One of the most accredited versions is that Chihuahuas descend from the Techichi, a dog that used to live with the Toltec populations. This dog is described as small in size, with strong bone and with a long and reddish coat. The existence of this dog seems to have historic evidence given by stone bas-reliefs present in the Franciscan Monastery of Huejotzingo: this convent was built with material taken from the Cholula pyramid. It is likely that this animal also lived with the following civilization, namely that of the Aztecs. According to evidence of Aztec rituals, it seems that a small yellow dog took part in the funeral ceremonies of this ancient civilization. Representations of dogs with similar features can also be found in a near region, the Yucatan, where the Maya/Toltec civilization was located, among the remains of the ancient Chicén Itzà pyramids.

In order to justify the differences among these representations and the appearance of the today chihuahuas, it has been advanced the theory that the Techichi was crossbred to a hairless dog that the Aztecs called Biche and that could have been brought into Mexico from the present day China, through the Bering Strait in Alaska: the Techichi's size decrease is supposed to be due to the crossbreeding with the Biche, as also stated by the breeder De Blinde.

Since its beginning, Chihuahuas have been mistaken with the Mexican hairless dog: actually, in the early Twenties in books and articles about the breed we could find three different varieties being described: smooth coat, long coat and...hairless. Hence, even stories regarding this breed were attributed to Chihuahuas, thus creating more confusion. However, most scholars have always maintained that the origins of the Chihuahua are to be found in Europe and China, and that in Mexico there were no dogs before the arrival of the conquistadors.
Clifford Hubbard, a well-known English authority, supported the theory that Chihuahuas had originated in Europe and were later introduced into Mexico following Spanish conquistadors. Even Professor Baltram, Pre-Columbian history expert at the Puebla University and editor of "Mundo Canino", wrote many articles that were in contrast to the fanciful theories supported by Major Mundey about the wild origins of Chihuahuas.
Both maintained that there were no evidence of the presence of dogs before the Spanish, adding that the dogs described in the reports of the crude conquistadors, silent and able to climb trees, were Coati Mundi, that is raccoons, and were assimilated to the dogs only because in the Old World there was no word suitable to name them.

To support the theory of the European origin of the breed, we have a Botticelli's fresco inside the Sistine Chapel, finished in 1482 (hence ten years before the discovery of America) called "The trials of Moses", where we can actually see a small dog very similar to what is considered to be the original type of the Chihuahua, even if slightly bigger in size and showing some whippet like elements.

We also have the small dog of Malta (Maltese pocket dog or "Kelb Tal But), a dog identical to Chihuahuas which is traditionally docked, bred in Malta and carrying an open fontanel too. To support the theory of the Chinese origins, we have the arrival of thousands of people from China due to the discovery of gold in California and the end of the civil war which brought an opening towards the not previously colonized western states. Many of these people reached Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, spreading to all latitudes, to become merchants.
The Chinese hypothesis about the origin of the Chihuahua might be supported by the well known taste for miniature objects that characterizes those people. It is likely that even the Mexican Hairless Dog comes from China, just as Mexican authorities believe.
Chinese Crested Dogs made their appearance in Mexico well before Chihuahuas, at a show in Mexico City in 1785. It's very significant that the first appearance of the Chihuahua in modern age took place along Mexico border, where these tiny dogs were named "Mexican Dogs" or "Arizona's Dogs"; also, some of those small dogs were bought by USA citizens just across the border between El Paso in Texas and Juarez in Mexico. Juarez is in the State of Chihuahua.

Besides, thanks to the analysis of mitochondrial DNA, today even modern science gives confirmation that Chihuahuas are a breed created comparatively recently. Around 1850 some archaeologists, working close to Casas Grande among the ruins of a palace built by Montezuma, found some representations of dogs very similar to those that at the time Mexican campesinos used to sell to American tourists.
Casa Grande is in the State of Chihuahua: so those tiny dogs got the same name. No matter if this dog comes from other dogs already living with the ancient populations of South America, if it's originated in Europe or China or if it's a combination of native dogs and small terriers, spaniels, etc., brought by the Spanish, Chihuahuas developed in Mexico, thus, we can safely say that the breed has Mexican origins and that the current appearance of the breed is the result of an expert work of selection done by American dog lovers, aimed to enhance distinctive features and reduce size.

At that time, these small dogs were also known as Arizona Dogs, Texas Dogs, Mexican Dogs, because it was in those areas at the borders with Mexico, Arizona and Texas that this peculiar trade took place. Watson describes them as being of different types and indicates a small hole located on top of the skull as the only requirement of purity. During 1890 less than ten Chihuahuas had been shown in a special class for breeds not officially recognized. Midget was the first Chihuahua to be registered with the AKC back in 1904; he was bred and owned by Mr. H. Rayner. Since the beginning of their "official" history, Chihuahuas came in two varieties: smooth coat and long coat, even if the latter were actually rarer.

Even the first three litters to be registered were sired by a long coated dog out of a smooth coated bitch. At the beginning of the Twentieth century, Owen Wister, a famous writer and author of the western novel "The Virginian", went to Mexico together with his friend Charles Stewart. In the mountainous areas they saw their first Chihuahua and bought Caranza and other dogs in order to start breeding them in their estate in Philadelphia. Caranza is considered the modern progenitor of the breed and the father of the first and original bloodlines Meron and Perrito. Mrs. Ida H. Garrett, journalist and dog lover, pioneer breeder of Chihuahuas since the end of the Nineteenth century, developed, together Mrs. Clara Dobbs, the Meron bloodline which dominated the show rings for more than 50 years. Mrs. Ida H. Garrett was also secretary and foundress of the Chihuahua Club of America (CCA).

