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About Us
We are the Berg family in Gallup, NM, and we love the American Bulldog breed. We want to share the benefits and joys of living with stable, functional American Bulldogs.
The bulldogs are mostly cared for and exercised by me, Daniel, but when the puppies come around everyone gets involved.
We call ourselves Family Pack American Bulldogs, because the dogs experience hierarchy in the pack mindset, while we humans experience it in the family mindset. The two existences come together in the Family Pack—it's not about blood, it’s about loyalty and dependability, and American Bulldogs are about as loyal and dependable as they get.
Our Story
Our journey with the American Bulldog breed began in 2019 with Cowan’s American Bulldogs. At the time we were looking for a dog to be a deterrent and guardian, since we lived in a neighborhood with almost daily foot traffic from transients and stray dogs, some of them aggressive. These two factors made walking with our kids through the neighborhood more stressful than was necessary.
Our next door neighbor had an American Bulldog. It was an overly done, muscle-bound classic/bully type American Bulldog. We appreciated this dog’s stand-offish demeanor with strangers —he was a terror to behold—yet he was great with children, family, and friends of his pack. This dog could also dispatch any stray aggressive dog. His only downfall: he wasn’t athletic enough for a hike or even a 5-mile jog.
So, we looked around for breeders and the closest one to us was Cowan’s American Bulldogs. He was only a 45 minute drive from our house. So, I called him and asked if I could come up and meet him and see his dogs. I met Mr. Loran Cowan and his wife Sherry Cowan and they showed me the real working American Bulldog. That is where my obsession for functional bulldogs began.
I spent a lot of time with Loran that first year. He is a wealth of knowledge on the working American Bulldog, and he loves to share that knowledge. Eventually, I was lucky enough to get a bulldog sired from Cowan’s Spike, one of his legendary catch dogs. This pup became our Bubba. We Bergs did not intend to become breeders, but Bubba proved himself to be such an exceptional family dog and deterrent to strangers that we changed our minds rather quickly.
Next, we acquired Dezzi from Cowan’s American Bulldogs in 2021. She turned out to be even more special than Bubba. We got her titled in Sport Dog and Iron Dog, and she earned her ABA Champion show ring title. Eventually, we had our first litter with her in 2024. We became convinced that this breed is a near-perfect choice for people like us: an active family that needs a child-friendly dog that will actually defend if necessary.
Our Vision
We strive to breed stable, functional, family friendly American Bulldogs. This is our take on the old-timers' belief that the American Bulldog was the all-purpose farm utility dog. We believe that dogs should at a minimum enrich the lives of their humans, but it is even better if they can work and/or provide protection for their humans. We strive to breed stable, loveable pack members for your family pack that are also courageous enough and capable enough to defend against animal threats and human threats. These dogs are also intelligent which allows them to discern a threat, be it man or beast.
This kind of American Bulldog paired with strong leadership and clear boundaries makes for the stable, functional, family friendly American Bulldog that we love. With proper leadership and training these bulldogs can hang out with the family, play with the kids, watch over the farm animals, dispatch packs of wild dogs, catch wild boars, take down unruly cattle, and sit by the fire with you on a rainy day. This is the kind of American Bulldog we strive to breed.
Breeding Goals
At Family Pack American Bulldogs, we focus on breeding dogs that exhibit:
Stable Temperament
We select dogs that can be both protective family guardians and gentle playmates for children. We choose studs and bitches that complement each other based on their levels of confidence. We pair this approach with the appropriate environmental exposure during puppyhood and puppy temperament tests. The most temperamentally stable and healthy of the litter become prospects in our breeding program or become available with breeding rights.
Health and Longevity
In addition to temperament, every breeding decision is made with genetic health as a priority. We conduct comprehensive health testing on all our breeding stock to ensure we are breeding better bulldogs. We believe that a dog should enrich your life. This is only achievable if the dog is healthy in the first place. We strive to breed healthy bulldogs.
Working Ability
While our dogs are primarily family companions, we maintain the working abilities that make American Bulldogs such versatile partners. Our dogs can catch toys all day long, and they can catch bad guys—or wild hogs if you’re a hunter. In other words, we try to secure genetics that make sure your beloved family American Bulldog will also have the innate courage and physical capabilities to lay their life on the line for you and your family if the need should ever arise. This scenario will most likely never arise in most of our lives, thankfully. However, this working capability will give you peace of mind on walks with your family, jogs around town, hikes in the woods, or when living or travelling alone. If you are looking for a capable working family dog, you have come to the right place.
Socialization Protocol
We implement a structured early neurological stimulation program for all puppies from day one, followed by our comprehensive socialization protocol that exposes puppies to a variety of experiences, people, and environments before they go to their new homes.
Matching Process
We take great care in matching each puppy with the right family. This includes temperament testing at 7 weeks and detailed conversations with potential owners about their lifestyle, experience, and expectations.
Lifetime Support
When you purchase a Family Pack American Bulldog, you're not just getting a dog – you're joining our extended family pack. We provide ongoing support throughout your dog's life, from training guidance to health advice.
Our Commitment
We believe in complete transparency throughout the purchasing process. Our goal is to produce healthy, stable American Bulldogs that will be cherished family members and family guardians for years to come.
All puppies leave our home with:
Age-appropriate vaccinations and deworming
Registration papers
Health records
Starter supply of food
