Since the Chihuahua dogs have the same name as the Mexican state of Chihuahua, it might seem that the dogs simply came from Chihuahua. But the history of this active little dog is far from simple. That the breed is very old is certain, but the exact origin of the breed is actually unknown. Here's the story.

To back up, the tiny dogs came into the United States first from Mexico along the border and were called "Texas Dogs" or "Arizona Dogs". People in the United States loved these dogs and they were first exhibited through the American Kennel Club in about 1890. The first Chihuahuas were registered in the United States in about 1903 and then the Chihuahua Club of America was formed in 1923. Much work was done since the 1950s to improve the breed, with special emphasis on improving the type and temperament. The only two recognized types of Chihuahuas are long hair and short hair.

But how did the dogs get into Mexico? Much research using archeology and paleontology suggests several theories about how the Chihuahua type dogs came to exist in Mexico.

Mayan Indians made clay sculptures of a Chihuahua type dog. This sculpture dates to about the 5th century A. D. It could be that these people were the first to develop a relationship with this type dog.

Even earlier, a native Mexican people called the Toltecs conquered the southern and central part of Mexico about 1100 A. D. These people kept a small dog called a Techichi. This was a long-legged, thin dog with a fawn-like appearance. These dogs were kept as pets and the thought is that these dogs may have crossed with a dog that inhabited the mountains of the Chihuahua region. This dog was a feral dog called the Perro Chihuahua. These dogs were thought to live in holes in the ground and had round heads and short, erect ears.

Eventually the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs and became the rulers of Mexico. The Aztecs kept the Toltecs' dogs as pets too and also used them as part of their religious practice.

Then the Spanish invaded the Aztec empire and the story continues. The Spaniards supposedly brought with them from Europe a small terrier type dog. This dog may have crossed with the Aztec dogs to produce the Chihuahua type small dog.

Now all that's just a theory. Another theory is that the Spaniards brought the Chihuahua type dog to the Americas. Here's the idea. There is a small dog on the island of Malta that has some of the rare characteristics possessed by the Chihuahua. The idea is that the Chihuahua is a descendant of these dogs. Also, of all things, there is a painting in the Sistine Chapel by Sondro Botticelli completed before Columbus sailed for "the new world" which shows a small dog of the Chihuahua type. So there is a theory that the dogs actually came from Europe.

Another theory is that the dogs actually originated in China. The Chinese were noted for developing small breeds of dogs. Possibly Spanish traders came to possess Chinese dogs and brought the dogs to Mexico, where they would have crossed with native dogs.

However the dogs originally got to Mexico, it's clear that after the destruction of the Aztec civilization the remaining people of Mexico kept and developed the Chihuahua type dogs.

So the Chihuahua has only been in the United States a relatively short time, but the type of dog is an old one and a mysterious one as well.

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