In one of her writings, Ida H. Garrett tells of a visit to the Stewart's estate where the small Caranza lived. She describes him as fabulous specimen of the breed of about 1.4 kg in weight with a dark red long coat, ruby red eyes, tail like that of a squirrel and fringed ears. His body was slightly longer than his height at the shoulder and he had a perfect head; she adds that he was the most beautiful and adorable creature she had ever seen. She also describes this old house belonging to the Stewarts: ovens were built in the walls and inside these ovens they kept Chihuahua bitches with their puppies; also, these ovens were kept at the right temperature thanks to the fire burning in the fireplace. The public interest, at least in the early years, went to the smooth coated variety. In 1905 we have the first Chihuahua champion: it was a female whose name was Beppie and belonging to L.A. Mc Lean. Her title was registered with the AKC in 1908. The Chihuahua Club of America was founden in February 1923 by a small number of pioneers of the breed; the drafting of the standard was a difficult one due to different opinions on what the ideal tail should be like! In 1924 the American Kennel Club officially recognized the breed. In 1926 the AKC was the first club to recognize both varieties and offering prize money at the Sesqui-Centennial Int. Dog Show. In 1928 Don Gringo was the first Chihuahua to become international champion. In June 1952 the Board of the American Kennel Club agreed to separate the two coat varieties so that they could be judged separately. This gave new impulse to the popularity of the long coated variety. Until the present day, in the United States the breed has been getting more and more popular.

We can consider the United Kingdom as the second homeland of the breed. In 1902 Chaco was the first Chihuahua to be shown at Richmond; in 1907 we have the first two registrations with Topsy and Prince. Mrs. Powel of London was the true pioneer of the breed. Unfortunately, her dogs were killed in a bombing during the Second World War. We have to wait the end of the war to see new imports into England from the United States; the first import to be registered was a bitch puppy named Una of Phoenix. Again in 1949 the British Chihuahua Club was founded. Since the war, Chihuahuas became popular all over the world. In Italy, pioneers of the breed were Count Giovanni and Countess Licia Lanza di Mazzarino who, since the end of the Fifties, imported the first Chihuahuas and started to breed them with the "di Brusuglio" kennel name. In 1950 we have 5 Chihuahuas registered with the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI); that same year three imports became Italian champions. We have two Chihuahuas registered in 1956 and two more in 1957. Eight Chihuahuas were registered in 1962, 17 in 1963, 8 in 1964, 23 in 1965 and 12 in 1966. In 1991 we have 155 smooth coated Chihuahuas registered and 48 long coated ones; in 1996 260 smooth coats and 90 long coats. Since the half of the 1990s in Italy we see an ever growing popularity of the breed. Registrations with the ENCI see 364 smooth coated Chihuahuas and 190 long coated ones in 2000, 726 in 2002, 770 in 2003, 989 in 2004, 1107 in 2005, 1177 in 2006, 1418 in 2007, 1388 in 2008, 2000 in 2009 and 2644 in 2010!

In Italy the breed is protected by the breed club, Club Cani Compagnia, a society which si recognized by the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) since 1963.

Bibliography:
"CHIHUAHUAS" Walter Johnson Alameda Ks Las Cruces, N.M. 1922 reprint 1980 (US)
THE CHIHUAHUA Ida H. Garrett Louis Minsky 1933 reprint 2000 (US)
THE COMPLETE CHIHUAHUA Milo G. Denlinger Denlinger's 1947 (US)
THIS AND THAT ABOUT CHIHUAHUAS Chas. H. Wall 1947 Buddy Publishing Co. (CN)
YOUR CHIHUAHUA Ruth L. Murray Hawthorn Books 1966
THIS IS THE CHIHUAHUA Maxwell Riddle T.F.H. Pratical Science 1959 (US)
THE CHIHUAHUA R.E. Kauffman Judy Publishing Company 1959 (US)
THE COMPLETE CHIHUAHUA ENCYCLOPEDIA Hilary Harmar 1972 ISBN 0-668-02910-2 (UK)
ALL ABOUT THE CHIHUAHUA Mona Huxham Pelham books 1976 ISBN 0-7207-0891-5 (UK)
THE CHIHUAHUA Thelma Gray The Anchor Press Ltd 1979 ISBN 0-09-134490-5 (UK)
WHO'S WHO IN CHIHUAHUAS n. 1 S.M. Dickerson E. M. Dickerson 1979 (US)
THE CHIHUAHUA Anna Katherine Nicholas T.F.H. Publications, Inc 1988 ISBN 0-86622-977-9 (US)
THE NEW CHIHUAHUA E. Ruth Terry Howell Book House 1990 ISBN 0-87605-125-5 (US)
IL CHIHUAHUA by A.A.,V.V., 1998. De Vecchi Editore 1998 ISBN 88-412-0454-0 (I)
THE CHIHUAHUA Susan F. Payne Kennell Club Classics 2009 ISBN 978-159378691-6 (US)
THE CHIHUAHUA A Complete Antology of the Dog 1900-1940 Vintage Dog Books 2010 ISBN 9781445525846