What Were Chihuahuas Bred For History Of The Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is one of the oldest dog breeds and like most ancient breeds, it was bred for a purpose. However, this is where things start getting a little fuzzy. While most ancient breeds are larger because they were bred for hunting or herding, the Chihuahua is extremely tiny. There is no way that the Chihuahua was ever used for hunting, herding, or any other task that you typically see dogs doing. We don’t have exact information on much of the Chihuahuas’ history, as it was so long ago before people wrote things like this down. We do know that the Chihuahua likely had some religious meaning for the ancient Mayans, which may have been the dog’s main purpose. However, it is also possible that they had some other purpose, such as alerting their owners to enemies. Some colonists claimed that the Aztecs raised small dogs for food, but we do not have much more information on this.1

Where Do Chihuahuas Come From? Chihuahuas are a native breed to northwest Mexico. However, their actual lineage gets a lot of debate since we have no proof as to how or when these dogs developed exactly. It is all theory that is debated heavily. Image Credit: Piqsels The Techichi The Chihuahua is believed by many to be descended from the Techichi, which was a small canine known in Mayan times. However, because Techichi and Chihuahua are separated by hundreds of years, they do differ a bit. European bloodlines have mixed in with the Chihuahua’s original bloodline, which makes them very different from their ancestors. The Techichi is now extinct, but they were believed to be domesticated as far back as the Toltec civilizations. We have evidence of these dogs through artifacts and pictures, so we do know that they resemble the modern Chihuahua in size and many other physical traits. In other words, the Techichi looks like a Chihuahua, so many people consider it to be the modern dog’s direct ancestor. However, it wasn’t until recently that anyone actually used science to prove this theory. The Institute of Technology in Stockholm recently did a study into the Chihuahua’s DNA and found that about 70% of it originated from the Techichi. Of course, while that does cover much of where the Chihuahua came from, the remaining 30% of the DNA is much debated. Furthermore, not everyone agrees with this study. One study found that the Chihuahua only has 4% pre-colonial DNA, which is obviously different from the previous study. The Chinese Crested The Chinese Crested is quite similar to the Chihuahua. Therefore, there are some people that believe the Chinese Crested somehow contributed to the Chihuahua’s lineage. However, trying to prove that a Chinese dog ended up in South America in great enough numbers for this to be true is difficult. Some claim that trading ventures between China and the Americas are to blame. While there was some trading going on, there is little proof behind this theory. As of yet, there is no DNA evidence that the Chinese Crested contributed to the Chihuahua at all. Image Credit: Veronika Andrews, Pixabay “Pocket” Dogs Around the time of colonialization, “pocket dogs” were all the rage in Europe, especially amongst the royals. While we don’t call breeds “pocket dogs” today, these early small dogs are likely the ancestor of the modern Maltese and other breeds. Some people claim that these European breeds made their way to the Americas and bred with the native breeds, leading to the Chihuahua. There are some depictions of Chihuahua-looking dogs in European art. Therefore, it is possible that these dogs contributed. However, there is a large gap between finding a dog in a painting that looks similar to a Chihuahua and actually tracing these dogs from Europe to South America. Therefore, while this theory may have some truth behind it, there isn’t actually any proof. What About the Modern Chihuahua? We don’t know much about where the Chihuahua came from or how they ended up as the dogs they are now. However, we do know that Chihuahuas were not a very popular breed until the 1900s. The AKC didn’t even register the breed until 1904. Reports of “nearly hairless” dogs did not begin popping up until the 19th century. One of these claims says that these small dogs came from a region known as “Chihuahua,” which may be where these dogs originally came from. Image Credit: Aaron_H, Pixabay However, it is equally possible that people mistakenly believed that these dogs came from that region and named them as such. (It wouldn’t be the first time.) Therefore, while they are a more common breed today and a common breed in ancient times, they only entered the modern world in great numbers in the early 20th century. It is likely that they were still around in South America—they just didn’t reach Western civilization in great numbers until later. It is reported that Mexican merchants sold the small dogs to tourists, which were then brought home to the USA as pets. In this way, the breed slowly funneled into the United States and became a companion animal. Were Chihuahuas Made to be Eaten? There is one report that 16th century Aztecs bred some sort of small dog for food. However, it takes more than one report to make something for certain. Plus, there are lots of different small dogs that may have existed in the region next to the Chihuahua. For all we know, the small dog being used for food may have been a now-extinct breed. Or, it may have been a cousin to the Chihuahua or the ancestor of the modern Chihuahuas. We don’t know what these dogs looked like and have not found any remains that may have given us DNA to compare to modern breeds. Image Credit: Piqsels Furthermore, it is equally as likely that the 16th-century European report mistakenly thought that the dogs were being sold for food when they were actually being sold for other purposes. Europeans regularly misinterpreted the actions of natives, so we can’t take everything we say at face value. Therefore, all that we can for sure take from this account is that some sort of small dog was being exchanged at the market. Some of them might have been eaten. However, we also have evidence that Chihuahuas had some sort of religious significance. In this case, the dogs may have been bred solely for this purpose. In other words, they may have been used as companions and for sacrifices, which may have been why people were purchasing them in markets. With that said, it is also possible that they were eaten in a ritualistic manner. Do Chihuahuas Have Wolf DNA? Yes. All dogs come from the gray wolf. However, that does not mean that Chihuahuas (or any other dog) is extremely similar to wolves or anything of that sort—these dogs have not been wolves for a very long time! Therefore, the fact that they are descended from wolves shouldn’t have much bearing on how you treat them. For instance, there is no need to feed them raw meat just because thousands of years ago they were wolves. However, all dogs are technically descended from wolves, including Chihuahua. You cannot have a dog that isn’t descended from wolves. Image Credit: Piqsels Are Chihuahuas Related to Rats? On top of being a running joke, there are also a few misconceptions running around that the Chihuahua is actually some sort of rat (or some strange rat-dog hybrid). However, this is absolutely untrue. Chihuahuas are dogs, and, just like every other dog, they are related to wolves and all other types of dogs. Furthermore, rats and dogs cannot interbreed. Only animals within the same genus can be interbred, and rats aren’t even close to dogs. Based on this information, there is no way that Chihuahuas can be rat/dog hybrids. Instead, they are descended from an ancient breed of dog that once existed in Central and South America. They were selectively bred for their desert environment, which is likely why they don’t have much fur.

