Puppy Vaccination Schedule: Core Shots by Age, Boosters, and Records

A standard puppy vaccination schedule starts the core combination shot (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and usually parainfluenza) at 6 to 8 weeks of age and repeats it every 2 to 4 weeks until the puppy is at least 16 weeks old. Rabies follows at 12 weeks or later, when your local law says, and leptospirosis, now classed as core by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), is two shots 2 to 4 weeks apart starting at 12 weeks. After the puppy series comes one booster, which AAHA places within a year and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) places at or shortly after 26 weeks, and then adult boosters on a longer cycle. Your veterinarian sets the exact dates for your puppy, because local disease risk, the products the clinic uses, and state or local rabies rules all change the details.

That gives you the shape of it. The rest of this guide covers why puppies need a series at all, which vaccines are core and which depend on lifestyle, what to do when a schedule slips, when a puppy can safely meet other dogs, and what to watch for after a shot. It also covers keeping the record straight, which matters more than most owners expect: boarding kennels, groomers, trainers, and a new vet will all ask for it. You can log each shot as a vaccination record on Creatures and add a follow-up date, which turns the next due date into a reminder so you are not relying on the clinic’s postcard.

Puppy vaccination schedule by age

The schedule below follows the AAHA core and noncore vaccine table for dogs and the WSAVA 2024 vaccination guidelines, the main professional vaccination guidelines for dogs in North America and worldwide. One change since that table was printed: AAHA’s 2024 update moved leptospirosis from noncore to core. The schedule shows a common pattern, not a prescription. A clinic that vaccinates every 3 weeks will book different weeks than one that vaccinates every 4, and both can be correct.

• 6 to 8 weeks. First core combination shot: distemper, adenovirus type 2, parvovirus, and often parainfluenza. This is often done by the breeder or shelter before the puppy goes home, so ask for the record.
• 9 to 12 weeks. Second core combination shot. Kennel cough (Bordetella) may be added for a puppy heading to classes, grooming, or boarding.
• 12 weeks and up. Another core combination shot, the first leptospirosis shot, and rabies when it is due. CDC advice is no rabies vaccine before 12 weeks. Lepto needs a second shot 2 to 4 weeks after the first.
• 16 weeks or older. The final core combination shot of the series, plus the second lepto shot if it has not been given. The shot at or after 16 weeks is the one that counts most, and some clinics finish at 18 to 20 weeks.
• 26 weeks, or within the first year. A core booster: WSAVA prefers 26 weeks, AAHA says within 1 year of the series. A blood titer test at 20 weeks or later is WSAVA’s accepted alternative to the 26-week shot. The rabies booster falls 1 year after the first rabies shot.
• Adult dog. Core combination every 3 years, lepto every year, and rabies every 1 or 3 years depending on the product and the law. Lifestyle vaccines such as kennel cough and Lyme are usually yearly.

How many shots that adds up to depends on when you start. AAHA’s table calls for at least three core combination shots between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart. WSAVA says the same thing in a different way: start at 6 to 8 weeks, repeat every 2 to 4 weeks, finish at 16 weeks or older, and do not vaccinate more often than every 2 weeks. A puppy started at 8 weeks on a 4-week cycle gets shots at about 8, 12, and 16 weeks. A puppy started at 6 weeks on a 3-week cycle gets more visits. The core series is the same whatever the breed or size, so a toy puppy and a giant Bully Kutta puppy follow the same schedule.

The combination shot goes by several names on invoices and records: DHPP, DAPP, DA2PP, or DAPP plus a letter for any add-on. They all describe the same core group. The “H” in DHPP stands for hepatitis, which is the disease the adenovirus component prevents.

Core and noncore vaccines for puppies

Both AAHA and WSAVA split dog vaccines into two groups. Core vaccines are recommended for every dog unless there is a specific medical reason not to vaccinate, so the core list is the same whichever breed on the Creatures dog species page your puppy belongs to. Noncore vaccines are recommended for some dogs, based on where they live, where they travel, and what they do.

