The Chihuahua-pronounciation.ogg Chihuahua (Spanish: Chihuahueño) is the smallest breed of dog in the world and is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

History

Folklore and archeological finds show that the breed originated in Mexico. The most common theory and most likely is that Chihuahuas are descended from the Techichi, a companion dog favoured by the Toltecs and that the modern dog developed through breeding with miniaturised Chinese dogs brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors. Historical records of the Techichi, which were thought to hunt in packs, can only be traced as far back as the ninth century but it is highly likely that this is the Chihuahua's native Mexican ancestor. Evidence of this is that the remains of dogs closely resembling, but slightly larger than the average Chihuahua have been found in such places as the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which dates back to the 2nd century BC and predates the 16th century. There is also evidence to suggest that the Techichi may also predate the Mayans. After the Toltecs were conquered by the Aztecs, it is believed that this early ancestor of the Chihuahua was adopted as a symbol of the upper classes and it has been suggested that they were used in religious ceremonies for the absolution of sins and to guide the spirits of the dead. In terms of size, the present day Chihuahua is much smaller than its ancestors, a change thought to be due to the introduction of miniaturized Chinese dogs, such as the Chinese Crested Dog, into South America by the Spanish. A progenitor of the breed was reputedly found in 1850 in old ruins near Casas Grandes in the Mexican state of Chihuahua from which the breed gets its name. The state borders with Texas, Arizona and New Mexico where Chihuahuas first rose to prominence and were further developed in the United States. Since that time, the Chihuahua has remained consistently popular as a breed, particularly in America when the breed was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904. The Chihuahua has also become part of a popular crossbreed in the United States in the Chihuachshund, which is a pairing of a Chihuahua and a Dachshund. There is also an unusual crossbreed called the ChiBea, a pairing of the Chihuahua and the Beagle.

Appearance and Size

Both British and American breed standards state that a Chihuahua must not weigh more than 6.0 pounds,however the British standard also states that a weight of 2–4 lb is preferred and that if two dogs are equally good in type, the more diminutive or smaller is preferred. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) standard calls for dogs ideally between 1.5 and 3.0 kg (3.3 to 6.6 lb), although smaller ones are acceptable in the show ring. However, pet-quality Chihuahuas (that is, those bred or purchased as companions rather than show dogs) can, and do, range above these weights, to 10 pounds, or even more if they have large bone structures or are allowed to become overweight.

Personality

Being naturally territorial and protective, Chihuahuas can be easily provoked to attack, and are therefore generally unsuitable for homes with small children, but not in all cases. The main reason for not being suitable for houses with small children is due to the danger of the child falling on the dog, thereby causing injury or death; or unintentionally injuring the dog during play. The AKC describes the breed as, "A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament." However, Chihuahuas rank #67 out of 79 breeds on intelligence. The breed tends to be fiercely loyal to one particular owner, but may be attached to more. They do not always get along with other breeds. These traits generally make them unsuitable for households with small or boisterous children. Chihuahuas crave attention, affection and petting. They can be stubborn, others are eager to please.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Chihuahua" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.