Conclusion Chihuahuas are a very old breed. Therefore, we don’t exactly know why they were bred, to begin with. No one wrote about breeding dogs back then, so it is likely that they developed organically. The people bred the dogs that they liked best, and then the dogs developed in this manner. We don’t know exactly what these dogs were used for, which also means that they don’t know what they were developed for. There are quite a few theories out there. For instance, they might have been used for food, as a few reports say. Alternatively, they may have just been used for religious purposes, though this may have been a secondary purpose. As was often the case with small dogs, these canines may have also been used as alert dogs. They are very noisy, after all! You may also be interested in:

Italian Greyhuahua (Italian Greyhound & Chihuahua Mix) Taco Terrier (Chihuahua & Toy Fox Terrier Mix) Chi-Spaniel (Chihuahua & Cocker Spaniel Mix)

Featured Image Credit by: Pixabay

The Chihuahua is one of the oldest dog breeds and like most ancient breeds, it was bred for a purpose. However, this is where things start getting a little fuzzy. While most ancient breeds are larger because they were bred for hunting or herding, the Chihuahua is extremely tiny.

There is no way that the Chihuahua was ever used for hunting, herding, or any other task that you typically see dogs doing.

We don’t have exact information on much of the Chihuahuas’ history, as it was so long ago before people wrote things like this down.

We do know that the Chihuahua likely had some religious meaning for the ancient Mayans, which may have been the dog’s main purpose. However, it is also possible that they had some other purpose, such as alerting their owners to enemies. Some colonists claimed that the Aztecs raised small dogs for food, but we do not have much more information on this.1

Where Do Chihuahuas Come From?

Chihuahuas are a native breed to northwest Mexico. However, their actual lineage gets a lot of debate since we have no proof as to how or when these dogs developed exactly. It is all theory that is debated heavily.

The Techichi

The Chihuahua is believed by many to be descended from the Techichi, which was a small canine known in Mayan times. However, because Techichi and Chihuahua are separated by hundreds of years, they do differ a bit. European bloodlines have mixed in with the Chihuahua’s original bloodline, which makes them very different from their ancestors.

The Techichi is now extinct, but they were believed to be domesticated as far back as the Toltec civilizations. We have evidence of these dogs through artifacts and pictures, so we do know that they resemble the modern Chihuahua in size and many other physical traits.

In other words, the Techichi looks like a Chihuahua, so many people consider it to be the modern dog’s direct ancestor.

However, it wasn’t until recently that anyone actually used science to prove this theory. The Institute of Technology in Stockholm recently did a study into the Chihuahua’s DNA and found that about 70% of it originated from the Techichi.

Of course, while that does cover much of where the Chihuahua came from, the remaining 30% of the DNA is much debated.

Furthermore, not everyone agrees with this study. One study found that the Chihuahua only has 4% pre-colonial DNA, which is obviously different from the previous study.

The Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested is quite similar to the Chihuahua. Therefore, there are some people that believe the Chinese Crested somehow contributed to the Chihuahua’s lineage. However, trying to prove that a Chinese dog ended up in South America in great enough numbers for this to be true is difficult.

