Joan Meyer, of Lawrence, and her Shetland sheepdog, Neil, will be competing this weekend in the American Kennel Club Agility Invitational in Long Beach, Calif.

Neil, Joan Meyer's Shetland Sheepdog, will compete this weekend in the American Kennel Club Agility Invitationals in Long Beach, Ca.

He may be small, but Neil the Shetland sheepdog has a big reputation.

The 4-year-old, 16-pound dog named after singer Neil Diamond is competing this weekend in the American Kennel Club Agility Invitational in Long Beach, Calif.

He and his trainer, Joan Meyer, of Triune Canine Training Center in Lawrence, traveled to agility competitions across the United States in the past year and accumulated the most points of all Shetland sheepdogs to qualify them for this prestigious event. The top five agility dogs in each AKC registered dog breed are invited to compete.

An agility course consists of obstacles such as A-frames, tunnels and seesaws. Dogs must follow the commands of their handlers through the course and are judged on speed and accuracy. If Neil places in the top 12 of four courses he will move on to the finals.

“To me it’s just another competition,” Meyer said. “It’s just different people, different courses. We’re ready, we’ve been practicing hard. So it’s just the luck of the draw when you get out there, it’s just another show.”

Despite her cool, confident attitude, Meyer said trainers are “extremely nervous” at the competition. Meyer has competed at the invitational annually since 1994.

Not only are they showing off their dog’s skills and their own training skills, but they are “promoting a breed,” she said.

Shetland sheepdogs, also known as shelties, are naturals when it comes to agility training.

Michelle Barlak, public relations coordinator with AKC, said shelties and border collies are popular breeds in the agility competition.

“It’s perfect for their personality,” she said. “They are made to work closely with humans. They thrive off pleasing the owner, they are constantly working for what the owner wants them to do next.”

For Neil, that could be anything from acting shy to whispering.

“You can teach just about anything to a dog,” Meyer said.

Neil’s not-so-shy tendencies are what help him shine in the agility ring, a talent that runs in the family.

Neil’s father, Dustin, was a U.S. world team winner two years in a row.

“He’s the legacy of his father,” Meyer said.

Neil also will be compete against his half-brother, Bruce, named after actor Bruce Willis.

“We like to give them silly names,” Meyer said.

Meyer also has a natural talent for working with dogs.

The “Lassie” fan began training them at age 12. She said she would borrow a neighbor’s Saint Bernard and lead all 150 pounds of him over bicycle racks and down slides on a playground. At 19, she owned her first purebred sheltie and has remained loyal to the breed. She has competed annually in the agility invitational since 1993 and has placed among the top 10 with several breeds.

“Owners and trainers who want to go the furthest choose the breed they feel suits them the best,” Barlak said.

Large and small dogs and everything in-between will jump, zoom and “sit pretty” at the competition today and Sunday. The agility invitational runs in conjunction with the National Championship and Obedience Invitational. The agility invitational will be televised at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 on Animal Planet.