The Taco Bell Dog, Gidget and Paris Hiltons precious Tinkerbell have taken the limelight away from the ever popular dog breeds such as the Labrador and Spaniel, and placed it brightly on the Chihuahua. Often referred to as the Chi, the Chihuahua was named in the late 19th century for the place it was founded: Chihuahua, Mexico. While there are many theories and speculations as to when and how the Chihuahua made its most notable appearance, one thing is for sure: The Chihuahua is quite the character, being a large dog trapped in a tiny dogs body and is taking the lead as mans tiniest best friend.

Many believe the tiny dogs heralded from Mexico and were the first dogs and oldest known to the Americas, possibly introduced from Asia to the Spanish settlers prior to their conquest of Mexico. There are also theories that the Chi comes from a Northern African canine called the fennec fox, which is considered the worlds smallest canine with large ears and round eyes. Another theory is that the Chi hails from European descent of Malta. Apparently a small dog came from this island country and featured an unusual feature called a molera, which is a soft spot on the top of the skull possessed also by Chis. But at some point, these tiny dogs disappeared from Spanish history and became more developed as a breed in 1890 in America, where they began to be exhibited in dog shows.

The most widely accepted theory of the Chis descent is old Mexico. The Toltec tribe which originated in northern Mexico, was known to breed and revere very small dogs called the Techichi. There is an old tale of an ancient Aztec King who upon his death bed, breathed a sign of relief because his beloved Techichi would be slain upon his demise to transfer the owners sins to the dog and then for the dog to guide him through the spirit world. In fact, archeologists have found the Techichi alongside human remains in gravesites all over Mexico. This could indicate the origin of the Chihuahua to be dated back to many centuries, but the true history behind the mini but mighty Chi is unknown and may remain so.

The Chi is the worlds smallest dog and on average stands at 5 inches at the shoulder and usually weighs about 6 pounds. There are two breed types: The short, smooth coat and the long coated Chi, both of which can come in a wide variety of styles and colors. Regardless of size, the Chi is renowned for being athletic, agile, playful and bold. They are also known for being fiercely loyal but loving little friends, packed full of energy and vitality to keep any owner on their toes. They are often unaware of their size and are quick to defend family and home. Their strong bonds, loyalty and possessiveness with their owners seems as though their main purpose in life is absolute attention and affection from their humans. While this can be heartwarming, it should not be taken half-hearted and training should occur at an early age or you could be trained by your Chi. They are often described as mighty minis, diminutive divas, or Napoleons for a reason. But all in all, with the proper training and socialization, the Chi makes a wonderful pet, no matter what its origin and history.