Are Chihuahuas Truly Mexican and What Is Their History

Chihuahuas have a rich history that spans over 2,000 years, dating back to the ancient civilizations of Mexico.

The earliest known ancestors of the modern Chihuahua were the Techichi, a small dog breed that was highly valued by the Aztecs and Mayans.

These ancient civilizations believed that the Techichi had the ability to guide the spirits of the dead to the afterlife.

The Techichi was a sacred animal, often buried with its owners to provide companionship in the afterlife.

Chihuahuas were first introduced to Europe in the 19th century, where they became popular as exotic pets among the wealthy.

The Chihuahua origins are deeply rooted in ancient Mexico, with evidence of the breed's existence dating back to 300 BC in Colima, Mexico.

Chihuahua relics found in Tres Zapotes, Mexico, dating back to 100 AD, depict wheeled dog toys that resemble both apple head and deer head varieties of the Techichi.

These ancient depictions of the Techichi are strikingly similar to the current-day Chihuahua, suggesting a strong connection between the two breeds.

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The Techichi is believed to have been domesticated by the Toltec indigenous tribe of Mexico, who raised the breed as early as the 9th century.

Drawings found in the ruins of Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula, dating back to the 5th century AD, show a dog with deer-like antlers, further solidifying the connection between the Techichi and the Chihuahua.

The Techichi is thought to have been crossbred with a breed of wild dog that populated the Chihuahua mountains, known as the Perro Chihuahueno, resulting in the modern Chihuahua breed.

Ancient drawings and carvings show that the Perro Chihuahueno can have either an apple or deer head shape, much like Chihuahuas today.

The Techichi dogs were considered sacred and were used in religious ceremonies and treated as beloved companions by the Toltec civilization.

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The Chihuahua's history is fascinating. The breed's ancestors date back to 300 BC in Colima, Mexico, where effigy pots and sculptures were found depicting a dog remarkably similar to the current day Chihuahua.

These ancient depictions suggest a long history of dog domestication in Mexico. The 9th century Toltecs raised a breed of dog called the Techichi, considered to be the ancestor of today's Chihuahua.

Archaeologists have discovered wheeled dog toys dating back to 100 AD in Tres Zapotes, Veracruz, Mexico, which are believed to depict both apple head and deer head varieties of the Techichi.

These ancient relics support the idea that the Chihuahua's ancestors were present in Mexico for thousands of years.

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