Puppy Vaccination Schedule: Which Shots and When
A clear puppy vaccination schedule: core vaccines, the right ages from 6–8 weeks to 16 weeks and beyond, boosters, rabies and when your puppy can go out.
By Muhammad Junaid · Updated · 3 min read
Vaccines protect your puppy against diseases that are common, spread easily, and can kill young dogs — parvovirus most of all. Here's what a typical schedule looks like and why.
Your vet sets the final schedule
This guide follows international veterinary guidelines (WSAVA and AAHA). Your vet will adjust it for your puppy's age, health, history and local disease risk and laws.
Core vaccines every puppy needs
Veterinary guidelines call these core vaccines — recommended for every dog, everywhere:
- Canine parvovirus (CPV-2) — severe, often bloody diarrhoea and vomiting; very dangerous for puppies.
- Canine distemper virus (CDV) — affects the lungs, gut and nervous system.
- Canine adenovirus (CAV-2) — protects against infectious canine hepatitis.
- Rabies — fatal and transmissible to people. Required by law in many countries, and core wherever rabies is present, including Pakistan and most of Asia and Africa.
The first three usually come together in one injection, often called DHP or DHPP (the extra "P" is parainfluenza).
Leptospirosis: now core in many places
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through water, soil and rat urine. It damages the kidneys and liver, and people can catch it too. Guidance has shifted in recent years:
- North America: AAHA updated its guidelines in 2024 to recommend the leptospirosis vaccine for all dogs from 12 weeks of age, including city dogs.
- Elsewhere: WSAVA treats it as core where the disease is common — typically warm, wet areas and places that flood, which includes much of South Asia.
Puppies usually get two doses 2–4 weeks apart, starting at 12 weeks or older, then a booster every year, because protection doesn't last as long as the core viral vaccines. Ask your vet whether it's recommended where you live.
Typical puppy schedule
| Age | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | First core vaccine (DHP/DHPP) |
| 10–12 weeks | Second core vaccine |
| 14–16 weeks | Third core vaccine — the final puppy dose should be given at 16 weeks or older |
| 12–16 weeks | Rabies (exact age depends on local law and the vaccine) |
| 12 weeks+ | Leptospirosis, 2 doses 2–4 weeks apart (where recommended) |
| 6–12 months | Core booster, which catches any puppy whose first course didn't fully take |
| Then | Core boosters usually every 3 years; leptospirosis every year; rabies as the product and local law require |
The core vaccine is repeated every 2–4 weeks until 16 weeks or older. Starting at 6 weeks can mean four doses; starting at 8–9 weeks usually means three.
Non-core vaccines
These depend on where you live and your dog's lifestyle — ask your vet:
- Kennel cough (Bordetella / parainfluenza) — useful if your dog goes to boarding, daycare or training classes.
- Lyme disease — only in tick areas where it is common.
When can my puppy go outside?
Until about one to two weeks after the final puppy dose, avoid places where unknown dogs go: parks, pavements, pet shops. Parvovirus can survive in soil for months.
But don't keep your puppy at home in a bubble. The socialisation window closes at around 14–16 weeks. Carry them out, let them meet calm vaccinated dogs you know, and read our first-week checklist for safe ideas.
When to call your vet
Call your vet urgently if your puppy has vomiting together with diarrhoea (especially with blood), refuses food, or is very quiet — these can be signs of parvovirus, which needs fast treatment.
Tips for vaccine day
- Bring any records from the breeder or shelter — vaccine stickers and dates.
- Ask your vet about deworming and flea/tick prevention at the same visit.
- Keep a photo of the vaccination card on your phone; you'll need it for boarding, travel and classes.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my puppy need several vaccinations?
Antibodies from the mother's milk can block a vaccine from working, and they fade at a different time in each puppy. Repeating the vaccine every 2–4 weeks until about 16 weeks makes sure one dose lands after those antibodies have gone.
Is it too late to vaccinate an older puppy?
No. If your puppy missed doses or their history is unknown, your vet will start a catch-up course. Keep them away from unknown dogs in the meantime.
Do vaccines have side effects?
Mild tiredness or soreness for a day is common. Serious reactions are rare; call your vet if your puppy has facial swelling, hives, vomiting or trouble breathing after a vaccine.