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After many years of showing American Saddlebred horses since she was seven years old, Denise began to show dogs.
In 1968, Denise purchased her first show dog, Bruno, a St. Bernard (photo above). She showed and raised St. Bernards until 1974 when she went to visit a St. Bernard kennel in Eastern Pennsylvania and fell in love with the Briards that had been recently taken in as rescues at that kennel. It was love at first sight! She then attended the first American Rassemblement in 1974, in Columbus, Ohio where she met and fell in love with her first Briard puppy. The photo (left) is of Denise and her first Briard, CH. Calumets Joharah J., purchased from Fran Volkman and Pat Long. Since 1974, Denise and Peter Simenauer have always had a Briard filling their home with love and humor. Briards have been an integral part of their life and were an important element in raising their five children. Now the Dior Briards share an equally important role in spending time with the Simenauers' grandchildren. Denise is a retired elementary school principal and Peter is a mechanical engineer and consultant. They live most of the year at their home on 10 wooded acres in Kalamazoo, Michigan where their Briards (dogs and bitches) live indoors with them. On dog show weekends they live in their motorhome. Part of the year they spend with their Briards at their waterfront home in Cape Coral, Florida. Otherwise they are with their Briards at their condo on Fort Myers Beach, Florida, enjoying daily walks on the beach and swims in the gulf.
Peter was born in Berlin, Germany and he moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil when he was fours years old. Peter speaks English, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Denise was born in Toledo, Ohio and lived there most of her life. She met Peter in Toledo, they were married, and raised their five children there. They moved to Kalamazoo, MI in 1991. Denise speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Both Denise and Peter are active members of the Briard Club of America. Denise has served multiple terms on the BCA board, is Archives Chair is a BCA Mentor-Tutor and serves on the BCA Breed Education Committee which educates judges and the public about Briards.
Peter was Show Chair of the 2007 BCA National Specialty. Denise is Show Chair of the annual Kalamazoo Kennel Club show at the Apple Blossom Cluster in Kalamazoo in May (Memorial Day weekend). Denise was the judge for Sweepstakes at the 2008 BCA National Specialty. She also teaches handling classes at the Kalamazoo Kennel Club.
Peter and Denise enjoy many activities with their Briards which include training and competing in obedience and agility, and most especially they take great pride in their breeder-owner-handler accomplishments in the conformation ring. At the 2006 BCA National Specialty, their dog "Bailey", CH. Dior Boyz Strutt Your Stuff, was AOM; "Ollie", CH. Dior Rainbeard Over Easy won the Stud dog class; "Michael", Ch. Dior Aigner Made To Order, CD was BOS Veteran in Sweepstakes, and "Johnny" Dior A Man In Black was puppy SELECT in the Rassemblement. Also the puppy "Russet" that was BOW was sired by their dog "Sully" and grandsired by their dog, "Michael".
They have bred, owned and finished numerous American, Canadian, International and United Champions. Some of their most recent accomplishments are breeding and owning Pele, the 2005 World Champion Briard winning Best of Breed at the World Dog Show in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pele was also AKC 2005 Number 1 Briard dog and 2005 Westminster Kennel Club Best of Breed Briard. They own and their dog sired the 2005 BCA National Specialty First Award of Merit, bred and own the 2002 Briard Club of America National Specialty Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch, own and show the 2004 Briard Club of America National Specialty Winners Bitch & Award Of Merit, breeder-owner handled of the #1 Briard dog in Canada in 1999 and 2000 and #5 Briard in 2001 in the U.S. They bred and own the first ever Briard to become a UKC Grand Champion, bred and own the #1 UKC Briard 2000 thru 2004 and 2006, bred and own the #1 Briard Stud Dog in 2002 and 2005 and own the #1 Brood Bitch in 2002. Their "Pele" has the record for the highest number of champions per litter average for all times (7). Additionally, Briards they have bred and/or owned have been SELECT and Pre-select by French judges both in the U.S. and in Canada. They have bred not only champions but also many Briards that have gone on to get advanced performance titles. They have competed and won numerous times at the Eukanuba Invitational Show.
The Simenauers believe that their Briards should contribute to the community. They serve as Therapy dogs for Read programs at schools and make weekly visits to Hospice Care facilities. Sully played the role of "Sandy" in a local production of Annie.
Important to the Simenauers is that each Briard they breed and show adheres very closely to the AKC standard and exemplifies all of the hallmarks of the breed, such as beautiful, long tails with the crochet, large typey heads that are at least 40% of the dog's height with muzzles that are 50% of the head length, quicksilver movement, classic proportions and low set, functioning, rear double dewclaws.
Most important to the Simenauers is that each Dior Briard is loved as a cherished family member in a healthy, loving and caring home environment.
