Boxer puppies and dogs in North Branch, Minnesota

You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website. Cider is a loving and intelligent 3-month-old Boxer mix who adores being cuddled and staying close to her people. She’s a bright, affectionate puppy who learns quickly—so quickly, in fact, that she mastered the doggy door in just one day. Cider would make a wonderful companion for an individual or a family, thanks to her sweet temperament and eagerness to bond. Like most puppies her age, she’s going through a teething phase and loves to chew, but with gentle correction and guidance she’s already learning what’s allowed and what’s not. With her affectionate nature, sharp mind, and cuddly personality, Cider is sure to grow into an amazing, loyal family dog. Whoever adopts her will be gaining a smart, loving best friend. Cider  is from Texas.  If you are interested in getting to know this animal better, please fill out an adoption application. An adoption application is the best way to show your interest in an animal and is not a binding contract. To learn more about Ruff Start’s adoption process and the care our foster animals receive, please visit our How to Adopt page. *Rescue puppies are notorious for losing their birth certificates before entering our rescue. We cannot guarantee the breed or size they will be full grown.* If you are unable to adopt but want to help this animal and others in our care, you can donate to support the medical and veterinary needs of all Ruff Start Rescue animals.   Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet.December 8, 2025, 12:43 am

History: 🧡 From Texas to Midwest 🤠—- A group of deserving dogs was recently welcomed as part of our Texas Transport Program! A program launched to make an impactful difference for our partner shelters in Texas facing the overpopulation of animals with limited resources and low adoption rates. We are excited to help these southern gems find loving forever homes to call their own! A Note from the Foster: Tessa is a sweet little firecracker! Approx 6 months old and 30lbs of shy and calm, until she warms up! This little one is a fantastic lap dog, enjoys snuggling up and giving kisses. Great with kids and other dogs, or simply on her own. She is fabulous in her kennel over night and for nap time. We are practicing potty training, and she is making great progress! Just a sweetie. For more information, head to our website at www.cocosheartdogrescue.org

History: Our Out of the Cold Rescue Effort was a great success in welcoming over 180+ animals to rescue from rural areas in North Dakota before the cold set in. These animals are all so deserving and thankful to get a second chance in finding a forever home of their own! A Note from the Foster: I now have a name…my foster mom named me Sprocket and I like being called by that name! A sprocket is something that engages with something else to make it work. That is definitely ME! Add me to your family and we can work together! My first 2 years I lived in northern North Dakota and I am now living in a warm foster home. Everyone says I am strong, so they gave me a gentle leader that goes across my face and now I don’t pull my humans much. I am a very fast learner; know sit and how to shake with my paw. I am starting to understand wait and stay(unless it’s food). My foster mom says I am very food motivated and willing to learn. I am potty trained, sleep all night in a kennel, and up to date on all medical which means I am up for adoption. Oh one more thing….I am not a couch potato….I don’t even look at furniture, I like a comfy bed.

A Note from the Foster: This sweet girl is looking for a forever home where she can continue her journey from puppy raising to living in a home as a beloved family member. Fallen needs an adopter who is willing to dedicate time to continue helping her learn how to go in a crate and settle in. To learn that going into her crate is a positive thing and it does not always mean humans are leaving. She isn’t excited to go into the crate and has shown us what she thinks of the standard plastic and wire crates. We are now using a special Ruffland crate and once she is in the crate, she seems relatively content with a stuffed frozen Kong, a safe chew toy, and some treats. We think that with time, training, and yummy food she will become more comfortable with this routine. This gentle girl will thrive in a patient home that understands she’s still discovering what it means to be a family dog. With patience, love, and training, Fallen will continue to blossom into the wonderful companion she was always meant to be. ❤️ Hey there, future family! My name is Fallen, but my foster family calls me “Dotty” because of my adorable spots! I currently live with my foster mom and dad, two cats, and a smaller dog. I really like ear, head, and back scratches -- who doesn’t?! I have also discovered that dog toys are lots of fun and dog treats are super yummy! What makes me extra special? My foster family seems to think I may be deaf, but I am able to hear certain things if they are loud enough or a certain pitch. They are working on teaching me some hand signals. A bit about me - I am: Dog-Friendly 🐶: I LOVE my furry foster sibling. Having another dog in the house has boosted my confidence and shown me what it’s like to be a dog. I often try to play with him, like following him around, and respond well to his cues. Cat-Friendly🐈‍⬛: I like the little furry purr machines in my foster home. One kitty is timid so she usually watches me from a distance. The other more outgoing kitty tries to play with me sometimes and even tolerates me when I try to instigate play with him. Aspiring Supervisor👀: What can I say? I am a curious girl who just wants to see what is going on. How can I help you if I don’t supervise your activities? Yard work, cooking, taste testing, folding laundry? I am here for all of it. Outdoor Enthusiast☀️🥾: I enjoy running around the fenced yard, exploring, sniffing, and sunbathing on the deck. I have been known to do zoomies when I am feeling extra silly. I would love a home with: A patient family who will continue to provide me with training and structure to help me learn hand signals and basic obedience. A fenced-in yard to help keep me safe. Humans who like a little adventure (walks, exploring, car rides) A dog companion (having a dog in my foster home has helped me to adjust and to figure out “how to dog”). My foster mom thinks I would really benefit from having another dog in the house to play with and to continue to provide guidance. If you’re looking for a sweet, loving companion and can help Fallen continue to learn and blossom, visit the CHDR website to learn more about her and our adoption process.

