About our Chihuahua

Our Chihuahua comes from the collection of Lee Unkrich, Director of Toy Story 3 and Coco, among many other accolades. Over many years, Lee amassed a large collection of taxidermy and oddities and just recently reached out to Paxton Gate to help pare down his collection. We have a number of his pieces and may be hosting a show in early 2025 of additional work! He purchased this little pup in London where he said pet taxidermy is surprisingly common. The Chihuahua lived at a pet rescue center for years but was never adopted due to a less-than-ideal temperament. Eventually it became the "mascot" of the center, dying naturally at a ripe old age.

The Chihuahua is a small, spirited breed known for its lively personality and loyalty. Originating from Mexico, this dog is characterized by its diminutive size, large ears, and expressive eyes. Despite their tiny stature, Chihuahuas are bold and often exhibit behaviors typical of much larger dogs, making them excellent watchdogs.

The evolutionary history of the Chihuahua traces back to the ancient Techichi, a companion dog kept by the Toltec civilization in Mexico. The Techichi was larger than the modern Chihuahua and served various roles, including companionship and religious purposes. When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs, they further refined the breed, possibly introducing genetic influences from smaller, hairless dogs. This selective breeding resulted in a smaller dog that eventually became the Chihuahua we recognize today. European colonization and trade brought further awareness of the breed, leading to its spread and eventual popularity in other parts of the world. Pretty cool right?

The glass case has a removable lid so if you wanted to display this specimen by itself, you totally can.