Breed Bio: Chihuahua

Named after the largest state in Mexico, the cute and compact Chihuahua is a small pup with a big personality.

While their origin story is steeped in mystery, the Chihuahua is most likely a descendant of the Techichi, an ancient Mexican lapdog popular in the Mayan era. A rare and exotic breed during the 19th Century, the Chihuahua gained popularity in the early 1900s. After falling in love with the breed while on vacation in Mexico, American tourists began importing Chihuahuas into the United States.

The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904, further growing its popularity in America. This popularity would continue to skyrocket, culminating in the mid-1990s with pop culture icons like Gidget, the Taco Bell Dog.

Today, the Chihuahua remains a popular breed in North America and abroad, beloved for their intelligence, affection, and spunky personality.

Looking for Chihuahua art and other fun merchandise? Browse our Chihuahua Collection

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CHIHUAHUA

- The Chihuahua is one of the oldest breeds, officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904.

- Paying homage to the breed's Mexican heritage, several cities across America celebrate the Chihuahua on Cinco de Mayo. Chandler, Arizona and Denver, Colorado celebrate by hosting an annual Chihuahua race!

-  Chihuahuas come in a variety of colors, from black to sable, and blue to bridle. There are 30 recognized colors that chihuahuas could come in.

- When pups are born, their ears are floppy. As they age, they begin to stand erect, with fully erect ears occurring by around six months of age.

- The smallest dog in the world by height is a chihuahua named Miracle Milly. She was measured by the Guinness World Records team in February 2013, she stood at only 3.8 inches tall.

- Remember that adorable Chihuahua who starred in Taco Bell commercials in the late 90's? His name was Gidget, and he was a rescue dog before rising to stardom as the fast food chain's iconic mascot.

- The most popular name for a chihuahua is 'Chico', which means 'small boy' in Spanish.

- Around 80 - 90% of chihuahuas are born with a soft spot on their heads called a Molera.

-  The two varieties of Chihuahua are the smooth coat and the long coat. The American Kennel Club classifies both types as one breed, while in the UK they’re considered two separate breeds.

- Famous Chihuahua owners include Madonna, Demi Moore, Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon, Sharon Osborne, and Mickey Rourke, just to name a few.