Since 1951 when Y'Figaro de Ruysselede became the first Papillon C.D., 551 Papillons have earned this title, 207 have gone on to C.D.X., 79 to U.D., and 9 to O.T. Ch., while 18 have earned the T.D. title and 2 are T.D.X. Of these, 217 have also been bench champions (figures through 1984). From the first publication of "Top Ten Toys" in the obedience magazine, Front And Finish, the lists have been dominated by Papillons, while the breed has accounted for innumerable blue ribbons and High in Trial scores. In the early days, a few dogs and owners accounted for most of these achievements, but today the wins are spread across the country and into Alaska.

Virginia Newton purchased her first Papillon as an obedience dog. Lancelot of Dulceda became the first champion of the breed with an obedience title, the second C.D., and the first C.D.X. For a few years, Virginia had a near monopoly on competition with several homebreds and two imports. Today the Mariposa name can be found on over 30 Papillons, accounting for over 50 obedience titles.

In 1953 Admiral of Mariposa became the first U.D., winning six perfect scores. Shown by Richard Bauer, he won more blue ribbons in a single year than any dog of any breed. Then a schoolboy, Richard is better known today as co-breeder-owner and handler of Ch. Primavera's Elendil, multiple Best in Show and 1984 Specialty winner.

Dr. John W. Evans of Portland, Oregon, put a C.D. on his first Papillon, an unregistered bitch. His first homebred was Ch. Apogee des Sapins, C.D., a 1957 title winner. In his ownership, Spicer's Royale Rascal gained a championship and one leg in Utility; Rascal was then transferred to David Elizares who finished and campaigned him. Dr. Evans also showed such notable winners as Ch. Elizares Sante, U.D. and Vivette des Sapins, U.D.T. Vivette became the breed's first U.D.T in 1966 and remained the only tracking title holder for nearly ten years. Dr. Evans bred the second U.D. Papillon, Bateleur des Sapins, owned by Mrs. O. W. Wilson, and 19 other obedience-titled Papillons.

In 1959 Ch. Rajah of Carousel, C.D. became the first obedience Papillon for George and Cecelia Farner from the San Francisco area. Later George showed several other homebreds in obedience, most notably Vodka, U.D. The Carousel name gained recognition with help from Stan and Helen Paine and their famous trio of Ch. U.D. Papillons. The Paine's first Papillon, Ch. Neat N Tidy of Carousel, U.D. became the breed's first Ch. U.D. and the third U.D. in 1961. Tidy was soon joined in the record books by Ch. Witch Doctor of Carousel, U.D. and Ch. Zorro of Carousel, U.D. Doc was the P.C.A. Top Obedience Achievement Papillon in 1961, with Zorro taking this honor in 1962.

In 1959 Virginia Newton won the Papillon Club of America Specialty with Ch. Coquet of Mariposa, C.D. In 1961 Helen Paine showed Ch. Tidy, U.D. to the top spot, and in 1962 Virginia won the Specialty handling Ch. Triumph of Mariposa, U. D., owned by Arthur and Mary Sylvia. In 1977 another obedience-titled Papillon won the Specialty, Ch. Jaclair's Doodles of Josandre, C.D.X., going on to Best in Show. Few breeds, certainly no toy breed, can match this record.

The 1960s saw the number of Papillons competing in obedience multiply by nearly 400 per cent over the '50s as more and more newcomers to the breed entered obedience competition. Arlene Czech finished the U.D. on Stouravon Martyne's Autumnal Glorie in 1964, the P.C.A. Top Obedience Achievement Papillon that year. Quincy of Carousel, U.D. enjoyed a successful obedience career with his owner Karen Hubbs from Northern California. He was certified in tracking but the illness which killed him prevented Karen from earning the breed's second T.D. Another obedience star rose in Canada - Bruce and Sally Genthner's Pierre de la Rouge - and became the first Papillon with a U.D. degree in both the U.S. and Canada, winning the P.C.A. Obedience Award in 1965 and 1966. Dorken's Ruffian of Tawelfan finished his U.D. degree in 1969 and was among a number of winners shown or bred by Ken and Dorothea Widerski from Illinois.

Papillons bred and shown by David and Donna Elizares in Oregon have been dominating obedience in the Northwest for years. David Elizares appeared in the ring in 1960 with Ch. Spicer's Royale Rascal, U.D., whom he purchased from John Evans, and successfully campaigned Rascal for nearly 10 years. Meanwhile Donna Elizares' first obedience winner, Ch. Werther des Sapins, U.D., earned several perfect scores and P.C.A.'S Top Obedience Achievement Award in 1967. Ch. Elizares Mamme-Zell, U.D., won two perfect scores in her spectacular career -- one the first time she walked into the ring. Soon to follow was Elizares Play Boy, U.D., earning all three degrees within a span of nine months. The P.C.A. Top Obedience Achievement Award went to Zen in 1968 and Play Boy in 1969 and 1970.

Beth Donnelly and her daughter Sharon - now Mrs. Wenzel - had been showing Toy Poodles in obedience in Southern California when they decided to try a Papillon. By late 1964 Sharon had her Papillon puppy, Kora of Mariposa, better known as "Mouse." By age 17 months "Mouse" was a U.D., a champion shortly thereafter, and in due course earned both titles in Mexico, becoming the P.C.A. Top Obedience Achievement Papillon in 1972 and 1973. In 1968 "Mouse" produced a daughter, Parisienne of Papilio, Beth Donnelly's first Papillon. "Bandit" also earned the U.D. in both the U.S. and Mexico and won the P.C.A. Obedience Award in 1976. She was a more prolific bitch than her dam, producing three U.D. daughters in one litter. For nearly 10 years, "Mouse" and "Bandit" did their share of winning in the Southern California obedience rings.

