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Have you ever been curious about the history of Chihuahuas?
READ ON!
READ ON!
Chihuahua
History
Dog trading was common across ancient cultures around the world, so it’s no surprise dogs like Chihuahuas are found on many different continents.
It’s believed they descended from a larger breed called the Techichi, however.
The Techichi was bred by the Toltec civilization in Mexico.
When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs in the 12th century, they refined the breed to create the lighter, smaller Chihuahua we know today.
In the mid-1800s, Americans began to take interest in the breed and named it after the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where it was commonly found.
In 1908, the AKC registered the first Chihuahua, a male named Beppie, solidifying the Chihuahua’s transition into American hearts and minds.
Facts
History
Dog trading was common across ancient cultures around the world, so it’s no surprise dogs like Chihuahuas are found on many different continents.
It’s believed they descended from a larger breed called the Techichi, however.
The Techichi was bred by the Toltec civilization in Mexico.
When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs in the 12th century, they refined the breed to create the lighter, smaller Chihuahua we know today.
In the mid-1800s, Americans began to take interest in the breed and named it after the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where it was commonly found.
In 1908, the AKC registered the first Chihuahua, a male named Beppie, solidifying the Chihuahua’s transition into American hearts and minds.
Facts
- The Chihuahua ranks #30 in popularity out of the 194 dog breeds recognized by the AKC.
- The Chihuahuas are a minor-league baseball team located in El Paso, Texas.
- The breed has been featured prominently in in movies like “Legally Blonde” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.”
- Chihuahuas (or at least Chihuahua-like ancestors) were depicted in ancient Mexican paintings.
- A Chihuahua starred in the ubiquitous “Yo Quiero Taco Bell” TV commercials of the late 1990s.
Official NKC Breed Standards for the Chihuahua
These standards were adopted June 17, 1996 through a majority interest of Breeders of the Chihuahua.
It is hoped that these standards will help owners, breeders, and show Judges to keep the breed as intended.
General Appearance and Coat
Points 10
A very small dog weighing from one to six pounds with an average weight from 2 to 4 pounds.
Ears erect when alerted but flaring to about 45 degrees when relaxed.
Coat should be soft textured, flat, or slightly curly with feathering on feet and legs.
Any color accepted including blues, blacks, moles, chocolate, blonds, solids, marked and splashed.
Heads and Neck (teeth, jaws, muzzle, ears and eyes)
Points 15
Well rounded head, with cheeks and jaws muscular but lean, nose short and slightly pointed,
colored noses from black to pink on light colored dogs, teeth even and matched.
Neck and shoulders slightly arched joining gracefully.
Ears erect when alert but dropping to about 45 degrees when relaxed.
Eyes full nut, not Popeye, set wide apart, black, Ruby, to light eyes in Blond colored dogs.
Front Quarters (chest, shoulders, front feet and legs)
Points 15
Shoulder lean and sloping showing balance, strength, and soundness. Back level, slightly longer than
that high, shorter back preferred, ribs rounded but not barrel shaped.
Legs well set under chest, generally straight to small with well split feet, small feet with moderately long nails.
Hind Quarters (hips, back, back feet and legs, and tail)
Points 15
Muscular with hocks well apart neither out nor in, with firm steady action, back level and sturdy denoting strength, back feet and legs straight well muscled showing delicate movement neither hare or cat foot.
Tail full and long carried over back preferred but Bob tail or tailless tail is acceptable.
Special Characteristics of Breed
Points 15
In long coats the coat should be soft textured either flat or slightly curly with an undercoat preferred: A small graceful appearance, swift moving, saucy expression with terrier like qualities:
Judges same as short coat variety except for coat.
Movement and Gait
Points 15
Movement should be graceful, swift, and elegant: Tail up and head held high.
Ears erect: Dog should be alert to any change to any change of directions by handler,
and paying no attention to other persons or dogs.
Temperament
Points 15
Very attached to owner or family members but often distant with strangers.
A fine indoor and watchdog: very alert to persons entering the home or outside of home,
alerting persons inside that someone is near.
Total Points
100
These standards were adopted June 17, 1996 through a majority interest of Breeders of the Chihuahua.
It is hoped that these standards will help owners, breeders, and show Judges to keep the breed as intended.
General Appearance and Coat
Points 10
A very small dog weighing from one to six pounds with an average weight from 2 to 4 pounds.
Ears erect when alerted but flaring to about 45 degrees when relaxed.
Coat should be soft textured, flat, or slightly curly with feathering on feet and legs.
Any color accepted including blues, blacks, moles, chocolate, blonds, solids, marked and splashed.
Heads and Neck (teeth, jaws, muzzle, ears and eyes)
Points 15
Well rounded head, with cheeks and jaws muscular but lean, nose short and slightly pointed,
colored noses from black to pink on light colored dogs, teeth even and matched.
Neck and shoulders slightly arched joining gracefully.
Ears erect when alert but dropping to about 45 degrees when relaxed.
Eyes full nut, not Popeye, set wide apart, black, Ruby, to light eyes in Blond colored dogs.
Front Quarters (chest, shoulders, front feet and legs)
Points 15
Shoulder lean and sloping showing balance, strength, and soundness. Back level, slightly longer than
that high, shorter back preferred, ribs rounded but not barrel shaped.
Legs well set under chest, generally straight to small with well split feet, small feet with moderately long nails.
Hind Quarters (hips, back, back feet and legs, and tail)
Points 15
Muscular with hocks well apart neither out nor in, with firm steady action, back level and sturdy denoting strength, back feet and legs straight well muscled showing delicate movement neither hare or cat foot.
Tail full and long carried over back preferred but Bob tail or tailless tail is acceptable.
Special Characteristics of Breed
Points 15
In long coats the coat should be soft textured either flat or slightly curly with an undercoat preferred: A small graceful appearance, swift moving, saucy expression with terrier like qualities:
Judges same as short coat variety except for coat.
Movement and Gait
Points 15
Movement should be graceful, swift, and elegant: Tail up and head held high.
Ears erect: Dog should be alert to any change to any change of directions by handler,
and paying no attention to other persons or dogs.
Temperament
Points 15
Very attached to owner or family members but often distant with strangers.
A fine indoor and watchdog: very alert to persons entering the home or outside of home,
alerting persons inside that someone is near.
Total Points
100