Puppy Vaccine Schedule: The Right Shots, Simply Week by Week

Most puppies start their core vaccinations at around 6 to 8 weeks old, have a booster every 2 to 4 weeks, and finish the puppy course at 16 weeks of age or later, with a further booster at around 6 months to a year. Core vaccines protect against parvovirus, distemper and canine hepatitis (adenovirus) everywhere in the world, plus rabies and leptospirosis in the places where those are a risk or a legal requirement. Your vet sets the exact plan for your puppy, so use this guide to understand it and ask the right questions.

Below you will find why puppies need several rounds, a typical week-by-week timeline, what the vaccine names on your record card mean in the US, UK and Australia, how to socialise safely before the course is finished, and which side effects need a call to the vet.

At a glance

• Puppy shots come as a series because antibodies from the mother can block early doses.
• The last puppy dose is usually given at 16 weeks or older. The timing of the final dose matters more than the number of injections.
• Core vaccines are the same worldwide: parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus, with rabies and leptospirosis added where they are a risk.
• Kennel cough and some other vaccines depend on lifestyle and region.
• Keep socialising before the course is complete, using safe, controlled experiences.

How puppy vaccines work, and why there are several rounds

Newborn puppies get a dose of protective antibodies from their mother, mostly in the first milk. These maternal antibodies protect them in the early weeks, but they also have a side effect: while they are still circulating, they can neutralise a vaccine before the puppy’s own immune system responds to it.

The level of maternal antibodies fades at a different rate in every puppy, even within the same litter. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) explains that this is why several doses are given a few weeks apart: each one is a fresh chance to “catch” the moment the mother’s protection drops low enough for the vaccine to work. The final puppy dose is timed for 16 weeks or later because by then most puppies’ maternal antibodies have faded enough. WSAVA also recommends a further dose at or after 26 weeks, rather than waiting until 12 to 16 months, to cover the minority of puppies whose maternal antibodies were still interfering at 16 weeks.

The typical puppy vaccine schedule, week by week

This table summarises how the major guidelines usually play out. Products, licences and local disease risks vary, so your vet may use different ages or fewer or more doses.

Age	Core vaccines usually given	Common non-core options (region-dependent)	Notes
6 to 8 weeks	First dose: distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus	Sometimes kennel cough (nasal or injection)	Often given by the breeder or at the first vet visit
10 to 12 weeks	Second dose of the core combination	First leptospirosis dose where recommended	Doses are usually 2 to 4 weeks apart
14 to 16 weeks	Further core dose	Second leptospirosis dose where used	Rabies often given around now where required (not before 12 weeks)
16 weeks or older	Final puppy core dose	Any remaining lifestyle vaccines	WSAVA advises the last puppy dose is at 16 weeks or later
About 6 months (26 weeks) to 1 year	Core booster	Annual leptospirosis and kennel cough boosters begin	WSAVA favours 26 weeks or later; some vets use a titre (blood) test instead
Adult	Core vaccines usually every three years	Leptospirosis and kennel cough usually yearly	Rabies interval depends on local law and the product

6 to 8 weeks

The first core vaccine is usually given at around 6 to 8 weeks. If your puppy came from a breeder or rescue, ask for their record card: a first dose does not complete the course, and your vet will plan the rest around it.

10 to 12 weeks

The second dose usually follows 2 to 4 weeks later. Where leptospirosis vaccination is recommended, the first of two starting doses is often given around now, because leptospirosis vaccines need two doses a few weeks apart to start with.

14 to 16 weeks and the final puppy dose

Depending on when your puppy started, there may be a third, and sometimes a fourth, core dose. The important rule is that the last one falls at 16 weeks of age or later. As an example from RSPCA Australia, a puppy starting at 8 weeks with 4-week gaps would have doses at 8, 12 and 16 weeks.

The 6-month to 1-year booster

The next core dose used to be given at a year old. WSAVA now advises a dose at or after 26 weeks of age, and RSPCA Australia recommends a booster at 6 months, noting that a blood test for antibodies (a titre test) taken at least four weeks after the last puppy dose can be used instead in some cases.

Core vs non-core vaccines explained

Core vaccines protect against diseases that are widespread and serious, and are recommended for every dog:

• Canine parvovirus: a highly contagious virus that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea, especially dangerous for puppies.
• Canine distemper: a viral disease that can affect the lungs, gut and nervous system.
• Canine adenovirus (infectious canine hepatitis): a virus that can damage the liver and other organs.
• Rabies: core where the disease is present, and often a legal requirement.
• Leptospirosis: a bacterial disease linked to stagnant water and contact with rodents or livestock. It can also infect people. It is core in the UK and in the AAHA guidelines for US dogs, and risk-based in places such as Australia.

