Chipin

The Chihuahua's history is controversial because there are so many different stories about their background. The most common belief is that they originated over 3,000 years ago, with the Aztecs. Another story is that the breed was started in China and was mixed with other small native dogs when they were brought to the New World by Spanish traders. Another theory is that the Chihuahua started in South America from the Techichi breed of dog, which was a tiny, mute dog used in sacrificial ceremonies. Some believed that the small dogs should be buried with their dead as guides to the afterlife and others believe the dog was used for food by the Aztecs and Toltecs. Another idea is that the Chihuahua was found in Chihuahua, Mexico in the 1800s, which is where it got its name. The Chihuahua was not popular in America until Xavier Cugat brought his Chihuahua to appear with him in public. They have been registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 1904 and are the 30th most popular breed of dog in the United States. The Miniature Pinscher originated in Germany in the 1600s and their name (Pinscher) means terrier in German. They are not related to Doberman Pinschers and were used for hunting rats and mice. The Miniature Pinscher is a mix of the German Pinscher, Dachshund, and the Italian Greyhound. In the 1800s, the breed became unattractive and deformed due to the breeders trying to make them smaller, but this was fixed in the early 1900s. The breed became popular in German dog shows and after World War I they became popular in the United States. In fact, the Miniature Pinscher was officially recognized by the AKC in 1925 and they are now the 68th most popular breed in America.