Techichi

Techichi
A precolumbian effigy of a Techichi
Origin	Mesoamerica
Breed status	Extinct
Dog (domestic dog)

The Techichi is an extinct breed of small, mute dog bred by the Toltec culture as long ago as the 9th century C.E. It is thought to be an ancestor of the modern Chihuahua.

History

Techichi were larger than modern Chihuahuas, but were bred into the smaller, lighter dog we know today by the Aztecs, who conquered the Toltecs in the 12th century. It wasn't until the mid-1800s that people outside of Mexico took interest in the breed, finding many of its modern descendants in the state of Chihuahua.

In human culture

To the Toltecs, Techichi were believed to have supernatural powers, such as seeing into the future, and they were often sacrificed so they could guide their owners in the afterlife. The Aztecs also believed that they could guide human souls after death, and that they could guard pyramids if buried underneath them. Several artefacts have been discovered depicting Techichi dogs, including wheeled toys from Veracruz, Mexico from 100 C.E., effigy pots from Colima, Mexico from 300 B.C.E, and drawings from Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula from the 5th century C.E. Techichi were also raised for their meat.

See also

• Dogs in Mesoamerica
• List of extinct dog breeds
• Native American dogs