has enjoyed his status as a favored house pet for centuries. Believed to have been brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus and other explorers of that day and age, this tiny dog quickly gained popularity, and interest in the Chihuahua spread worldwide. The American Kennel Club (A.K.C.) acknowledges the Chihuahua as one of the oldest breeds to be registered, the first dogs being recognized and entered into the stud book back in 1904.

The Chihuahua comes in two different varieties; the long haired Chihuahua (sometimes known as the long coat Chihuahua) and the smooth coated Chihuahua. The smooth coat Chihuahua has a coat that is slick, glossy, and of a soft texture. A slight ruff over the neck area is ideal and dogs with a slightly heavier coat are permissible, according to the breed standard. The long hair Chihuahua possesses a longer coat, which may either lay flat against the dog or may be somewhat curly; in both styles of long haired Chihuahua, the ears should be fringed and the tail should be plume-like, with feathering at the chest, along the belly and flanks, and down the dog’s legs. A large ruff is also desired around the neck area. Also interesting to note is that the Chihuahua can be found in any color and can be either solid patterned, marked or splashed, regardless of coat.

The Chihuahua breed standard does not specify a height limit, for registration but, instead, specifies that they can weigh no more than 6 pounds. Because of this, the breed’s height varies more than many other known breeds. Most show dogs will be an average of 6-10 inches tall at the top of the shoulder, though it is not uncommon for dogs to grow larger than this, particularly those who are kept as pets. Quite often, smaller specimens of the breed are sold as expensive pets, known as teacup Chihuahuas. While these dwarfs are highly sought after, one should be very wary of any breeder that advertises teacup Chihuahuas; quite often, these miniature toy Chihuahuas exhibit a large number of health problems and often live a much shorter lifespan than the standard Chihuahua‘s life span of anywhere between 8 and 18 years of age.

How to train your Chihuahua depends on what you intend to teach him to do, your degree of patience, and your own individual dog. Important to remember in Chihuahua training, is that these little dogs do best with a gentle hand, a lot of patience, and regular routine. Taking the time to repeat commands with a patient tone, and having the same person train the basics, will help your Chihuahua to learn more quickly. The Chihuahua is a quick and enthusiastic learner, who loves to please and a wonderful addition to any home. If he is treated with love and kindness, like other dogs, he will give it back to you tenfold.