Chihuahua (dog)

Chihuahua

A purebred Chihuahua showing the classic features of the breed
Other names	Chihuahua
Origin	Mexico
Traits Weight Male 1.8–2.7 kg (4–6 lb) Female 1.8–2.7 kg (4–6 lb) Height Male 15–25 cm (6–10 in) Female 15–25 cm (6–10 in) Coat Short-haired (smooth coat) and long-coat Color white, black, tan and many other colors Litter size usually 2–5 Life span 15–20 years
Classification / standards FCI Group 9, Section 6 Chihuahua #218 standard AKC Toy dog standard ANKC Group 1 (Toys) [Smooth Stds Long standard] CKC Group 5 - Toys standard KC (UK) Toy [Smooth Stds Long standard] NZKC Toy [Smooth Stds Long standard] UKC Companion Breeds standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Chihuahua ⁱ/tʃɪˈwɑːwɑː/ (Spanish: chihuahueño) is the smallest breed of dog and is named for the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahuas come in a wide variety of sizes, head shapes, colors, and coat lengths.

The Chihuahua's history is puzzling and there are many theories surrounding the origin of the breed. Both folklore and archaeological finds show that the breed originated in Mexico. The most common and most likely theory is that Chihuahuas are descended from the Techichi, a companion dog favored by the Toltec civilization in Mexico. No records of the Techichi are available prior to the 9th century, although dog pots from Colima, Mexico, buried as part of the western Mexico shaft tomb tradition which date back to 300 BC are thought to depict Techichis. It is probable that earlier ancestors were present prior to the Mayans as dogs approximating the Chihuahua are found in materials from the Great Pyramid of Cholula, predating 1530 and in the ruins of Chichen Itza on the Yucatán Peninsula.