Some claim that trading ventures between China and the Americas are to blame. While there was some trading going on, there is little proof behind this theory. As of yet, there is no DNA evidence that the Chinese Crested contributed to the Chihuahua at all.

“Pocket” Dogs

Around the time of colonialization, “pocket dogs” were all the rage in Europe, especially amongst the royals. While we don’t call breeds “pocket dogs” today, these early small dogs are likely the ancestor of the modern Maltese and other breeds.

Some people claim that these European breeds made their way to the Americas and bred with the native breeds, leading to the Chihuahua. There are some depictions of Chihuahua-looking dogs in European art. Therefore, it is possible that these dogs contributed.

However, there is a large gap between finding a dog in a painting that looks similar to a Chihuahua and actually tracing these dogs from Europe to South America. Therefore, while this theory may have some truth behind it, there isn’t actually any proof.

What About the Modern Chihuahua?

We don’t know much about where the Chihuahua came from or how they ended up as the dogs they are now. However, we do know that Chihuahuas were not a very popular breed until the 1900s. The AKC didn’t even register the breed until 1904.

Reports of “nearly hairless” dogs did not begin popping up until the 19th century. One of these claims says that these small dogs came from a region known as “Chihuahua,” which may be where these dogs originally came from.

However, it is equally possible that people mistakenly believed that these dogs came from that region and named them as such. (It wouldn’t be the first time.)

Therefore, while they are a more common breed today and a common breed in ancient times, they only entered the modern world in great numbers in the early 20th century. It is likely that they were still around in South America—they just didn’t reach Western civilization in great numbers until later.

It is reported that Mexican merchants sold the small dogs to tourists, which were then brought home to the USA as pets. In this way, the breed slowly funneled into the United States and became a companion animal.

Were Chihuahuas Made to be Eaten?

There is one report that 16th century Aztecs bred some sort of small dog for food. However, it takes more than one report to make something for certain. Plus, there are lots of different small dogs that may have existed in the region next to the Chihuahua.

For all we know, the small dog being used for food may have been a now-extinct breed. Or, it may have been a cousin to the Chihuahua or the ancestor of the modern Chihuahuas. We don’t know what these dogs looked like and have not found any remains that may have given us DNA to compare to modern breeds.

Furthermore, it is equally as likely that the 16th-century European report mistakenly thought that the dogs were being sold for food when they were actually being sold for other purposes. Europeans regularly misinterpreted the actions of natives, so we can’t take everything we say at face value.

Therefore, all that we can for sure take from this account is that some sort of small dog was being exchanged at the market. Some of them might have been eaten.

However, we also have evidence that Chihuahuas had some sort of religious significance. In this case, the dogs may have been bred solely for this purpose. In other words, they may have been used as companions and for sacrifices, which may have been why people were purchasing them in markets.

With that said, it is also possible that they were eaten in a ritualistic manner.

Do Chihuahuas Have Wolf DNA?

Yes. All dogs come from the gray wolf. However, that does not mean that Chihuahuas (or any other dog) is extremely similar to wolves or anything of that sort—these dogs have not been wolves for a very long time!

Therefore, the fact that they are descended from wolves shouldn’t have much bearing on how you treat them. For instance, there is no need to feed them raw meat just because thousands of years ago they were wolves.

However, all dogs are technically descended from wolves, including Chihuahua. You cannot have a dog that isn’t descended from wolves.

Are Chihuahuas Related to Rats?

On top of being a running joke, there are also a few misconceptions running around that the Chihuahua is actually some sort of rat (or some strange rat-dog hybrid). However, this is absolutely untrue. Chihuahuas are dogs, and, just like every other dog, they are related to wolves and all other types of dogs.

Furthermore, rats and dogs cannot interbreed. Only animals within the same genus can be interbred, and rats aren’t even close to dogs. Based on this information, there is no way that Chihuahuas can be rat/dog hybrids.

Instead, they are descended from an ancient breed of dog that once existed in Central and South America. They were selectively bred for their desert environment, which is likely why they don’t have much fur.

Conclusion

Chihuahuas are a very old breed. Therefore, we don’t exactly know why they were bred, to begin with. No one wrote about breeding dogs back then, so it is likely that they developed organically. The people bred the dogs that they liked best, and then the dogs developed in this manner.

We don’t know exactly what these dogs were used for, which also means that they don’t know what they were developed for. There are quite a few theories out there. For instance, they might have been used for food, as a few reports say. Alternatively, they may have just been used for religious purposes, though this may have been a secondary purpose. As was often the case with small dogs, these canines may have also been used as alert dogs. They are very noisy, after all!

You may also be interested in:

• Italian Greyhuahua (Italian Greyhound & Chihuahua Mix)
• Taco Terrier (Chihuahua & Toy Fox Terrier Mix)
• Chi-Spaniel (Chihuahua & Cocker Spaniel Mix)

Featured Image Credit by: Pixabay