Core vaccines

• Canine distemper virus. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes it as a highly infectious viral disease of dogs, with signs that can include fever, respiratory and digestive illness, and seizures. AAHA calls distemper vaccines core “regardless of geographical location.”
• Canine adenovirus type 2. Included because it cross-protects against adenovirus type 1, the cause of infectious canine hepatitis.
• Canine parvovirus. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes dogs 6 weeks to 6 months old that are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated as the most susceptible. The virus is also hard to get rid of: Merck notes it can survive indoors at room temperature for at least 2 months, and outdoors, protected from sun and drying, for many months and possibly years.
• Rabies. Core wherever it is required by law, and recommended as core by AAHA where it is not. More on rabies below.
• Leptospirosis. A bacterial disease that AAHA describes as potentially life-threatening and zoonotic, meaning it can spread to people. AAHA’s 2022 guidelines listed it as noncore, but in 2024 AAHA updated its guidelines to make the lepto vaccine core, following an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus that it be given yearly to all dogs from 12 weeks of age. WSAVA’s 2024 guidelines call it core where the disease is endemic and suitable vaccines are available. AAHA’s guidance notes that small-breed and city dogs get lepto too, often through contact with wildlife such as rodents, so “my dog is small and lives in town” is not a reason to skip it.

Noncore (lifestyle) vaccines

• Bordetella and parainfluenza (kennel cough). For puppies that will be around other dogs in boarding, daycare, grooming, training classes, or shows. Many facilities require it. Some versions go in the nose or mouth rather than under the skin.
• Canine influenza (H3N8 and H3N2). Two shots 2 to 4 weeks apart, then yearly, for dogs in group settings. According to WSAVA, these vaccines are licensed only in the USA.
• Lyme disease. For dogs that live in or travel to areas where Lyme-carrying ticks are common. WSAVA stresses that tick control, not the vaccine, is the main defense.
• Rattlesnake toxoid. Listed by AAHA as noncore, for dogs with real exposure risk. Your vet will say whether it makes sense where you live.

The AVMA’s owner guide to vaccination makes the same split in plain language, and suggests telling your vet about any expected travel and contact with other animals so the lifestyle vaccines fit your puppy’s actual life.

Why puppies need a series of shots

A single puppy shot is not enough because of the antibodies puppies get from their mother. Those maternal antibodies protect a young puppy for a while, but they also block the vaccine from doing its job. According to AAHA, distemper antibodies are usually gone by 12 to 14 weeks, but parvovirus antibodies can last to 13 to 15 weeks or possibly longer, and no one can tell by looking when a particular puppy’s protection has faded. So the vaccine is repeated every few weeks, and whichever shot lands after the maternal antibodies drop is the one that immunizes.

That is also why the last shot has to come at 16 weeks or later. WSAVA calls the dose at 16 weeks or older the most important of the early ones, because by then maternal antibodies have waned in the large majority of puppies. It also explains the 26-week booster: a small share of puppies still have enough maternal antibody at 16 weeks to block that shot, and revaccinating at 26 weeks instead of waiting until a year closes that gap sooner. A titer test (a blood test for antibodies) at least 4 weeks after the last puppy shot is WSAVA’s alternative. If it shows protection against distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus, the 26-week shot is not needed.

WSAVA’s guidelines also specifically advise against the “10-week finish” that some products are labeled for. Their guidance is to finish no earlier than 16 weeks, whatever number of shots came before.

Rabies: the vaccine the law sets

Rabies is the one puppy vaccine where the schedule is partly a legal matter. The CDC’s rabies guidance for veterinarians says to vaccinate dogs according to local laws, that most should not be vaccinated before 3 months (12 weeks) of age, and that an animal is considered immunized 28 days after its first rabies shot. That 28-day point matters if your puppy is bitten, bites someone, or needs to travel soon after the first shot.

AAHA notes that rabies laws can set the age at first vaccination, the booster timing, which formulation counts, how an overdue dog is handled, and whether any exemption is allowed, and that those rules can be set locally or at the state level. All licensed rabies vaccines for dogs in the US are labeled for puppies 3 months and older, come in 1-year and 3-year versions, and call for a booster 1 year after the first shot regardless of the version used. Because the rules differ by place, ask your vet what applies where you live, and keep the rabies certificate with the rest of the record. Many licensing offices, boarding kennels, and groomers ask to see it.

If the schedule is late, missed, or unknown

Life happens. A puppy comes home at 14 weeks with one shot, or a booster visit gets missed by a month. The guidelines cover this.

