Dog and Puppy Vaccinations

Vaccines protect dogs from serious and often deadly diseases, and they help protect other animals and sometimes people too. Your vet will build a plan around your dog's age, lifestyle, where you live and where you travel. This guide explains the basics so you know what to ask.

Core and Lifestyle Vaccines

Vets group dog vaccines into two kinds.

Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs, unless there's a medical reason not to vaccinate. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), which writes guidelines used worldwide, lists these as core:

Canine parvovirus
Canine distemper
Canine adenovirus
Rabies - core wherever the disease is present or the law requires it.
Leptospirosis - core in regions where it's common, using vaccines that cover the local types.

In the US, the American Animal Hospital Association's guidelines treat leptospirosis and rabies as core for all dogs.

Lifestyle (non-core) vaccines depend on your dog's risk. Examples include Bordetella vaccines for dogs that mix with other dogs at boarding kennels, daycare or training classes, and Lyme disease vaccines for dogs that live in or travel to areas with the ticks that carry it. Canine influenza vaccines are licensed only in the US.

The Puppy Schedule

Puppies get some protection from their mother's milk, but it fades and can also stop early vaccines from working. That's why puppies need a series of vaccinations rather than a single dose.

The first vaccinations are usually given at 6 to 8 weeks old.
Core vaccines are repeated every 3 to 4 weeks until the puppy is at least 16 weeks old.
WSAVA suggests considering another dose at about 6 months old, rather than waiting until 12 to 16 months.
Rabies vaccine timing follows local law and the product. In some countries the first dose isn't given before 12 weeks.

Your vet may adjust this schedule for your puppy. Ask for a written record of every vaccine given and when the next one is due.

Boosters for Adult Dogs

After the puppy series, some vaccines protect for several years and others need topping up more often. Under WSAVA guidelines, after the puppy series and the dose at about 6 months (or 12 to 16 months), the core parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus vaccines are given again at about 3 years old and then no more often than every 3 years. Leptospirosis and most lifestyle vaccines are given every year. Rabies boosters depend on the vaccine used and, in some places, on the law.

If your adult dog has never been vaccinated or is overdue, it's not too late. Ask your vet to plan a catch-up.

Can My Puppy Go Out Before the Vaccines Are Finished?

Early socialization is very important, and it can start before the vaccine series is complete. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior says puppies can start puppy classes from 7 to 8 weeks old, as long as they have had at least one set of vaccines at least 7 days before the first class and a first deworming. Choose classes that keep puppies' vaccines up to date, and ask your vet which places to avoid until vaccinations are finished.

Side Effects

Most dogs have no problems, or only mild effects such as tenderness at the injection site, tiredness, a mild fever or a reduced appetite. These usually pass within a day. Call your vet if they last more than a day or two.

Serious allergic reactions are rare. Get veterinary help straight away if you see:

Collapse or fainting
Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
Severe, persistent coughing or difficulty breathing
Itchy bumps all over the body (hives)
Swelling of the face, eyes, nose or neck

Always tell your vet if your dog has reacted to a vaccine before.

Rabies Rules Differ by Country

US - many state and local laws require certain vaccinations, even for indoor-only pets, so check what applies where you live. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all dogs be vaccinated against rabies and sets rules for bringing dogs into the country.
England (Great Britain) - to bring a dog into Great Britain, it must be microchipped before its rabies vaccination, and you must wait at least 21 full days after the vaccination before travel. Other rules, such as tapeworm treatment for dogs, also apply.
Canada - the Canadian Food Inspection Agency notes that dogs cannot be effectively vaccinated against rabies before 12 weeks of age. Ask for vaccination records when getting a dog, especially one from abroad.
Australia and the EU - rules differ between states and countries. Check with your vet and your national or state authority.

Sources

Last reviewed October 15, 2026