Chihuahuas were once thought to be descendants of the ancient Techichi breed, which was similar, but slightly larger than today’s Chihuahua, and was associated with royalty in the Aztec civilization. However, due to the lack of archaeological remains, it is now believed that Spanish settlers introduced the breed to Mexico. According to this theory, which is the most widely acknowledged, the dogs originated in China, where the practice of dwarfing both plants and animals has been well documented. Spanish merchants brought Chihuahuas to Spain, and from there, the breed traveled to Mexico. Another similar theory is that the dogs were first bred in Egypt and then traded to Spain and later Mexico. The first Chihuahuas in the United States were brought by American visitors to Mexico.
Chihuahuas are prized for their devotion and personality. Their alertness, intelligence, and size allow them to easily adapt to a variety of environments, including cities and small apartments. While the Chihuahua is often stereotyped as high-strung breed, correct training and socialization can result in an outstanding companion animal.
Chihuahuas are not well suited to be small children’s pets because of their size and physical fragility. Additionally, Chihuahuas often focus their devotion toward one person, and may become overly jealous of that person’s human relationships. This can be mitigated through socialization. Chihuahuas tend to have a "clannish" nature, often preferring the companionship of other Chihuahuas to that of other breeds. They seem to have no concept of their own size, and may fearlessly confront larger animals, which can result in injury. Due to their small bodies, Chihuahuas are sensitive to the cold. Chihuahua owners often dress their dogs in sweaters or coats in cold weather. However, longer haired Chihuahuas may be fine without additional protection, and in the summer, they may be known to pant.
Nutrition
Chihuahuas are known to be picky eaters, and care must be taken to provide them with adequate nutrition. Care must also be exercised to avoid overfeeding this tiny breed. Overweight Chihuahuas are prone to joint injuries, tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis, and shortened life span.
"Teacup" and "Deer-faced" Chihuahuas
Several terms are used to describe very small Chihuahuas, including "mini," "pocket," "tiny toy," and "teacup." These terms are not officially used by any kennel club or reputable breeder, and are not breeds or specific types of Chihuahua. Some potential buyers look for extremely small animals, but very small dogs are often runts. They are frequently unhealthy, or undernourished, and even if health problems are not apparent at first, they may suffer shortened life spans and health problems later in life due to extreme dwarfing. They are not normally suitable for breeding, and if bred, require special care. Some Chihuahua breeders purposely attempt to breed very small animals. They may increase the prices of the smallest dogs or specifically advertise tiny animals. However, reputable breeders disapprove of such practices, as it is difficult to predict the adult size of a given puppy, and because of the issues discussed above.
"Deer" or "deer-faced" are unofficial terms that are sometimes used to describe Chihuahuas whose faces lack the breed-standard “apple-domed” appearance. Some deer-faced Chihuahua’s have a face shape similar to that of a Doberman Pinscher.
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