Breed History
Chihuahuas are small dogs with a big history....
Chihuahuas have a fascinating background that combines Aztecs, conquistadors, and even a cameo appearance by Christopher Columbus himself. Their history goes way back, so not all of it is clear. But Chihuahuas are believed to have descended from the Techichi, who, believe it or not, were mute. Its also possible they came from Chinese dogs brought to the Americas by conquistadors. Or perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle, and Chihuahuas are a mix of the two. No one really knows.
What we do know is that evidence for Chihuahuas has been found in pyramids on the Yucatan Peninsula, and those predate the 16th century. They were adopted by the Aztecs, who made them icons of the upper class and considered them spirit guides. Christopher Columbus wrote about them in a letter to the King of Spain, and Columbus may even have been the person who first introduced them to Europe.
The breed went through various changes over the centuries but was rediscovered later on in the town of Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1850. Recognized by the AKC in 1904, they are an incredibly popular breed in the United States and have appeared in a variety of movie and TV roles, such as the famous marketing campaign for Taco Bell.