Here’s the Official Puppy Vaccine Schedule That Experts Recommend
Key takeaways:
Dogs and puppies need vaccinations to protect them and humans from diseases.
Getting your puppy the core vaccines is recommended by vets. These include vaccines for rabies, leptospira, distemper, and parvovirus.
Non-core vaccines are optional and recommended based on your pup’s lifestyle, including whether they go to doggie daycare or live near livestock.
You can save on vaccinations by contacting local animal shelters or nonprofit animal groups.
Table of contents
Just like humans, our furry friends need vaccinations. They can protect your bundle of fur from contracting and spreading diseases.
Puppies should start getting vaccinated within 6 to 8 weeks after they’re born. Below you’ll find a schedule of recommended and optional vaccinations, a list of ways to save on the shots, and booster recommendations for adult dogs.
Vet-recommended vaccinations for puppies
Puppy vaccines fall into two categories: core and non-core. Veterinarians recommend that all puppies get core vaccines. These include:
Distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus, and parainfluenza combination vaccine
Leptospirosis (lepto)
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Rabies shots are mandated in almost every state.
Non-core vaccines are optional shots. Whether a puppy should get them depends on their lifestyle and risk of exposure. These vaccines include:
Bordetella (kennel cough)
Influenza (H3N8/H3N2 dog flu)
Western diamondback rattlesnake
To learn if your pup might benefit from non-core vaccines, talk to a vet or check this lifestyle vaccine calculator from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Other preventive medications: Does my pup need preventive medications besides vaccines? Yes. They need protection against heartworms, too.
Normal behavior vs. anxiety: Some dogs are naturally energetic. Is your dog’s hyperactivity normal? Maybe. But it could be stress or anxiety.
Sharing with Fido: Can you share your snack with your dog as a treat? Yes. But use caution, because many human foods are poisonous to dogs.
Quiz: What vaccines do dogs need?
Puppy vaccination schedule
“The key is getting them vaccinated every 2 to 4 weeks until they are about 15 weeks of age,” Zachary Nesbit, DVM, a vet with Godley Station Animal Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, told GoodRx Health. “This is to avoid interference with something called maternal antibodies that they get from their moms when they are nursing.”
The table below outlines when your dog should get their first shot and follow-up doses for each vaccine. It includes both core and non-core vaccines and is based on the puppy vaccination schedule from the AAHA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Vaccine | Core or non-core | Age at first dose | Booster schedule |
Distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus (DHPP, DAPP, or DA2PP) | Core | 6-8 weeks | Every 2-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old Then, 1 year after initial dose Then, every 3 years |
Leptospirosis | Core | >12 weeks | Annually |
Rabies | Core | As required by law | As required by law |
Bordetella | Non-core | 9-12 weeks | At 12 weeks old Then, every 6-12 months |
Lyme disease | Non-core | 9-12 weeks | Second in initial vaccine series at 15 weeks old Then, annually |
Canine influenza (H3N8/H3N2) | Non-core | 6 weeks or older | First two doses 2-4 weeks apart Then, 1 booster within a year after initial dose Then, annually |
When is a puppy fully vaccinated?
Your puppy is considered fully vaccinated when they have received all of their core vaccines. This includes their rabies vaccination as required by your state’s laws and a vaccination against leptospirosis.
They must also have two rounds of a combination distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus (DHPP or DAPP) vaccine that are given 2 to 4 weeks apart, with a booster when they are between 16 and 18 weeks old.
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“Puppies generate long-lasting immunity against DAPP/DHPP when they have a [full] series of vaccines,” Nesbit said. “When to start the series depends on the age at weaning and also on when the vaccine is labeled to be safely given (generally 6 weeks for DAPP/DHPP).”
As your pup grows, you may look into services such as doggie daycare or training classes. Service providers may require them to have additional vaccinations, such as Bordetella (kennel cough). Make sure to ask before you enroll your pup.
Can you skip or delay your puppy’s vaccinations?
