Short answer: most puppies start their core vaccines (distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus, usually as one combination shot) at 6 to 8 weeks old and get a dose every 2 to 4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old. Rabies is given once, no earlier than 12 weeks, on the timing your state or local law requires. Leptospirosis, now a core vaccine in the AAHA guidelines, is two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart starting at about 12 weeks. A booster follows at around 6 months (WSAVA) or within a year (AAHA), and non-core vaccines such as Bordetella, Lyme and canine influenza are added if your puppy’s lifestyle and location put them at risk.
Below you’ll find a week-by-week puppy shot schedule, what “core” and “non-core” mean, why puppies need several doses, how the two main veterinary guidelines (AAHA in North America and WSAVA worldwide) differ, what to do if your puppy is older or missed a shot, and which reactions need a call to your vet.
Puppy vaccination schedule by age
This is a typical schedule built from the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines (with their 2024 leptospirosis update), the 2024 WSAVA vaccination guidelines and the AVMA’s owner guidance. Your vet will adjust it for your puppy’s health, history, the products they use and the diseases common where you live.
| Puppy’s age | Core vaccines | Non-core (only if your vet recommends them) |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | DAPP, first dose | Bordetella (kennel cough), often a single intranasal or oral dose, for puppies that will be around other dogs |
| 10–12 weeks | DAPP, second dose Leptospirosis, first dose (from 12 weeks) |
Lyme or canine influenza, first dose, if they’re a risk where you live |
| 14–16 weeks | DAPP, third dose Leptospirosis, second dose (2–4 weeks after the first) Rabies (no earlier than 12 weeks; timing set by local law) |
Lyme or canine influenza, second dose (2–4 weeks after the first) |
| 16–20 weeks | Extra DAPP dose if the last one was given before 16 weeks, or for puppies at higher risk of parvovirus | — |
| About 6 months (26 weeks) | Core booster recommended by WSAVA, to catch the few puppies whose maternal antibodies blocked the earlier doses | — |
| Within 1 year of the puppy series | DAPP booster, leptospirosis booster, rabies booster (as the vaccine label and local law require) | Boosters for any non-core vaccines your puppy had |
| Adult dog | DAPP every 3 years (AAHA); leptospirosis every year; rabies every 1 or 3 years depending on the vaccine and the law | Bordetella, Lyme and influenza usually every year if the risk continues |
The exact weeks shift depending on when your puppy’s first visit falls, because doses can be 2, 3 or 4 weeks apart. What matters most is that doses keep coming every 2 to 4 weeks and that the last puppy dose of DAPP isn’t given before about 16 weeks.
Core vs. non-core vaccines
The AVMA explains that core vaccines are recommended for all dogs unless there’s a medical reason not to vaccinate, while non-core vaccines are given to dogs whose lifestyle or location puts them at risk.
Core vaccines for puppies
- Canine distemper virus – a severe, often fatal disease that can affect the lungs, gut and nervous system.
- Canine adenovirus-2 – protects against infectious canine hepatitis (caused by adenovirus-1) as well as a respiratory infection.
- Canine parvovirus – causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and is especially dangerous for young puppies.
- Rabies – fatal and transmissible to people. AAHA lists it as core and advises vaccinating as required by law; WSAVA calls it core wherever rabies occurs, even where there’s no legal requirement.
- Leptospirosis – a bacterial infection spread through the urine of infected animals that can damage the kidneys and liver and can also infect people. In 2024 AAHA changed it from non-core to core. WSAVA treats it as core in regions where it is endemic.
The first three are usually given together in one shot, which your vet’s invoice may call DHPP, DAPP or DA2PP. The extra “P” is parainfluenza, a respiratory virus that is often included in the combination.
Non-core (lifestyle) vaccines
- Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough) – often recommended for puppies going to classes, daycare, boarding or grooming. It comes as an injection (two doses 2–4 weeks apart) or as a single intranasal or oral dose, then a yearly booster.
- Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) – for dogs in areas with ticks that carry Lyme. Two doses 2–4 weeks apart, a booster within a year, then yearly.
- Canine influenza (H3N8/H3N2) – for dogs that mix with many other dogs where flu is circulating. Two doses 2–4 weeks apart, a booster within a year, then yearly.
