Leo Garcia Recio is the proud owner of Almani von Gunnerbacherhoff, alias “Mani” (Peanuts) who holds the title of Dominican champion in the breed, and has just returned from competing in the Colombian dog show and won best in breed title there. In the event held on 20 March, Mani beat hundreds of others to win the title of “Colombian Champion” and “Grand Colombian Champion”. He was also awarded the Vencedor Americas and the Caribbean (Winner Americas) award issued by the Exhibition of the Americas and the Caribbean. Garcia Recio said that Mani competed against more than 800 dogs of different breeds and countries, making it to the 10 finalists. Mani is only 20 months old. He trains daily from 6:00 to 7:00pm at the Mirador del Sur park, where he runs about 7 to 10 kilometers at least four days a week. His trainer is Cesar Liriano. While Mani has always lived in the DR, he was born in Germany. He came over as a puppy and was purchased by Garcia Recio at the Club del Pastor Aleman in La Romana when he was 10 months old. He won best Dominican German Shepherd when he was just 16 months old. He is due to compete in the DR and in Puerto Rico in the near future.