Famous chihuahuas in history: notable dogs across the decades
See the real story – guest starring your dog.
Sit down with your dog for a look at the chihuahuas who made it into the history books. Along the way, some claims are well documented and some are rumor, so it helps to know which is which before you repeat them.
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The story in 5 parts
A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.
Part 1
How the breed entered the historical record
The chihuahua's story is tied to Mexico, and its name comes from the state of Chihuahua.
Part 2
Chihuahuas in celebrity ownership
In the 1930s and 1940s, the bandleader Xavier Cugat started the trend of owning these small dogs.
Part 3
Chihuahuas in advertising and pop culture
The most famous advertising chihuahua was Gidget, a twelve-pound female who became the Taco Bell mascot.
Part 4
Smallest and record-holding chihuahuas
If you have a small dog yourself, you may wonder just how small a chihuahua can get.
Part 5
Separating legend from documented fact
Not every chihuahua story you come across is equally solid, so it is worth checking before you pass one along to other dog owners.
Read the full story
Part 1
How the breed entered the historical record
The chihuahua's story is tied to Mexico, and its name comes from the state of Chihuahua. Records describe the breed as dating back to the era of the Toltecs and Aztecs, when a native dog called the techichi was bred to be smaller and lighter. Even so, other sources say it is unclear exactly where the modern chihuahua originated. The American Kennel Club recognized the chihuahua as a breed in 1904. Your own chihuahua, if you have one, carries a much longer history than a single mascot or a single record.
Part 2
Chihuahuas in celebrity ownership
In the 1930s and 1940s, the bandleader Xavier Cugat started the trend of owning these small dogs. Since then, the breed has become popular among celebrities and has appeared in movies and television shows. If your dog has ever drawn stares on a walk, it is following a pattern that goes back nearly a century. Chihuahuas are also described as small dogs with big personalities.
Part 3
Chihuahuas in advertising and pop culture
The most famous advertising chihuahua was Gidget, a twelve-pound female who became the Taco Bell mascot. She first appeared in a single commercial in the Northeastern United States in 1997, and the campaign was introduced to the whole American market in early 1998 around the line "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" The ads made Gidget a pop culture figure, with talking toy versions sold in stores, but they also drew criticism from Latino groups who called the portrayal a stereotype. Taco Bell ended the campaign in July 2000 after same-store sales fell, including a reported 20 percent drop tied to a boycott of the brand. A widespread rumor claimed the ads stopped because the dog had died, but that claim is false; Gidget continued working afterward, including a 2002 GEICO commercial and a role in Legally Blonde 2. In 2003, a jury awarded two men who had pitched an earlier chihuahua concept to Taco Bell more than thirty million dollars, with additional interest added later. Gidget died in 2009 at age fifteen after a stroke.
Part 4
Smallest and record-holding chihuahuas
If you have a small dog yourself, you may wonder just how small a chihuahua can get. A chihuahua named Pearl was declared the world's shortest living dog by Guinness World Records, measuring about 3.59 inches tall and five inches long. She weighed less than an ounce at birth and had grown to about 1.22 pounds by the time of the record. Pearl's aunt, Miracle Milly, held the record before her and was cloned by a Korean company before she died in 2020. A chihuahua named Spike has also been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living dog, at twenty-three years old. There is no official Guinness World Record for the largest chihuahua, though a few heavier chihuahuas and chihuahua mixes, weighing well over the breed's usual limits, have been noted. A chihuahua is typically five to eight inches tall and should weigh no more than six pounds.
Part 5
Separating legend from documented fact
Not every chihuahua story you come across is equally solid, so it is worth checking before you pass one along to other dog owners. The rumor that Taco Bell ended its ad campaign because the dog died is documented as false. The breed's link to the techichi and the Toltecs and Aztecs is stated directly in some sources, while others describe the chihuahua's exact origins as unclear. When a claim about your dog's breed history is repeated often but not tied to a specific record, treat it as a story rather than a fact until you find a source that backs it up.
Things you might not know
- Chihuahuas are also described as small dogs with big personalities.
- A chihuahua is typically five to eight inches tall and should weigh no more than six pounds.
- The rumor that Taco Bell ended its ad campaign because the dog died is documented as false.
Year by year
- 1904The American Kennel Club recognized the chihuahua as a breed in 1904.
- 1997She first appeared in a single commercial in the Northeastern United States in 1997, and the campaign was introduced to the whole American market in early 1998 around the line "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!"
- July 2000Taco Bell ended the campaign in July 2000 after same-store sales fell, including a reported 20 percent drop tied to a boycott of the brand.
- 2003In 2003, a jury awarded two men who had pitched an earlier chihuahua concept to Taco Bell more than thirty million dollars, with additional interest added later.
- 2009Gidget died in 2009 at age fifteen after a stroke.
Questions people ask
What is the oldest recorded chihuahua in history?
A chihuahua named Spike was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living dog, at twenty-three years old.
Why is the chihuahua named after a Mexican state?
The breed is named for the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, and the dogs are tied to that region's history.
Did a chihuahua really appear in Taco Bell ads?
Yes, a chihuahua named Gidget was the Taco Bell mascot from 1997 to 2000 and spoke the catchphrase "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!" through a voice actor.
What is the smallest chihuahua on record?
A chihuahua named Pearl holds the Guinness World Record for shortest living dog, measuring about 3.59 inches tall. Her aunt, Miracle Milly, held the record before her.
Are techichi dogs the ancestors of chihuahuas?
Some sources say the chihuahua dates to the era of the Toltecs and Aztecs, when a native dog called the techichi was bred smaller and lighter to become the chihuahua. Other sources describe the breed's exact origin as unclear.
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Sources
- Taco Bell chihuahua - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- This Is What Really Happened To The Taco Bell Chihuahua - Mashed. Mashed, Nov 23, 2021.
- Did Taco Bell End Famous Ad Campaign after the Dog Died?. Snopes, Jul 4, 2004.
- The Taco Bell Dog: Gidget. America Comes Alive, Jul 21, 2015.
- The Rise And Fall Of The Taco Bell Chihuahua - Chowhound. Chowhound, Dec 22, 2024.
- The Rise And Fall Of The Taco Bell Chihuahua. Yahoo Life.
- Remember this? - Northeast News. Northeast News - A non-profit news organization, bringing coverage to underserved communities since 1932, Dec 20, 2023.
- A Tiny Chihuahua Named Pearl Is Officially The World. DOGOnews.
- Discover the Largest Chihuahua Ever. A-Z Animals, Feb 2, 2023.
- A Tiny Chihuahua Has Broken the Guiness World Record For Shortest Dog Alive. www.adoptapet.com.
Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research