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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 9th 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 dog, 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.
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