It was not until 1969 that the Donnelly's met up with another Papillon in obedience. The new Southern California fancier was Kay MacDonald, showing a top-working Papillon named Precious Pudding in Novice. By 1972 both Precious and her dam, Wynfield's Vanessa, had their U.D. titles, and soon thereafter Papillons flourished in Southern California competition. Kay finished the U.D. on Neeva of Bannahyde, followed by Ch. Florentine's Camille and Mona Lisa of Bannahyde, while Florentine Willson finished the U.D. on Neeva's litter sister, Ch. Pamela of Bannahyde. Eleanor Randall exhibited Ch. Elran's Mimi de Charweb, U.D. and Ch. Tawame's Little Dream, C.D., the dam of a number of dual-titled offspring. Beth Donnelly was again in the ring, finishing three homebred U.D. Papillons (Dusky Wing, Snow Dream, and Fiera), while Sharon Wenzel showed several Mariposa champions for Virginia Newton as well as her homebred Flutterby Fancy Free, U.D. Ch. Heather of Bannahyde, C.D.X. was shown by Eleanor MacDonald and became the foundation of many Elmac champions who also feature obedience titles. Bob Adams has shown three Papillons to the new title of Obedience Trial Champion: Chasseur des Anges, the first Toy to earn the O.T Ch., Adams' Racer of Bannahyde, and Pacer of Waynesong. Their dazzling obedience careers earned the P.C.A.'s Top Obedience Achievement Award for Chaser in 1977 and 1978 and for Racer in 1979.

During the 1970s, the breed was competing in obedience rings across the country. East coast competition featured several utility dogs, including Sheila Kulak's Benjerbo's Franshe Topaz and Le Due's Fraternite, Shirley Schwartz and Ch. Starheir's G Wil-O-Wisp and Ch. Starheir's Amanda Blaze, Debbie Dion and Ch. La Deb's Dandy of Charon, and Jeannette Williams and Ch. Le Duc's Amant, U.D. In the Chicago area, Pat Schulz competed with Rebob's lemon Drop Kid, U.D., and later with O.T. Ch. Kevin's Black Eyed Patch. Mary Jo Loye in Michigan began with Danaidae Kia d'Royal, C.D., finishing a number of champions with obedience titles in addition to the great Doodles. The first U.D. in Florida was Merabet Baladeur de Charweb shown by Elizabeth Ann Blazek in 1971. Eight years later Kathryn Hurst put an O.T. Ch. on the second, Kayceil's Frere Jacques. In the early '70s Rebecca Sanderson from Oklahoma offered fine competition with her Alessandro of Charon, U.D. and Flutterby Fanfare, U.D. Arizona felt the Papillon invasion too, through the achievements of Eleanor Bohnig's numerous title holders.

The Northwest did not grow quiet when the Elizares took a break from exhibiting during the 1970s. In 1972 Florence Godfrey finished her first U.D. Papillon, Fine Bird of Mariposa, followed by Bird's son, Titian's Thunder Bird, U.D. and many other descendants with championships and obedience titles. Bonnie Nichols finished her first U.D. Papillon, Ch. Finikin's Charley Horse, so far the only Papillon with both a championship and O.T. Ch. In Montana there was Minerva Wilson's first Papillon, O.T. Ch. Tawame's Flutter of Weona, the first Papillon to hold the O.T. Ch. in both the U.S. and Canada and the breed's second American O.T. Ch. Minerva continues to show winners, including some homebreds. Other Montana exhibitors included Ruth Cameron and Doris Hodges, both with numerous titles to their credit. Donna Elizares returned to the ring with O.T. Ch. Elizares' Whiz-Bang and found instant success, winning the P.C.A. Top Obedience Achievement Award for four consecutive years beginning in 1980.

Tracking interest appeared again in 1975 when Carolyn Wells put a T.D. on her Ch. Starheir's Gypsy C.D. Gypsy's untimely death frustrated hopes of the first Champion U.D.T., but we did not have to wait long for Tracy Halverson to fulfill this ambition with Ch. Kavar Athena's Nimbo, U.D.T. in 1978, since followed by Ilsa Sternberg's bitches, Ch. Arbeitsheim's Choice Chablis and Ch. Stouravon Burghbridge Princess Suki. Incredibly, Ilsa handles her dogs to their numerous titles from a wheelchair! A daughter of Ilsa's Ch. Chablis, U.D.T., became the breed's first T.D.X., Ch. Kine-Ahora Chasse, C. D., shown by Beverly Jones in Florida.

As P.C.A. celebrates its 50th Anniversary, it will be nearly 35 years since the first C.D. Virginia Newton is still active in obedience and many others mentioned here can boast of 20 years in the ring with Papillons. In an article of this type, it is not possible to mention everyone, and the author and editors ask forgiveness of anyone who should have been mentioned but was not. Some brilliant dogs have begun careers during the last several years which bid to rival the records of the past. It is unlikely that any other Toy breed - in fact, not many breeds at all - will overtake our Papillons in the years to come.