If you’re skeptical about getting your puppy vaccinated, you’re not alone. But without vaccinations, your pup is at risk for life-threatening diseases, including rabies and distemper.
Vaccines also protect humans from diseases that pets can spread to people.
Some pet owners may worry about vaccine side effects, which is understandable. However, the most common side effects are mild and temporary. They include:
Swelling at the injection site
Low-grade fever
Lethargy
Very few dogs experience life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccines. The risk of your dog contracting a disease if they’re not vaccinated is much higher than the risk of them having a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine.
According to Nesbit, your veterinarian may delay vaccination in some cases, including if your dog is sick. Otherwise, it’s best to follow your puppy’s vaccination schedule.
Average cost of puppy vaccinations
The cost of puppy vaccinations varies widely across the country. Nesbit said you can expect to pay between $15 and $70 per shot, but you can save by calling around. Check with resources in your area, such as:
Animal shelters: Your local shelter may offer low-cost vaccinations and other preventive services. Call your city or county animal shelter for information.
Nonprofit animal groups: Do a Google search for organizations that host free or low-cost community clinics in your area.
Vet schools: Many college and university programs offer low-cost clinics and care. You can look for an accredited vet school in your area through the AVMA.
Local veterinarians: Call vets near you and ask if they participate in charity care. You could also ask about discounts or payment plans. If you live in a bigger city, it might be worth it to call vets in smaller towns, too. Their fee schedules may be significantly lower.
Where can you access free vaccinations for puppies?
The costs of caring for a pup can add up. Fortunately, groups in your area may offer free vaccinations. Here are some good places to start:
Nonprofit animal advocacy organizations
City or county animal shelters
Vet schools
Vets with charity care services
Pet stores
Rural vets
Mobile clinics
Booster vaccinations for adult dogs
Your pup will continue to need vaccinations throughout their lifetime. Check your state’s laws on rabies shots, or ask your vet. A DHPP or DAPP vaccine should be given within a year of your dog’s last puppy shot, followed by a booster every 3 years. The leptospirosis vaccine requires annual boosters.
The schedule for non-core vaccine boosters will depend on what your vet recommends based on your dog’s lifestyle. Make sure to check with your vet about vaccinations if your dog has a lifestyle change. For example, if you move to another state, your dog may need a non-core vaccine to protect them against new disease threats.
If you adopt an adult dog who has not been vaccinated, check with your vet on the best way to get them caught up.
Frequently asked questions
Your vet will create a new vaccination schedule to make up for missed or late doses. Just bear in mind that your puppy will not be protected against disease until they’re vaccinated.
Yes. Puppies can go outside after their first shots. But until they’re completely vaccinated, it’s best to keep them inside and away from other dogs as much as possible. It’s also best to limit how many people they interact with until they’re current on their vaccines, because some infections can be carried on clothing or in the environment.
The bottom line
Your puppy needs vaccinations to protect them from contracting and spreading diseases. Veterinarians recommend a series of shots called core vaccines for all puppies. These vaccines include rabies, leptospirosis, and a combination DHPP, DA2PP, or DAPP vaccine.
Your vet may also recommend that your puppy get non-core, or optional, vaccines depending on their lifestyle. Check with your vet or animal groups in your area about ways to save on vaccinations.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Animal Hospital Association. (2019). Should my pet be vaccinated?
American Animal Hospital Association. (2022). 2022 AAHA core and noncore vaccines for dogs.
American Animal Hospital Association. (2022). Vaccine recommendation schedule based on age at initial vaccination and lifestyle of dog.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Accredited veterinary colleges.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Vaccinations.
Animal Legal & Historical Center. (n.d.). Rabies vaccination and exemption laws for dogs. Michigan State University College of Law.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Key facts about canine influenza (dog flu).
Ford, R. B. (2012). Dogs & cats overdue for vaccination: Recommendations for updating immunizations. Today’s Veterinary Practice.
Maciorakowski, L. (n.d.). What to expect….your puppy’s first year. Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center.