Non-core (lifestyle) vaccines are chosen with your vet based on where you live and what your dog does. The most common is kennel cough (canine parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica). Others include Lyme disease and canine influenza in parts of the US.

What the vaccine names on your record card mean

Name you’ll see	Where it’s used	What it covers
DHPP, DAPP or DA2PP	US and many other countries	Distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus, parainfluenza
DHP plus Lepto	UK	Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, plus leptospirosis (core in the UK)
C3	Australia	Distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus: the core vaccines
C5	Australia	C3 plus parainfluenza and Bordetella (kennel cough)
Rabies	Where the law or disease risk requires it	Rabies
Lepto	Widely; core in the US (AAHA) and UK, risk-based in Australia	Leptospirosis
KC or Bordetella	Widely	Kennel cough organisms; often a nasal or oral dose

How schedules differ in the US, UK and Australia

United States. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine Vaccination Guidelines list distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, rabies and leptospirosis as core for all dogs. Rabies vaccination is required by law in most states, usually by the age of 3 to 6 months, though the exact age and rules vary by state and sometimes by local area. Bordetella, Lyme disease and canine influenza are lifestyle-based choices.

United Kingdom. The PDSA lists parvovirus, distemper, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis as core for UK dogs. Puppies usually start at 6 to 8 weeks with two injections 2 to 4 weeks apart, and some need a third, depending on the product and your vet’s advice. Kennel cough vaccination is recommended for dogs that mix with lots of other dogs and is usually required by kennels and day care. Rabies vaccination is only needed for dogs travelling in and out of the UK.

Australia. RSPCA Australia describes C3 as the core vaccine and C5 as adding kennel cough protection, recommended for dogs that meet other dogs at parks, day care, puppy preschool or boarding. Leptospirosis vaccination is risk-based and recommended in at-risk areas, for dogs with access to stagnant water, or for those in contact with livestock or rodents. Australia is rabies-free, so dogs staying in Australia do not need a rabies vaccine.

Other countries have their own rules. If you have moved, or are adopting a puppy from overseas, do not copy a schedule from another country: ask your local vet.

When can my puppy go outside and meet other dogs?

This is the question new owners ask most, and it is a balancing act. Puppies are not fully protected until after the course is finished. The PDSA says puppies are fully protected 2 to 4 weeks after the final injection; RSPCA Australia advises waiting at least 14 days after the last puppy dose before your puppy walks in public places on its own feet.

At the same time, puppies have a sensitive period for socialisation, which RSPCA Australia describes as running from roughly 2.5 to 14 weeks of age. Shutting a puppy away until the course is complete can mean missing that window. Safe ways to keep socialising before full protection include:

• Carrying your puppy outside so they can see and hear traffic, people, bikes and other animals without touching the ground in public places.
• Meeting known, healthy, fully vaccinated, dog-friendly adult dogs in a home or garden.
• Well-run puppy classes held indoors on clean floors, which usually ask for proof of a first vaccination. RSPCA Australia notes the Australian Veterinary Association considers properly run classes low risk.
• A secure home garden that unvaccinated dogs and wildlife cannot reach.
• Avoiding high-traffic dog areas such as dog parks, until your vet says your puppy is protected.

There is more detail in this guide on how to socialise a puppy safely, and the weeks at home are a perfect time for house-training while you wait to go out.

Late, missed or unknown vaccine history

Life happens, and a booster can slip by a week or two. Call your vet: they may simply continue the course, or they may add a dose so the final one still lands at the right age. For rescue puppies or dogs with no records, vets usually treat them as unvaccinated and start again. RSPCA Australia notes that a dog aged 26 weeks or more with an unknown history will often need only one core dose, but this is a decision for your vet.

Never buy vaccines to give at home, and do not rely on a seller’s promise that a puppy is “fully vaccinated” without a signed record card.

After the puppy course: adult boosters

Not every vaccine needs to be given every year. WSAVA advises that core vaccines should not be given more often than necessary, because modern core vaccines give immunity lasting many years; in practice, many vets give core boosters every three years. Leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccines give shorter-lived protection, so they are usually given yearly. Rabies boosters follow local law and the product used.