• A puppy starting after 16 weeks. AAHA’s table calls for two core combination shots 2 to 4 weeks apart for dogs older than 16 weeks at their first vaccination, then a booster within a year.
• A missed or overdue booster. AAHA’s guidance is that the benefits of vaccinating a dog with unknown status far outweigh the risks, and its rule of thumb is “when in doubt, vaccinate.” Your vet will decide whether to restart the series or simply continue.
• No paperwork from the breeder or shelter. Treat the history as unknown until you have a record. The AVMA notes that titer tests can help a vet judge whether a dog with an unclear history has been vaccinated, but they do not replace a vaccination program.

The practical lesson is to get a copy of every shot on the day it is given. A record you can find beats a memory of “I think he had his second round.”

Going out, socializing, and boarding before the series is done

Owners hear two opposite messages: keep the puppy home until the shots are done, and socialize the puppy early. Both have a point, and the professional guidance reconciles them.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s position statement on puppy socialization says the first three months are the period when a puppy’s sociability develops most, and that puppies can start socialization classes as early as 7 to 8 weeks, as long as they have had at least one set of vaccines at least 7 days before the first class, plus a first deworming, and are kept up to date after that. Early socialization has WSAVA’s support too: its guidelines cite research finding that the parvovirus risk from attending early socialization classes is low.

The same WSAVA guidance draws the line on where a partly vaccinated puppy goes. Socialize under controlled conditions, avoid places that may be contaminated by unknown dogs, and allow contact only with healthy puppies and fully vaccinated adult dogs. In practice that means a clean, well-run puppy class and a vaccinated friend’s dog in their yard are reasonable, while dog parks, pet store floors, and highway rest stops can wait until your vet says the series is complete. Given how long parvovirus lasts in the environment, a place where many unknown dogs pass through is a real risk for a puppy that is not yet protected.

Boarding and daycare are their own case. Kennels and daycares typically require proof of vaccination, often including kennel cough and sometimes influenza, and may set their own minimum age. If you will need boarding soon after bringing a puppy home, ask the facility what it requires before your next vet visit so the right shots are on the schedule. Our guide to what dog boarding costs covers the other half of that planning.

What to watch for after a puppy’s shots

Most puppies are a little quiet after a vaccine visit and are back to normal the next day. The AVMA lists the common, short-lived effects, which usually start within hours:

• tenderness or swelling where the shot was given
• tiredness
• mild fever
• lower appetite
• sneezing or a mild cough for a few days after a vaccine given in the nose

These usually settle within 24 hours. If they last more than a day or two, or your puppy seems very uncomfortable, call your veterinarian. A small firm lump at the injection site can appear and should shrink within a couple of weeks; the AVMA says to contact your vet if it lasts more than three weeks, seems painful, or is getting bigger.

Allergic reactions are rare but can be life-threatening, and they usually happen within minutes to hours of the shot. Call a veterinarian now, or go to an emergency clinic, if your puppy has any of these:

• fainting or collapse
• persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• persistent, severe coughing
• difficulty breathing
• hives (red, itchy bumps over the body)
• swelling or puffiness of the face, muzzle, eyes, or neck

Always tell your vet if your puppy has reacted to a vaccine before. For a first shot of a new vaccine, the AVMA suggests waiting at the clinic for 30 to 60 minutes before heading home. Write any reaction into the puppy’s record the same day, including what was given, so every future vet sees it.

For breeders: the litter’s first shots and the handoff

For breeders, the first round of core vaccines often happens while the litter is still at home, somewhere in that 6 to 8 week window, and the handoff of that record is part of selling a healthy puppy. The buyer’s vet needs to know exactly what was given and when to fit the rest of the series around it.

A good go-home record for each puppy includes the vaccine name as written on the clinic paperwork, the date given, who gave it, deworming dates, and the date the next shot is due. Paper packets get lost. If the litter is on Creatures, you can record a vaccination for several puppies at once, since some record types let you select more than one animal for the same event (see adding a record). When a puppy goes to its new home, an ownership transfer hands the buyer the profile, records, and pedigree, so the shot history moves with the puppy instead of living in your files. Your first transfer is free; after that each transfer is $19.95, or free with Creatures Pro, per the Creatures pricing page.

If you are still at the planning stage, the sister guide on how long dogs are pregnant and the free dog gestation calculator help you work out a due date, and from there, roughly when the litter’s first vaccine visit will fall. Our dog stud fees guide covers the stud side, including the health testing to check before any breeding. For registered litters, the free dog pedigree chart maker builds a printable three-generation pedigree to go home with each puppy, no account needed.

