Before the world even knew of the expression Teacup Chihuahua, regular Chihuahuas have had a history of their own. They were first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1904 after being discovered in the state of Chihuahua, a Mexican region, bordering Texas and New Mexico. This also gave rise to the name of the breed.
As is often the case with history, there are slightly different versions of the origin of what became the teacup chihuahua. If we come to known facts, they are said to come from the ancient Techichi dogs of the Toltec Civilization near Mexico City. The Aztecs conquered the Toltecs and turned these dogs into sacred icons of the upper class, giving them religious significance. Today’s Chihuahuas are smaller than Techichis, who were also mute.
It is later believed that this dog was crossed with an Oriental Dog, a hairless breed that gave modern Teacup Chihuahuas more of the appearance they do today, smaller and softer-coated with vocal resources that exceed their size. Where the stories differ is in part on how this hairless breed came to be in that part of the world. Some say that these early Chihuahua ancestors migrated across the Bering Strait land bridge.
Others claim that they were brought by Spanish settlers who had established trade routes with China. In support of this theory it is claimed that China has well-documented practices of growing animals and plants to be smaller in size. In a historical letter written by the famous Christopher Columbus, it is said that he found a small dog on the island of Cuba that was mute. This adds to the speculation about the origins of the Chihuahua.
There are different forms of support for the above theories, ranging from DNA to ancient painted artwork, although the history of the teacup chihuahua might remain a mystery, especially as to how they ended up where they were first discovered as bred in 1884 and adopted into the AKC twenty years later. In England the breed was not registered until another twenty years later.
Although his past remains a mystery in some parts, no one can deny that this small dog with a great temperament is still the favorite of many. Tiny Chihuahuas nicknamed Teacup Chihuahuas have made history in the past and continue to do so today on movie screens, television, commercials, and in homes around the world.