Some owners ask about titre testing, a blood test that measures antibodies to distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus. WSAVA notes it can help confirm protection and guide revaccination intervals. It is worth discussing with your vet, but it does not replace leptospirosis or rabies vaccination where those are needed.

Vaccines are one part of a puppy health plan. Parasite prevention is the other half, and the annual vaccination visit is a good time to review it.

Side effects: what’s common and what’s urgent

Most puppies have no reaction at all. According to the PDSA, the most common mild effects are a slightly raised temperature, tiredness and a reduced appetite, which usually pass within 24 to 48 hours. A small lump at the injection site, or sneezing after a nasal kennel cough dose, is also common.

Serious reactions are rare. Guidance from MSPCA-Angell lists these signs as needing emergency care straight away:

• Facial swelling
• Vomiting
• Hives (raised bumps on the skin)
• Difficulty breathing
• Pale gums
• Difficulty walking or collapse

Serious reactions usually start very soon after vaccination but can take up to 48 hours. Never give your puppy human pain or fever medicines: call your vet.

Questions to ask your vet at the first puppy visit

1. Which vaccines does my puppy need here, and which are optional for our lifestyle?
2. When will the final puppy dose be, and from what date is my puppy considered protected?
3. Is leptospirosis or kennel cough vaccination recommended where we live?
4. Is rabies vaccination required by law here, and at what age?
5. What can my puppy safely do before the course is finished?
6. Which side effects should I watch for, and when should I call?
7. When is the next booster due, and will you send a reminder?
8. Do kennels, day care or puppy classes near us need proof of specific vaccines?

It helps to have what you need before your puppy comes home sorted before that first visit, so the appointment can focus on health. Boarding is a good example of why records matter: kennels usually ask for proof of vaccination, including kennel cough.

Common mistakes

• Stopping after the second injection because the puppy “has had its shots,” when the course is not yet finished.
• Keeping a puppy completely isolated until 16 weeks or later and missing the socialisation window.
• Walking an unprotected puppy in busy dog areas such as dog parks.
• Assuming a breeder’s first dose completes the course.
• Losing the vaccination record. Photograph it and keep the original somewhere safe.
• Copying a schedule from another country, such as following US advice in Australia or the UK.
• Skipping the 6-month to 1-year booster, which protects puppies whose early doses did not take.

Vaccines and vet visits are a regular cost, so it is worth budgeting for vaccinations and vet visits from the start, and checking whether puppy insurance is worth it for you. Prices vary widely by country and clinic.

While the vaccine course is under way, short reward-based sessions such as these easy tricks to teach your dog are a good way to build your bond at home.

Sources this guide draws on: the WSAVA 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats; the AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines; RSPCA Australia’s knowledgebase on dog vaccinations and puppy socialisation; the PDSA Pet Health Hub on dog vaccines; VCA Animal Hospitals on the puppy rabies vaccine; the Animal Legal and Historical Center’s table of US state rabies laws; and MSPCA-Angell guidance on vaccine reactions.

Frequently asked questions

When do puppies get their first shots?

Most puppies have their first core vaccination at around 6 to 8 weeks of age. Some breeders arrange it before the puppy goes home, so ask for the record card and take it to your first vet visit.

How many rounds of vaccines does a puppy need?

Usually two to four rounds, depending on when the course starts, the products used and local guidance. What matters most is that the final puppy dose is given at the right age, usually 16 weeks or later, followed by a booster at around 6 months to a year.

When can my puppy go outside after vaccinations?

Your puppy can go into a secure garden and be carried out in public before the course is finished. Walking on the ground in public places is usually advised from about two weeks after the final puppy dose, but follow your vet’s advice for your area.

What does the DHPP (or C5) vaccine protect against?

DHPP covers distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus and parainfluenza. In Australia, C3 covers distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus, and C5 adds parainfluenza and Bordetella, the main causes of kennel cough.

What if my puppy is late for a booster?

Call your vet and book in as soon as you can. Depending on how late it is, they may continue the course as planned or add a dose so your puppy is properly protected.

Do adult dogs need vaccines every year?

Not all of them. Core vaccines are usually given every three years in adult dogs, while leptospirosis and kennel cough are usually yearly. Many vets still recommend a yearly health check, which is when any due vaccines are given.

A puppy vaccine course is one of the simplest, most valuable things you will do in your dog’s first year. Keep the record card safe, set reminders for each booster, and enjoy the outings that come once your puppy is protected. For everything else in those early months, see your puppy’s first year, stage by stage.