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Deer Headed Chihuahua

History of the Deer Headed Chihuahua

Although just about everyone knows what a Chihuahua is, not too many people know the fascinating history behind this adorable little dog. The origin of the Chihuahua is quite diverse with many different stories of where it came from. For instance, some believe the Chihuahua originates in Mexico where it was kept as a loving companion to many ancient civilizations, as seen in many Aztec Indian pottery and drawings.The Chihuahua was thought to have a special ability of talking to the gods and leading a deceased person through the afterworld. In fact, historians state that many Chihuahuas were sacrificed and buried with the dead owner for that very purpose. Today, we find that so difficult to understand, considering the sweet loving nature of the Chihuahua.There is even evidence in the form of clay sculptures that the Mayan Indians of South America had Chihuahua type dogs. Many of these sculptures date back to the 5th century! When the Toltec people, natives of Mexico, came into Mexico by AD 1100 to conquer the central and southern parts of Mexico, they brought with them a small dog but long coated and heavier boned.This dog was known as a Techichi, commonly kept by the Toltecs as pets. Today, there remains question if the Toltecs crossbred the Techichi with dogs that lived in the mountains of Chihuahua known as Perro Chihuahueno. The dogs from the mountain had very rounded heads, long nails, and short, erect ears, just like the Chihuahua.Another theory is that the Chihuahua is of European descent, having come to the New World with the Spanish conquistadors. This came about due to a small breed of dog living on the island of Malta. What made this breed so intriguing is that like a human, it had a natural molera, which is a soft pad on the top of the skull, consisting of three sections where the bones meet. Considering that this is extremely rare and that the Chihuahua has a natural molera, some believe the breed is a descendant from Malta.In fact, there is a painting in the Sistine Chapel by Sondro Botticelli that was completed in 1482. This particular painting offers further proof of this claim. There, you will find the depiction a very small breed of dog that looks a lot like today’s Chihuahua. Additionally, this painting was done prior to Columbus setting sail, which provides even more proof that this breed would be of European ancestry.Then there is yet another theory surrounding the history of the Chihuahua. For this, it is believed that the Chinese, who were very skilled at developing miniature breeds of larger dogs, bred down to the Chihuahua. With this, the belief is that that the Spanish traders came into possession of this breed, thus traveling with it to Mexico where the Chihuahua became so popular.As with all breeds, some of the information is based on hard research, logical deduction, speculation, and tons of documentation. What we do know is that throughout history, we have solid record of many aristocrats owning Chihuahuas to include the Aztec leader, Montezuma II, who is said to have owned hundreds. Interestingly, some people think of the Chihuahua as not being a manly dog but we know that many powerful leaders and famous people did and do own the Chihuahua such as General Santa Ana and even the renowned band leader, Xavier Cugat. Of course, probably the person we associate most with the Chihuahua in current times is Paris Hilton. Regardless of where the Chihuahua comes from, we know this is an exceptional breed of dog.

General Appearance
Small. Legs not too long, not too short, aligned straight with the chest and rear (not cow-hocked or bowed). Back straight, somewhat longer than tall. Head should be round domed (apple-domed) with a well defined stop. Muzzle should meet a 90 degree angle. Eyes are round, wide-set and large, but not protruding. Tail should curl over the back, but not pig-tailed, but curled enough to where the tip barely touches the back. There should be some length to the neck, but it should not be too long, yet it shouldn't have the appearance of sitting directly on the shoulders. The ears should be carried at 40-degree angles when at rest. The smoothcoat can be either close or plushy (double-coated smooth). Longcoats should appear fluffy, with feathering most pronounced on the ears, legs and tail.

Proportion and Size

Height should be no more than 9 inches at the shoulder. Weight should be no more than 6 pounds.

Color
Any color acceptable, fawn, black, red, blue, white, chocolate, lilac, brindle, cream and even merle. In any pattern.

Temperment (including suitability with children
Described as the "big dog in a little package", chihuahuas display an amazing terrier-like personality. Chihuahuas are loving dogs with people. They love to seek the warmth of their owner. Chihuahuas tend to attach themselves to one member of the family. They are not recommended for small children. Older children would be more ideal. They are quite suspicious of strangers however.

Trainability
Chihuahuas can be trained to do anything a larger dog can--on a smaller scale of course. Potty training takes a little extra time and effort. Though chihuahuas are habitually stubborn and even sometimes pig-headed, they are very intelligent dogs.

Exercise Needs
20 minute walks are good enough for chihuahuas mostly to avoid obesity--a common, life-threatening problem in chihuahuas.

Grooming Needs
Smoothcoats are basically wash and go. Longcoats require usually only a small amount of brushing.

Fun FAQs
Here are some things I am typically asked about chihuahuas:

Are longcoat chihuahuas a new breed?
No. Longcoats have been around as long as the smoothcoats.

Did the longcoats come as a result of crossbreeding?
No one is really sure how the longcoats came about. Every smoothcoat dog carries a longcoat gene somewhere.

Do chihuahuas

come in different sizes, ie standard, toy or teacup?
There is no such thing as a standard, toy, tiny toy or a teacup chihuahua. The teacup myth was concocted by backyard breeders and puppymills as a ploy for making money, saying these are "special" breeds. The AKC says a chihuahua can be up to 6 pounds. Over 6 pounds is undesirable.

What is the difference between a "deer" chihuahua and an "apple dome" chihuahua?
The answer is simple, the shape of the head. Deer head chihuahuas have flatter heads, eyes closer together and usually longer noses. Apple dome chihuahuas, which are more desirable, have a rounded head, usually a shorter muzzle and wider set eyes.

Is it true chihuahuas tend to prefer companions of their own kind?
Chihuahuas can get along well with any other dog, as long as the dog isn't too rambunctious. They can get along well with cats and even rabbits. The reason most people who have one chihuahua will get another is ADDICTION. These little dogs grow on a person very quickly.