History: Our Out of the Cold Rescue Effort was a great success in welcoming over 180+ animals to rescue from rural areas in North Dakota before the cold set in. These animals are all so deserving and thankful to get a second chance in finding a forever home of their own! A Note from the Foster: He is a fabulous puppy. He's a super mellow puppy and likes to play with toys and bones. He plays with my resident 8 year old dog, Bam, who is a Ratcha (rat terrier chihuahua mix). He rides so well in vehicles...he lays down and chills. He has gotten used to having a leash on as well. He sleeps super well in his crate. No accidents in there and doesn't make noise...or rarely. He is slightly food driven. He is fed 2x a day. No issues with eating and drinking. His stools look good and are firm. Considering he's a puppy, he's one of the best pups I've fostered. He'll make a great addition to a family. He's doing well on learning his name...he's very smart. He'll be easy to train. He sits a lot of the time without being told. Great puppy.

History: We received a plea to help 3 puppies from a local situation where they were at risk of being thrown out to the streets. A local samaritan stepped forward and welcomed them in until they made their way to Coco’s Heart shortly after. The pups are gorgeous and oh so sweet. They are timid and unsure at first but warm up quickly. A patient and confident family will be important for their success long-term. They each hoping to find their forever home soon! Jenny’s left front leg is shorter than the right leg. This was likely caused by a prior injury to the 2 bones (radius and ulna) in that front leg. At this point, this disparity in the limb length is not causing any problem. The foster/adopter will need to continue to monitor for any lameness overtime. While in rescue, we will continue to monitor with routine xrays while her legs continue to grow to watch for any developing issues. She can be adopted anytime- her adopter will need to be comfortable taking over this care and following up with their veterinary clinic as needed and directed. Jenny came to us with a slight bend to her left front leg, and it was a few centimeters shorter than the other front leg. Her foster parent was careful to observe her and noticed that she did seem to be uncomfortable/sore in her elbow after a day of activity. We re-assessed her leg and found that she had been suffering from a condition called “premature physeal closure of the distal ulna” (physeal=growth plate). Just like in growing children, puppies bones continue to grow in length and width as they mature. There is a small area on the end of each bone (the growth plate, or “physis”) that lays down new bone, contributing to the overall length. In the special case of the front leg in dogs, there are 2 bones (the radius and the ulna) that both need to grow in sync with each other.If they do not for any reason, the elbow will suffer from the mis-alignment of the bones in that joint. Premature physeal closure of the distal ulna is one of the more common orthopedic injuries that are seen in dogs. The ulna’s growth plate nearest the paw becomes damaged and stops growing, but the radius continues to grow. Since the bones are both confined on each end by the joint (elbow and wrist), the radius bone is forced to grow into a curve rather than a straight line. This results in a shortened leg, but also pulls the elbow joint out of alignment and leads to early onset elbow arthritis and pain. The treatment is to remove a portion of the ulna so that the radius can continue to grow without being forced to bend as it does so. The earlier this is done, the better the outcome. In Jenny’s case, we did not fully understand the full scope of her issue until she was about 5 months old. The surgeon who performed her surgery believes she has a good chance for the elbow joint to be spared, but that it may be too late to expect the leg to straighten out fully or to ever grow to be the same length as the other side. Jenny will need to be monitored by repeating X rays of her leg every 4-6 weeks to make sure the removed section of ulna does not spontaneously regenerate and re-trap the radius. Her elbow should also be X rayed to monitor the way that joint is maturing. Ultimately, it is possible that she may need another procedure to again remove a portion of the ulna if it does re-generate. In time, that elbow still may be at higher risk for arthritis since it may not remain in perfect alignment. Only time will tell for sure if the surgery we performed on Jenny will be successful or not. She will need a family who understands this and is committed to following the recommendations of her veterinarians to assure she remains happy and healthy! A note from the foster: Jenny is her rescue name but she's never gone by that, she answers to Ruby, Rubes, Ruby Tuesday, or Peanut ❤️ She has been in the same foster home for several months and for her own personal growth, we want to give her the best possible chance at success. It's time for her to spread her wings a little bit! Here is what you need to know about her: -1 year old, about 45 lb, boxer/pit mix (best guess) -Spayed, up to date on vet care -Had major surgery on her front left ulna in March 2024, it is healed and doing very well but it is still crooked. The vet reports that her range of motion and strength are excellent though - that is just the way she is going to be. Because of this she has a slightly abnormal gait. It rarely causes her pain but she is able to take carprofen as needed if it seems to be bothering her. -Novelty of any kind is really tough for her, most likely due to lack of proper socialization as a young pup. New people and places are scary but she can adjust with time and space. She is not a brewery dog or a dog park dog, she is a home body. -Jenny currently takes a daily dose of fluoxetine which has been helping a little with her overall anxiety. -She gets along with other dogs and enjoys their company, however should not live in a home with another dog due to resource guarding tendencies. Once attached to someone, she will want to guard their attention against another dog. -Crate & potty trained -Loves to chew on bones and keeps herself busy with a toy very easily -She has the silliest zoomies you've ever seen, and when she gets really spicy she likes to dive under the bed and become a little gremlin (see photo) She is a pretty easy keeper once she has time to adjust and get to know you. She's the perfect balance of silly goofball and snugglebug, it won't take long for her to win you over!

Ellie was acquired in April of 2024 from a Rescue here in Minnesota. Her home was in Texas, and she came with heartworm and had major anxiety with shadows, lights, and abrupt noises. We worked with her to make her home with us, and it has worked well for the last year and a half. Recently, however, we have also started fostering a new human baby, and Ellie's jealousy and anxiety have caused her to be aggressive towards our other little dog in the home. They used to be friends but something changed. We are not able at this time to work through this problem in her life at this time. Ellie sleeps in my 15-year-old daughter's room and loves people. Ellie has had trouble controlling her jealousy with the other dog in our home as if there is a dropped treat or a morsel of food, she may attack the other dog because of the food or a toy that Ellie desires. She does a good job listening as she knows the words no, and stay. But occasionally she is very aggressive to other dog.