Boxer Puppies for Sale in Minnesota

Built for warmth, living in the cold

A Boxer was bred for strength, speed and loyalty, not for winter. It has a thin, short coat with no heavy undercoat and very little body fat, and its short muzzle does not warm the air a dog breathes in. Minneapolis has January lows in the single digits Fahrenheit, and the wind chill can drop well below zero. A grown Boxer can be a happy Minnesotan with the right gear, and a puppy can learn to love snow, but it needs a plan and a family that takes the cold seriously.

How a puppy gets to Minnesota

Minneapolis is about 1,900 road miles from San Diego, and Duluth, on Lake Superior, is about 2,050. The flight is about three and a half hours before any connection. A flight nanny can carry your puppy in the cabin for $1,500, and the handover is at Minneapolis Saint Paul, Duluth or another Minnesota airport on the same day. In winter that is the safer way, since a long road trip across the northern plains can be slowed by storms. Ground transport costs $300. The Boxer puppy delivery and pickup page explains each option.

Think about the date too. If a puppy would arrive in January, plan for a warm car at the airport, a blanket in the crate and a short trip home. Many families choose a spring or fall arrival, which makes the first weeks gentler.

A winter plan for a short coated dog

Start with a fitted coat that covers the chest and belly, and add booties when the ground is salted or frozen. Limit time outside when the temperature falls below the teens, and break outings into short trips, with a lap around the block and then back inside. Watch your puppy's ears, tail and paws for signs of frostbite, such as pale or gray skin, and warm it slowly if you see them. Keep a warm bed away from drafts and not on a cold floor. If your puppy lifts its paws, whines or stops walking, it is telling you it is too cold.

Road salt and de icer burn pads and cause stomach problems if licked off, so rinse or wipe feet after every walk. Pet safe de icer on your own steps helps. Indoor options such as a basement play area or an indoor training class help through the coldest weeks.

Lakes, mosquitoes and ticks in summer

Minnesota's summers are short, warm and green, with plenty of lakes. A Boxer loves water, but warm lakes can grow blue green algae, which can poison dogs, so avoid water that looks green, foamy or scummy and rinse a dog that has been in. Mosquitoes are thick in the early summer, and they spread heartworm, so keep your puppy on prevention. Blacklegged ticks live in woods and brush across the state, and Minnesota reports high rates of Lyme disease. Check your puppy after every outing and ask your vet about tick prevention. You can find more topics in the Boxer health guide.

Duluth and the North Shore

Duluth sits on Lake Superior, where summers are cooler and winters are longer and snowier. The cold lake changes the weather quickly, with fog and wind in spring and early summer. A puppy there needs a good coat, even in a month when the rest of the state feels warm.

Hot days still happen

It surprises people that Minnesota has humid summer days that reach the 90s. A Boxer's short muzzle makes that hard, so walk early and late, bring water and use air conditioning. The advice in our Boxer puppy care guide applies in every season.

Applying from Minnesota

Check the Boxer puppy price page and read the Boxer puppy health guarantee. Then send a puppy application and tell Lauren Loftis Moore what part of the state you live in. She will call you and plan the trip around your weather. If you are weighing neighboring states, see Boxer puppy delivery to Illinois. A cousin in the Pacific Northwest or New York may like Boxer puppy delivery to Washington or Boxer puppy delivery to New York.