Not every puppy needs these. Tell your vet where you live, whether you hike in tick country, and whether your puppy will go to classes, daycare, boarding or dog parks, and they will recommend the ones that make sense.
Why puppies need a series of shots
Puppies get antibodies from their mother, mostly through the first milk. These maternal antibodies protect them for the first weeks of life, but they also block vaccines from working. VCA Animal Hospitals explains that until those antibodies fade, a puppy can’t build its own protection from a vaccine.
The catch is that nobody knows exactly when each puppy’s maternal antibodies will drop. It varies between litters and even between puppies in the same litter. So vets give a dose every 2 to 4 weeks: whichever dose arrives after the maternal antibodies have faded is the one that “takes.” In the AVMA’s words, the first doses prime the immune system and the later ones strengthen the response.
This is also why the last dose timing matters. WSAVA recommends that the final puppy dose be given at 16 weeks of age or older, and VCA notes that for parvovirus, maternal immunity can last up to about four months in some dogs, so vets sometimes add an extra booster at around 18 to 20 weeks.
AAHA vs. WSAVA: why your vet’s schedule might differ
The two guidelines most vets follow agree on the essentials but differ on a few details:
- Starting age and number of doses. AAHA recommends at least three doses of the core combination between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart. The AVMA describes a series that starts at 6 to 8 weeks, and WSAVA recommends doses every 2 to 4 weeks.
- The last puppy dose. WSAVA is explicit that it should be at 16 weeks or older. If your puppy’s third dose falls at 14 weeks, many vets will add a fourth.
- The first booster. AAHA recommends one dose within a year after the puppy series. WSAVA recommends revaccinating at or after 26 weeks (about 6 months) instead of waiting until 12 to 16 months, to close the gap for puppies whose maternal antibodies were still interfering at 16 weeks.
- Adult boosters. AAHA recommends core boosters every 3 years after that first booster. WSAVA says core vaccines shouldn’t be given more often than necessary, because immunity from modern core vaccines lasts many years, and notes that antibody (titer) testing can help decide when to revaccinate.
Both are reasonable. Ask your vet which they follow and why; the important thing is that your puppy finishes the series and gets the first booster on time.
Rabies: what the law decides
Rabies is the one vaccine where the schedule is set partly by law rather than by your vet alone. According to VCA, puppies can’t receive a rabies vaccine until they are at least 12 weeks old, and it’s commonly given at the last puppy visit around 16 weeks. Some areas require it by 4 months of age and others by 6 months.
After the first dose, a second one is given a year later. From then on it depends on the product: a 1-year vaccine is repeated annually, and a 3-year vaccine every three years, if local law accepts the 3-year interval. Keep the rabies certificate; you may need it for licensing, boarding, travel or if your dog ever bites someone.
Older puppies, adopted puppies and missed shots
- Puppy over 16 weeks with no vaccine history: AAHA recommends two doses of the core combination 2 to 4 weeks apart, and two doses of leptospirosis 2 to 4 weeks apart, then the usual boosters.
- Unknown history (for example, a rescue with no paperwork): AAHA’s rule is “when in doubt, vaccinate.” Your vet will treat the puppy as unvaccinated, or may suggest a titer test.
- Missed or late dose: don’t panic, and don’t wait for the next scheduled date. Call your vet; depending on how long it has been, they will either continue the series or repeat a dose.
- Breeder or shelter shots: bring the records to your first vet visit, including the product name and date of each vaccine, so your vet can pick up where they left off.
Can my puppy go outside before the shots are finished?
Yes, with sensible precautions. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) points out that the first three months of life are the most important window for socialization, and that waiting until the vaccine series is complete means missing much of it. AVSAB recommends that puppies can start puppy classes as early as 7 to 8 weeks of age, as long as they’ve had at least one set of vaccines at least 7 days before the first class and a first deworming, and they stay up to date with the rest of the series.
Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, choose clean, controlled places: your home and yard, a well-run puppy class, and healthy, vaccinated adult dogs you know. Avoid places where many unknown dogs go, like dog parks and pet store floors, and areas where you can’t be sure about parvovirus. Carrying your puppy lets them see new sights and sounds without walking where other dogs have been.
Puppy potty breaks are part of this too; our puppy potty schedule by age covers how often to take them out.
