Welcome Exhibitors, to the Non Competitive Obedience Association

READ the full rulebook and exercises in the NCO Version 5.0 Rulebook (03/13/26) here

The Non Competitive Obedience Association was formed to encourage advanced obedience and tracking training and to enable handlers to earn titles even when they cannot get to a traditional obedience trial or tracking test.

NCO is a great "first step" and we strongly encourage participants to continue on to competition obedience and tracking in other venues!

What dogs are eligible?

Owners of ANY breed or mix may submit for titles!
For the NCO-1 , NCO-T1, NCO-OPC level any dog/puppy 4 months of age or older may be submitted for a title.
For NCO-2 or NCO-T2 and above the minimum age will be 6 months of age.
Upon receiving the first submission for a dog/puppy, that animal will be given a NCO customer number and will be required for all future submissions.
Blind, deaf and physically handicapped dogs ARE eligible to be submitted AS LONG as the performance of the exercises is safe and not potentially harmful for the animal. Exercise modifications for handicapped or veteran animals will be pre approved by NCO, providing the spirit of the exercise remains and titles earned under a modification will have a small "m" suffix.
Dogs may be handled by any member of the owner’s immediate family.
Dogs with bandages, stitches or open sores/wounds are not allowed to compete.
All dogs must start at the NCO-1 level in obedience or NCO-T1 level for tracking, regardless of any obedience or tracking titles they have earned in other registries.
Exhibitors may not wear any clothing in the videos that identifies a school, organization, training group, etc; either by logo or lettering

What does it cost to submit?

FIRST submissions for EACH dog are $30.00

All subsequent submissions for the same dog are $20.00 for obedience or $25 for tracking.

The fee is per submission.

Failing submissions are allowed to be re shot and submitted again for unlimited amounts of tries but there is a $10.00 fee for each obedience re-submission, $15.00 for each tracking re-submission

Passing performances resulting in the earning of a title, will be emailed a title certificate and listed on our title holders pages.

NCO-5 and NCO-T6 (Master level) Title earners will get an additional award via USPS mail!

How are title videos submitted? (SEE TRACKING RULES for tracking specific criteria )

Videos need to be uploaded to You Tube as an unlisted video. The submission form will have a space for you to copy/paste the link URL. (please double check that it works for people other than you)
To keep uploads at the smallest possible size, make sure the video is edited Front and rear to show just the start of the performance, the entire performance UN edited and the end of the performance.
EACH obedience exercise may be filmed in a different location or different day. You may film the exercises in ANY order but string them together in the video submission in the order listed please. The actual exercise performance may not be edited at all. Edited exercises will be failed. Tracking submissions must be entire and unedited, special additional requirements are in the tracking section.
Sound must be audible in all parts of the video. Please do not add music or other sounds.
You may not re use/resubmit videos for multiple submissions including multi submissions same title level or multi submissions within the same title level (ie: a title requires 3 passing submissions you cannot use the same heeling video in each submission). The ONLY exception to this policy is if a submission fails. You may re submit the exercises that were passing and just re shoot the failing exercise for that one submission.
All submitted videos may be used by NCO in promotions, on website, facebook etc.

Dog and Human Safety and Laws

Dogs may wear a buckle collar, a martingale collar, a limited slip collar or a slip collar. Tracking dogs must wear a harness- see tracking rules for more details.
For NCO-2/ NCO-T2 and above the dog should (but not required) wear a collar with ID, rabies tag and license on it and this may be in addition to the collar the leash is attached to.
Prong collars, harnesses (except in tracking), electronic collars, special training collars/devices and halters are not allowed. (Dogs who are medically required to wear a harness may apply for modification)
Human and dog safety and compliance with the law are primary and as such, the use of a long line is encouraged when in public, HOWEVER, for all exercises that say "on a long line" the Dog may be off leash or dragging a leash as local law, dog safety and public safety allow. A long line can be a flexi, light cord, clothesline, actual wide long line or whatever works for you and your dog. Tracking requires line to be held by handler at all times.

Line safety is important. Make sure it cannot catch of hang up. When doing jumps or directed sends make sure the cones, jump standards, obstacle etc is secure so leash will not drag or knock it over
You alone are responsible for being in compliance with your local laws and for keeping your dog, other dogs and other people safe.
By submitting a video for an NCO title you agree that you accept ALL risk of injury to humans or animals and ALL responsibility for following local and State laws regarding dogs, use of public places etc.. You will not hold NCO liable for any injury or damage in any way, shape or form.

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email us at
noncompobed@gmail.com