The name of the Chihuahua comes from the Mexican state that is located next to west Texas and New Mexico, but the breed actually came from the ancient Techichi dogs of the Toltecs when they were crossed with a hairless dog from the Orient. Indigenous to Central America Techichi dogs were a heavy-boned small dog that had a long coat. The modern day Chihuahua is smaller than the Techichi and the original breed was mute. When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs the dogs became a sacred icon of the upper class society and was used in religious ceremonies to help guide the spirits of the dead.
The breed wasn’t discovered outside of Mexico until the 1850s and soon after it became very popular throughout the world. In 1904 it was first registered with the American Kennel Club in the modern breed we see today. Today there remains the smooth-coated, vocal Chihuahua and the more traditional longhaired Chihuahua breed.
Each dog within the Chihuahua breed has their own unique personality and they can be very individualistic. However, the American Kennel Club officially describes the Chihuahua breed as graceful, alert and agile with a compact and terrier like quality. In general all Chihuahuas are graceful, energetic and swift. But they can become grumpy, haughty or even nasty when provoked if they have an extreme terrier like quality to them. Although the extreme loyalty of the breed make them an excellent pet for elderly couples or individual households since they can become attached to just one or two people.

However, the Chihuahua breed may not be good for households with small or noisy children and households with a lot of people since they can be clannish at times and will be suspicious of other people besides the owners. In general it is best to consider the temperament of the individual Chihuahua before you can decide if this breed of dog is the right pet for you and your household.
Often Chihuahuas aren’t aware of their small stature and you can typically see them acting much bolder than other dogs that are three times their size or more. The breed will often become extremely loyal to just one or two individuals, which causes them to become highly protective. This results in the Chihuahua becoming wary of any news guests introduced to their personal domain and can cause a rather violent reaction. Although not a very good guard dog, this trait makes the Chihuahua an excellent option for a watchdog.

For Chihuahuas human contact is a must, as they will need a lot of general attention, touching and petting. Without enough attention the breed will resort to various attention getting tricks, such as being mischievous. While some find this makes their dog a bit too needy, you will gain a lot of loyalty from your Chihuahua in exchange for love, affection and care.

Know the temperament of your Chihuahua dog before determining if they are right for your household. Research Chihuahua information to find out if this loyal and protective breed is right for you.