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A puppy vaccine schedule starts at 6–8 weeks of age, repeats every 2–4 weeks, and finishes no earlier than 16 weeks, followed by regular boosters through adulthood. On this page you'll find which shot happens in which week in a single table, why boosters matter as much as the first dose, and what happens if a dose is missed. The weeks follow the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) vaccination guidelines and common clinic practice. Your vet still sets the exact schedule, because age, health history and where you live all change it.
Quick answer
When do puppies get their shots?
- First core shot: 6–8 weeks
- Core boosters: every 2–4 weeks, with the last one at 16 weeks or older
- Rabies: from 12 weeks, as required by local law
- First-year booster: around 26 weeks (6 months) or at 1 year
- Adult dogs: rabies on the schedule your local law sets; core and other vaccines at the interval your vet recommends
Puppy vaccine schedule by week
| Age | Vaccines | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | 1st core (combination) shot | Deworming and flea/tick treatment usually come first |
| 10–12 weeks | 2nd core shot, leptospirosis dose 1 | Kennel cough (Bordetella) can be added depending on lifestyle |
| 12–16 weeks | Rabies | Legally required in many countries; recorded on the vaccine card |
| 14–16 weeks | 3rd core shot, leptospirosis dose 2 | The final core puppy dose shouldn't be given before 16 weeks |
| 26 weeks – 1 year | Core booster | Catches the protection the puppy series may have missed |
| Every year | Leptospirosis; rabies where required yearly | Your vet sets the interval for core boosters |
Your vet may shift these weeks by a few days depending on when your puppy started and which vaccine brand they use. Two things stay fixed: 2–4 weeks between doses, and a final core dose at 16 weeks or older.
Why one shot isn't enough
Puppies get antibodies from their mother's milk. Those antibodies protect them in the first weeks, but they also block vaccines: while maternal antibody levels are high, a vaccine can't prompt the puppy's own immune system to respond. The catch is that the point when maternal antibodies fade is different for every puppy, as early as 8 weeks for some and as late as 14 weeks for others.
So instead of looking for one "right day," the schedule gives a dose every 2–4 weeks to catch the moment maternal antibodies drop. The final dose at 16 weeks lands at an age when maternal antibodies no longer interfere for the vast majority of puppies. The booster around 26 weeks is there for the few puppies that still didn't respond.
What each vaccine protects against
| Vaccine | Protects against | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Core (DHPP / DAPP) | Distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis (adenovirus), parainfluenza | Every dog |
| Rabies | Rabies, which is fatal and can spread to people | Every dog where rabies is present; legally required in many places |
| Leptospirosis | A bacterial disease spread through puddles and rodent urine; can infect people | Dogs that go outdoors or into nature; many vets recommend it for all dogs |
| Bordetella | Kennel cough | Dogs that go to boarding, daycare, training classes or dog parks |
| Lyme | Lyme disease, spread by ticks | Dogs in tick-prone areas or that often go into woods and tall grass |
| Canine coronavirus | An intestinal coronavirus | Common in some countries but not recommended for routine use by international guidelines; ask your vet |
Core shots are often combined with leptospirosis in a single injection, so check whether your vaccine card lists them separately. Deworming and flea and tick prevention aren't vaccines, but they're part of the same routine: they usually come before the first shot and continue year-round. See the dog flea, tick and deworming schedule for timing.
Adult dog booster schedule
Once the puppy series and the first-year booster are done, your dog moves to an adult schedule:
- Rabies: every 1 or 3 years, depending on the vaccine and your local law. Many countries require a current rabies certificate for travel and registration.
- Leptospirosis: protection is short-lived, so it's boosted every year.
- Core (DHPP): WSAVA guidelines say modified-live core vaccines don't need to be repeated more often than every three years after the first-year booster. Some clinics still give them yearly. Your vet will choose based on your dog's lifestyle and the vaccine used, and some offer a blood antibody (titer) test to help decide.
- Bordetella, Lyme: usually yearly, for as long as the risk continues.
The yearly checkup is the natural time for boosters. Your vet can give the shots and also check weight, teeth and joints, problems that often progress without obvious signs.
What if a dose is missed?
Schedules slip all the time, and it's usually fixable. Your vet decides how:
- A few weeks late during the puppy series: your vet will usually pick up where you left off or add a dose. If the gap is long, they may restart the series, since the window when maternal antibodies dropped may have passed unprotected.
- An adult booster a few weeks overdue: a single dose is usually enough. A late rabies shot matters separately for legal records and travel.
- Unknown history: for an adopted adult dog without a vaccine record, vets usually treat the dog as unvaccinated and start a short series.
Call your vet the day you notice the gap. Waiting until the next routine visit stretches the time your dog goes unprotected.
Before and after vaccination
Before the appointment
- Your dog should be healthy on the day. With diarrhea, vomiting, fever or obvious lethargy, your vet may postpone the shot for a few days.
- Deworming is usually done a few days to a week before the vaccine.
- Bring the vaccine card or any previous records.
After the shot
- Mild tiredness, a smaller appetite and a small lump at the injection site for a day or two are normal.
- Swelling of the face or eyes, vomiting, trouble breathing, itchy hives or collapse are signs of an allergic reaction. Go to your vet or the nearest emergency clinic right away.
- Until about two weeks after the final puppy dose, avoid places where dogs of unknown vaccination status roam. That doesn't mean keeping your puppy indoors: socializing with fully vaccinated dogs in clean environments should continue during this period. The puppy socialization calendar helps you strike that balance.
Vaccine records and reminders
Every dose goes on the vaccine card with its date and the vaccine's label. Rabies vaccination and microchip details are often also recorded with local authorities, and they're checked for travel and ownership paperwork.
The easiest way to stay on schedule is a reminder. When you add your dog's vaccine card to SarPet, the next date for each vaccine is calculated from the interval since the previous dose, and you get a reminder before it's due. If you've just brought a puppy home, the puppy first vet visit checklist helps you prepare for the appointment where the schedule gets set up.
Frequently asked questions
Can my puppy go outside after the first shot?
Before the series is complete, it's safer to avoid parks and sidewalks where unknown dogs go. Carrying your puppy outside to see the world, a clean private yard, and meetups with fully vaccinated dogs are all fine.
At what age do puppies get the rabies shot?
Usually from 12 weeks (3 months) of age. The exact age and the booster interval depend on your local law.
Can I bathe my dog after vaccines?
Most vets suggest waiting a day or two after vaccination. If your dog is tired, rest matters more.
Do cats get the same vaccines?
No. Cats face different diseases and get different vaccines. See the kitten vaccine schedule for details.
Sources
This guide is for information only and does not replace a veterinary exam.