Coming soon: Pet Planner
Pet Planner is the pet care log we’re building at AppSphere Solutions. It lets you log each vaccination and vet visit, set one-time or repeating reminder rules for boosters, and see what’s due or overdue on the Home screen and in a calendar, for every pet you care for. It isn’t released yet, but you can join the waitlist to hear when it’s ready for iPhone and Android.
No launch date yet. See what Pet Planner does
Keeping track of your puppy’s vaccines
- Keep the paperwork. Ask for a copy of each vaccine record and the rabies certificate. Groomers, daycares, boarding kennels and trainers will usually ask for them.
- Write down the next due date before you leave each visit, and put the booster appointment in your calendar.
- Note any reaction, even a mild one, so your vet can take it into account next time.
- Record your puppy’s weight at each visit. Puppies grow fast, and weight also matters for deworming and parasite prevention doses.
Side effects and when to call your vet
Most puppies have no reaction or only a mild one. According to VCA, common mild reactions include:
- Redness, mild swelling or tenderness where the shot was given
- Tiredness and a quieter day than usual
- A smaller appetite
- A low-grade fever
- Sneezing, a runny nose or a cough for 2 to 4 days after an intranasal vaccine
Call your vet if these last more than 24 hours or your puppy seems very uncomfortable. A small, firm lump at the injection site is common and should shrink and disappear within about 14 days; VCA advises contacting your vet if it lasts longer than 3 weeks or gets bigger or more painful.
Get veterinary help immediately if your puppy shows any of these, which can appear within minutes to hours after a vaccine:
- Collapse or fainting
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent, severe coughing
- Hives (small, raised, itchy bumps)
- Swelling of the face, muzzle or around the eyes
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
If your puppy has reacted to a vaccine before, tell your vet. VCA suggests waiting at the clinic for 30 to 60 minutes after the shot if you’re concerned about a serious reaction.
Also call your vet promptly if an unvaccinated or partly vaccinated puppy develops vomiting, diarrhea (especially with blood), lethargy or loss of appetite, because these can be signs of parvovirus, which needs urgent treatment.
This guide is general information and isn’t a substitute for advice from a veterinarian who knows your puppy.
FAQ
When should a puppy get its first shots?
Usually at 6 to 8 weeks of age. That first visit normally includes the first dose of the distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus combination (DAPP or DHPP), and the series continues every 2 to 4 weeks after that.
How many rounds of shots does a puppy need?
Most puppies get three or four doses of the core combination, 2 to 4 weeks apart, with the last one at 16 weeks or older. Add one rabies shot, two doses of leptospirosis, and any non-core vaccines your vet recommends, then a booster at about 6 months or within a year.
When does a puppy get the rabies vaccine?
No earlier than 12 weeks of age, often at the last puppy visit around 16 weeks. Local laws set when it must be given, so your vet will follow the rules where you live. A booster is due a year later.
Is leptospirosis a core vaccine for puppies?
In the AAHA guidelines, yes: in 2024 AAHA changed leptospirosis from non-core to core. It is given as two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart starting at about 12 weeks, then every year. WSAVA considers it core in regions where the disease is common.
Can I take my puppy outside before the vaccines are finished?
Yes, carefully. Socialization in the first three months matters a lot, and the AVSAB says puppies can start classes at 7 to 8 weeks if they had their first vaccines at least 7 days before. Avoid dog parks and places with lots of unknown dogs until the series is complete.
Sources
- American Animal Hospital Association. 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines: recommendations for core and noncore canine vaccines and guideline overview.
- American Animal Hospital Association, NEWStat. AAHA guidelines designate leptospirosis vaccine as core (2024 update).
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association. 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats (PDF).
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Vaccinating your pet.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Puppy rabies vaccine, Why would a vaccine fail? and Care for your pet after vaccination.
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position statement on puppy socialization (PDF, hosted by The Ohio State University).
- PetMD (Monica Tarantino, DVM; reviewed by Brittany Kleszynski, DVM). Puppy and dog vaccinations: a schedule for every life stage.
Written by Jordan Ellis for AppSphere Solutions. Researched against the veterinary sources listed above. See how we research our guides, or browse more pet care guides. For your puppy’s other milestones, see our dog age in human years chart.