Puppy Shots Schedule by Age, Which Vaccines and When
Puppies get their first core vaccines at 6 to 8 weeks old, then a repeat every 2 to 4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old, and a booster at about 26 weeks. In the US, leptospirosis and rabies are added along the way. Your vet makes the final plan, so check with your vet before changing any date, but the puppy vaccination schedule will turn your puppy’s birthday into a dated list you can take to the first visit.
The core vaccines every puppy needs
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) calls three vaccines “core”, meaning every puppy should have them wherever it lives:
- Distemper, a serious virus that can affect the lungs, gut and nervous system
- Adenovirus, which causes infectious canine hepatitis
- Parvovirus, a severe gut infection that spreads easily between puppies
These are usually given together as one shot. In the US the combination often includes parainfluenza as well and is called DHPP, which is the name you will see on many vet records.
Why puppies need several rounds
A puppy gets antibodies from its mother’s milk. They protect it for its first weeks, but they can also stop a vaccine from working. Nobody can tell exactly when those antibodies fade in a given puppy, so vets repeat the shot every few weeks. The WSAVA 2024 guidelines say the last puppy dose should be at 16 weeks or older, because by then the mother’s antibodies are unlikely to get in the way.
That is also why shots should not be given closer together than every 2 weeks. The guidelines set the gap at 2 to 4 weeks.
The 26-week booster
WSAVA now advises one more core shot at or shortly after 26 weeks (about 6 months), or an antibody blood test from 20 weeks. This catches any puppy whose last puppy shot did not take. It replaces the older habit of a first “annual” booster at one year, although many vets still give it at one year, and the calculator notes both.
US extras: leptospirosis and rabies
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines treat two more vaccines as core for dogs in the US:
- Leptospirosis: a bacterial infection spread through the urine of wildlife and other animals, often in water or wet soil. It is given as two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart, starting at about 12 weeks.
- Rabies: a single dose at 12 to 16 weeks, at the age your state or local law requires, with a booster one year later. After that, the law where you live sets how often it is repeated.
In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, leptospirosis is normally given with the first two puppy shots, and rabies is not part of the routine puppy course. The calculator has a setting for each region.
A sample timeline with the calculator’s default settings
The calculator starts with the first shot at 8 weeks, 4 weeks between puppy shots and the US schedule. With those settings, the plan looks like this:
| Puppy’s age | What is due |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Core puppy shot 1 (DHPP) |
| 12 weeks | Core puppy shot 2; leptospirosis dose 1 |
| 16 weeks | Core puppy shot 3; leptospirosis dose 2; rabies |
| 26 weeks | Core booster |
| 1 year after the rabies shot | Rabies booster |
If your vet starts earlier or uses shorter gaps, the puppy gets more rounds, but the rule stays the same: keep going until the puppy has had a shot at 16 weeks or older. Change the “age at first shot” and “weeks between shots” in the calculator to match what your vet uses, and the dates update.
How to plan your puppy’s shots, step by step
- Find the date of birth. It is on the breeder’s or shelter’s paperwork. If you only know an estimate, use it and tell your vet.
- Gather any vaccine record that came with the puppy. Shots already given count. Bring the stickers or the record card to the first visit.
- Book the first vet visit. The vet will check the puppy, confirm what has been given and set the next dates.
- Enter the details in the calculator. Add the birthday, your region, the age of the first shot and the gap your vet uses.
- Put every date in your calendar. A missed date can mean extra rounds, because the series needs to reach the 16-week point with shots at regular gaps.
- Ask about lifestyle vaccines. Kennel cough (Bordetella), Lyme disease and canine flu are not for every dog. Your vet will suggest them based on where you live, boarding, daycare, travel and time in tick areas.
Keeping your puppy safe before the series is finished
Until the last puppy shot has had time to work, your puppy is not fully protected. Many vets advise avoiding places where lots of unknown dogs go, such as dog parks and busy rest stops, until your vet says it is safe.
That does not mean keeping your puppy shut away. The weeks before 16 weeks are a key time for socialization. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior says puppies can start socialization classes 7 days after their first set of vaccines, in a clean, controlled setting with other vaccinated puppies. Visitors at home, car rides and carrying your puppy to see new sights all help.
Common mistakes
- Stopping before 16 weeks. A puppy that finishes at 12 weeks may not be protected, however many shots it had.
- Doubling up to catch up. Shots closer than 2 weeks apart do not speed things up.
- Forgetting the 26-week booster. It is easy to miss once the puppy visits stop.
- Assuming the breeder’s shot finished the job. One early shot is a start, not a full course.
While you’re planning the first months, the puppy food calculator and our guide to how much a puppy should eat cover feeding, and how much weight a puppy should gain per week helps you track growth between vet visits.
Frequently asked questions
How many sets of shots does a puppy need?
It depends on when the series starts and the gap between shots. With the first shot at 8 weeks and 4-week gaps, a puppy gets three core puppy shots at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, then the booster at about 26 weeks. Starting earlier or using shorter gaps means more rounds. The rule that matters is that the last puppy shot is at 16 weeks or older.
When does my puppy get the rabies shot?
In the US, rabies is a single shot at 12 to 16 weeks, at the age your state or local law sets, with a booster one year later. Your vet will know the local rule. In the UK, rabies vaccination is only needed for travel abroad.
Is my puppy protected after the first shot?
Not fully. The first shot may be blocked by antibodies from the mother, which is why the series continues to 16 weeks or older. Treat your puppy as unprotected until your vet says the course is complete.
What if my puppy missed a shot?
Call your vet. They will tell you whether to pick up where you left off or add an extra round. Don’t try to double up shots closer than 2 weeks apart.
Can I use the calculator instead of asking my vet?
No. The puppy vaccination schedule gives a suggested plan to discuss with your vet. Local diseases, the vaccine brand and your puppy’s health can all change the dates, so check with your vet before you follow any schedule.