Chihuahuas are a very old breed of toy dogs. The Mayan Indians of South America made clay sculptures of small dogs (Colima dogs) that resemble the Chihuahua dating 500-600 bc. Some Archaeological digs have shown that the breed goes back to at lest the fifth century AD.

They were at one time called Techchi by the Toltecs. When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs the little dogs were cuddled by the rich and were held sacred. They were thought to be a good luck charm by the Toltecs, Mayans, Aztecs as well as the Incas. following many of their masters even in death bring their good luck with them into the next realm. The Spanish wrote about these small little dogs in many letters that where sent home.

In later years the name Chihuahua came from the area of Mexico that shares a border with the states of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico were they were found. In the United States, The American Kennel Club exhibited Chihuahuas for the first time in 1890. The first Chihuahua was registered in the U.S. in 1903. The Chihuahua Club of America was established in 1923, along with it a written breed standard that has not changed significantly since.

In 1952, the Chihuahua Club of America did vote to split the Chihuahua into two varieties. The two are judged on the same standard, the difference being is that one variety is smooth coated and the other is long coated.