THE HISTORY OF THE CHIHUAHUA A great deal of the Chihuahua's history is speculation and theory, although some details are agreed by everyone. The Chihuahua is named after the Mexican State which borders Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and it is believed to be descended from the Techichi. The Techichi was a heavy boned, small canine, although larger than today's Chihuahua, with a long coat which was mute. It dates back to Mayan times, around the 5th century AD. The Mayan people were conquered by the Toltecs who are believed to be the first people to domesticate the Techichi, bringing them into their homes as pets as well as using them for religious purposes. The Toltecs were conquered by the Aztecs who held the little Techichi in great esteem as sacred icons among the upper classes and clergy. They were used in religious ceremonies to help as guides for the spirits of the dead and to expiate sins. This is backed up by the remains of these little dogs being found in graves in Mexico and also being mentioned in Mayan, Toltec and Aztec writings in tombs, temples and pyramids. The lower classes however had little use for them and sometimes used them as food. It is believed that explorers brought hairless dogs from the East and that these mated with the Techichi to help create a smaller, smooth- coated dog that was vocal. This, after many changes, developed into the Chihuahua's of the modern world. The breed was discovered in the 1850's in the state of Chihuahua and soon gained popularity. The American Kennel Club registered the Chihuahua as a breed in 1904 with the Kennel Club in England following on. Many Chihuahua clubs throughout the world have been formed. The American Chihuahua Club was formed in 1923 and the British Chihuahua Club in 1947. They continue to gain popularity in both the long and short coat varieties. CHARACTER. Chihuahuas are small, dainty, compact little dogs. They are alert and swift moving with a brisk, forceful action and a saucy expression. They are gay spirited and very intelligent. They are neither snappy nor withdrawn. Breed Standard The Breed Standard is set up by the Kennel Club for every breed. For the two breeds of Chihuahuas it is identical except for the coat description, of course. General Appearance Small, dainty, compact. Characteristics Alert little dog; swift-moving with brisk, forceful action and saucy expression. Temperament Gay, spirited and intelligent, neither snappy nor withdrawn. Head and Skull Well rounded 'apple dome' skull, cheeks and jaws lean, muzzle moderately short, slightly pointed. Definite stop. Eyes Large, round, but not protruding; set well apart; centre of eye is on a plane with lowest point of ear and base of stop; dark or ruby. Light eyes in light colours permissible. Ears Large, flaring, set on at an angle of approximately 45 degrees; giving breadth between ears. Tipped or broken down highly undesirable. Mouth Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Neck Slightly arched, medium length. Forequarters Shoulders well laid; lean, sloping into slightly broadening support above straight forelegs, set well under chest giving freedom of movement without looseness. Body Level back. Body, from point of shoulder to rear point of croup, slightly longer than height at withers. Well sprung ribs, deep brisket. Hindquarters Muscular; hocks well let down, with good turn of stifle, well apart, turning neither in nor out. Feet Small and dainty, turning neither in nor out; toes well divided but not spread, pads cushioned, fine, strong, flexible pasterns. Neither hare- nor cat-like, nails moderately short. Tail Medium length, set high, carried up and over back (sickle tail). When moving never tucked under or curled below the topline. Furry, flattish in appearance, broadening slightly in centre and tapering to point. Gait/Movement Brisk, forceful action, neither high-stepping nor hackney; good reach without slackness in forequarters, good drive in hindquarters. Viewed from front and behind legs should move neither too close nor too wide, with no turning in or out of feet or pasterns. Topline should remain firm and level when moving. Coat Long Coat:- soft texture (never coarse or harsh to touch) either flat or slightly wavy. Never tight and curly. Feathering on ears, feet and legs, pants on hindquarters, large ruff on neck desirable. Tail long and full as a plume. Smooth Coat:- smooth, of soft texture, close and glossy, with undercoat and ruff permissible. Colour Any colour or mixture of colours but never Merle* (dapple). Size Weight: up to 2.7 kilos (6 lbs), with 1.8 - 2.7 kilos (4-6 lbs) preferred. Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. Merle coat colour in the Chihuahua Coat colour in the Chihuahua is complex because a range of colours is acceptable, but one colour does not exist naturally in the breed is Merle. Merle patterning, patches of lighter colour appearing in the coat, is the result of the M gene in the dog. There are two alleles of this gene: MM (merle) and M (non-merle), with merle being dominant to non-merle. In some breeds, the effect of the merle allele (MM) is termed ‘dapple’. Unfortunately, the effects of the merle allele (MM) are not confined to coat patterning and we know that there can be an increased risk of impaired hearing and sight associated with it. Many breeds are aware of and have for many years dealt perfectly adequately with avoiding the consequences of these health issues. However, because the colour has not hitherto been encountered in the United Kingdom in Chihuahuas, and the fact that it is not a natural colour in the breed, the General Committee of the Kennel Club has decided as a precautionary move to take a different approach. At the suggestion of the majority of the Chihuahua breed clubs in this country, the Kennel Club has decided not to register merle (dapple) Chihuahuas (Smooth or Longcoat) in order to avoid any future possible problems. If you would like to know more about Holansica Chihuahuas then by all means call Joanne on 01492 440221, 07961900974 or e-mail: j.sorfleet@btinternet.com Copyright © 2011 Joanne @ Holansica. 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