Chihuahua breed history

Chihuahua dogs have been known for a long time. Cute little dogs won the hearts of people with their playfulness and fidelity. Films are made about them, praising their courage and quick wit. Dogs of this breed can often be found in the arms of representatives of bohemia. These lovely creatures with a long history will be discussed in our article.

For the first time, chihuahua dogs received close attention in the largest state of Mexico, Chihuahua, bordering Texas and New Mexico. In the middle of the XVIII century, Mexican merchants began to sell to people who came to see the sights, local small long-haired and short-haired dogs as souvenirs and pets. At that time, there was still no common name for the breed, so the dogs were named after the name of the state in which they were met: Arizona, Texas, Mexican, etc.

At the end of the 19th century, American dog expert James Watson made an initial description of the breed, buying in the Mexican border area, where he specially came to check the veracity of rumors about pocket dogs, his first pet of the Chihuahua Mazantino breed. After some time, the dog handler there also acquired several more smooth-haired representatives of the breed, among whom was the future champion Juarez Bella.

For the first time at the exhibition of the American Club of Dog Breeding, representatives of the smooth-haired breed of Chihuahua were able to see everyone in 1904. After 19 years, the first breed standard was compiled, which included a description of only short-haired dog species, and another five years later the chihuahua was recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club and entered on the official list of breeds.

The first Chihuahua club was created in Britain in the middle of the 20th century. He was a member of the English Club and was involved in the preparation of standards and maintaining the purity of the breed. The second standard, including the description of long-haired Chihuahua species, was compiled in the early 60s of the last century by the combined efforts of English and American dog handlers. At the end of the 20th century, Taco Bell brought in a Chihuahua commercial called Gidget, whose appearance on the screen again drew public attention to pocket dogs of the ancient breed.

Man has tamed the ancestors of Chihuahuas for a very long time, and the history of miniature dogs has its roots in the distant past. There are several versions of the origin of the smallest breed of dog.

One version says that the birthplace of the Chihuahua is ancient Mesoamerica from the time of the Mayan civilization, which existed from 2000 BC. e. before 900 e. The ancient Indians kept the ancestors of the Chihuahua (techichi) as companion dogs for help in the afterlife. Dogs were eaten, mummified, and put into a grave during a burial, as the soul of a deceased person traveled through many dangerous places to the kingdom of the dead, and she needed a faithful helper to overcome difficulties. The first images of the leak on the walls of the Mayan pyramids date back to the 18th century BC.

There is speculation that one of the ancestors of the Chihuahua is a Chinese crested dog. The foreign dogs that arrived on the ships of the conquistadors crossed with the local techichi, laying the foundation for a new breed of dog.

Another version carries the story of the origin of the breed to Malta, where another small dog was bred - the Maltese lapdog or maltese, whose ancestors are Melites. They are also recorded in the ancestors of the Chihuahua. Proponents of this version see the confirmation of their theory in that the Chihuahua and Maltese have a similar skull shape, on which there is a soft spot, the so-called fontanel.

Also an additional fact in the treasury of confirmations is the fresco “The Calling and Trial of Moses” by the famous artist Sandro Botticelli. The picture shows a boy holding a small dog, strongly reminiscent of a chihuahua. The mural is located in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and was created several years before the discovery of America.

Some of the connoisseurs of the breed include the origin of dogs to ancient Egypt, in whose territory statuettes and images of animals were found, somewhat reminiscent of a chihuahua. And due to large ears and a peculiar appearance, fennec foxes living in North Africa are recorded in kinship with the dog.

The main version describing the origin of miniature dogs of the Chihuahua breed is considered to be their occurrence among the Toltecs, who came to the Maya in the 9th century and inherited their customs. Mute leakages were twice as large as modern Chihuahuas and had longer hair. As for Maya, small dogs were not only friendly and faithful companions in everyday life for Toltecs. They also accompanied their masters into the afterlife, providing there all-round support to the soul of the departed.

Numerous images of leak on the walls of tombs, on clay dishes, figurines in the form of a small dog show that the domestic dog was of great importance for the indigenous population of Mexico. The Aztecs who came to the place of the Toltecs continued the traditions laid down by the Mayan empire.The Aztec country, which occupied the territory of modern Mexico, existed until the beginning of the XVI century, until it was captured and ruined by the famous conquistador Hernan Cortes, who led the Spanish expedition to the New World. The entire Aztec heritage was destroyed, among which were the ancestors of the Chihuahua. Some of the dogs hid in the forests, in order to subsequently be tamed by new residents who occupied the empty territories.

Modern scientific research of Chihuahuas shed a little light on the origin of the breed. Analyzes based on the DNA of dogs showed that no dogs like Chinese Crested can be the ancestors of a Chihuahua. Scientists at the Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology conducted a comparative characterization of the genes of American, European and Asian dogs, as a result of which a complete lack of coincidence in the Chihuahua DNA with European and Asian breeds was revealed. But the identified unique genotype indicates a match with dogs living in pre-Columbian Mexico.

DNA research has also shown that Chihuahuas have the highest breed purity, dating back to ancient times. This purity is ensured by the absence in the ancestors of dogs of different breeds and other canine species.

The first chihuahua appeared in the USSR at a time when the first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee was Nikita Khrushchev. During one of his visits to Russia, Fidel Castro presented Khrushchev with a couple of long-haired pocket dogs as a sign of friendship between nations. These were the dog Mishter (the official name is Spanky Bambi Duke) and the girl Mushinka or Don Tess Duchess.

After some time, the dogs were gifted to Evgenia Fominichna Zharova, the creator of the Russian toy terrier. Puppies received from the male became the founders of the Russian branch of the Chihuahua, while Mushinka lived her life as a pet. Once she even starred in a movie. The fly fly can be seen in the movie The Elusive Avengers, where Buba Kastorsky walks in the company of a spectacular black and white long-haired tiny dog.

Chihuahuas gained their popularity not only because of their size and appearance, but also because of their character. When the breed standards were drawn up, special attention was paid to the behavior of purebred dogs. Chihuahuas are characterized by:

• speed of movement and speed of reaction;
• liveliness and curiosity;
• tirelessness and endurance;
• sheer friendliness and absolute fearlessness.

Friendly and funny chihuahuas can accompany their housewives, sitting in a women's handbag. Secular lionesses often use dogs as a stylish accessory, dressing them in suitable outfits, and the pet calmly withstands all procedures and completely trusts the person.

Their curiosity and ability to accept new things makes miniature dogs faithful friends, suitable for families with small children. Despite their small stature, Chihuahuas are fearless, bravely defending their masters. If the unfamiliar object does not show aggression, then after a while the dog accepts it and considers it to be his friend.

But despite all his friendliness, Chihuahuas are very touchy, especially if the punishment was unfair. Long-term negative feelings can lead to dog disease, as they are very emotional on their own and are sensitive to fluctuations in the host’s emotions.

See the history of the Chihuahua breed in the next video.