Keep a puppy vaccination record on Creatures

A puppy vaccination record is the list of every shot your dog has had, with dates, and the date of the next one. Clinics keep their own copy, but it is yours that travels to the boarding kennel, the groomer, an emergency clinic at midnight, or a new vet after a move. Here is how to keep it on Creatures, and what each step gives you back.

1. Create your puppy’s profile. Add your puppy with its basic details and birth date (walkthrough: adding an animal to Creatures). You can start without an account, and a free account keeps the profile.
2. Add each shot as a Vaccination record. On the puppy’s Records tab, choose Add Record, then Vaccination. Enter the vaccine name exactly as it appears on the clinic paperwork and the date given. Use Files to attach a photo or PDF of the clinic’s receipt or rabies certificate, so the original is always one tap away. Record the breeder’s shots too, with their dates.
3. Enter the follow-up date. The vaccination form has a Follow-up Date field. Put in the date your vet gave for the next shot, and saving the record creates a linked reminder for that puppy. Do it at every visit and the next due date is always on the calendar. The health and medical records guide walks through the form.
4. Use reminders for everything else on the schedule. A reminder can repeat, so yearly items such as lepto or kennel cough can be set once, and you can choose to be notified a set number of days before the due date. Due items show in the puppy’s Care schedule and on Today’s care. See reminders and upcoming care.
5. Log the rest of puppyhood in the same place. Deworming, weights, the spay or neuter appointment, microchip details, and any vaccine reaction all fit as records, so the full history lives in one timeline you can search and filter.
6. Download a packet when someone asks for proof. From the Records tab, Download packet (when offered) prepares the puppy’s paperwork and history as a PDF you can send to a kennel or a new vet. Review what you include first: if you add private records, anyone you share the PDF with can read them. The animal records tab guide explains the options.

Two notes on what is free and what needs an account. Creating the puppy’s profile can begin as a guest, and records, reminders, and the packet are free with a Creatures account. The Add Record sheet opens for any visitor so you can see the form, but saving a record needs a free account. Records are private or public by your choice, and a private animal’s records stay private.

Puppy vaccination FAQ

How many shots does a puppy need?

For the core combination vaccine, usually three or four between 6 and 16 weeks, depending on the starting age and the interval your clinic uses, then one booster at 26 weeks or within the first year. On top of that come a rabies shot at 12 weeks or later with its booster a year on, two leptospirosis shots from 12 weeks, and any lifestyle vaccines your vet recommends. A puppy started late, after 16 weeks, needs fewer core shots: two, 2 to 4 weeks apart, according to AAHA.

When is a puppy fully vaccinated?

For the core viral diseases, a puppy is considered through its primary series after the shot given at 16 weeks or older, with the 26-week or first-year booster covering the few that did not respond. For rabies, the CDC considers a dog immunized 28 days after the first rabies shot. Ask your vet when your puppy is clear for dog parks and other high-traffic places, because the answer depends on your area’s risk.

Can my puppy go outside before the shots are finished?

Yes, with care. Your own yard, if unknown dogs do not pass through it, is generally fine, and well-run puppy classes are encouraged once the puppy has had at least one set of vaccines a week or more before the first class. Hold off on places many unknown dogs use until your vet says the series is complete.

Does my small indoor dog need the leptospirosis vaccine?

AAHA’s current guidance treats lepto as core for dogs in North America, and its task force members point out that small-breed dogs are now frequently infected, often through urban and suburban exposure to wildlife such as rodents. Discuss it with your vet, who will weigh your dog’s health and local risk, but “small” and “indoors” are no longer seen as reasons to skip it.

Can I skip the 26-week or 1-year booster?

That booster exists because a small number of puppies do not respond to the 16-week shot. WSAVA’s alternative is a titer test at 20 weeks or later. If it shows protection, the 26-week shot is not needed. Your vet can tell you whether titer testing is practical for your puppy.

Is the kitten schedule the same?

The idea is the same, a series every 2 to 4 weeks ending at 16 weeks or later, but the diseases and core vaccines differ. See the sister guide to the kitten vaccination schedule.

Do this next on Creatures

Whether you just brought a puppy home, are still looking for the right one, or are raising a litter, Creatures keeps the records, the reminders, and the search in one place.

This guide summarizes published veterinary guidelines for general information. It is not a substitute for your veterinarian, who sets your puppy’s actual vaccination schedule based on its health, local disease risk, and the rabies laws where you live.