Puppy Vaccine Schedule Calculator: Shot Dates by Age

A planning guide, not medical advice. Your vet sets the final schedule based on your puppy's health, the vaccines they use and local law. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.

Puppy vaccine schedule chart

Puppies get their first core vaccines at 6–8 weeks, then a dose every 2–4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old. The two main veterinary guidelines agree on that, but differ on leptospirosis, rabies and the first booster.

Age	US and Canada (AAHA)	UK, Australia and elsewhere (WSAVA)
6–8 weeks	DHPP, dose 1	Core vaccine (DHP), dose 1; leptospirosis, dose 1 (usually from 8 weeks)
10–12 weeks	DHPP, dose 2; leptospirosis, dose 1 (from 12 weeks)	Core vaccine, dose 2; leptospirosis, dose 2
14–16 weeks	DHPP, dose 3 (at 16 weeks or later); leptospirosis, dose 2; rabies (age set by law)	Core vaccine, dose 3 (at 16 weeks or older); rabies only where local law requires it
26 weeks	No dose	Core booster, or a blood test from 20 weeks to check protection
About 1 year after the puppy shots	DHPP, leptospirosis and rabies boosters	Leptospirosis booster
Adult dog	DHPP every 3 years; leptospirosis every year; rabies every 1 or 3 years	Core vaccines no more often than every 3 years; leptospirosis every year

DHPP (also written DAPP or DA2PP) covers distemper, adenovirus type 2 (which protects against infectious canine hepatitis), parvovirus and parainfluenza. Many vets give it as a single combined injection.

Why the last puppy shot matters most

A puppy gets antibodies from its mother's milk. They protect it in the first weeks of life, but they can also block a vaccine from working. The AAHA guidelines say these maternal antibodies against distemper are usually gone by 12–14 weeks, while those against parvovirus may last until 13–15 weeks or longer. Because nobody knows exactly when a given puppy's antibodies fade, the series continues until at least 16 weeks of age.

The WSAVA calls the dose at 16 weeks or older the most important one. It also recommends an extra core dose at or shortly after 26 weeks (or a blood test from 20 weeks of age), which replaces the older "first annual booster" at 12–16 months.

Leptospirosis is now a core vaccine in the US

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread in the urine of infected animals, often through puddles and wet ground. In January 2025 the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) moved the leptospirosis vaccine from non-core to core, which means it now recommends it for most dogs. Puppies get two doses 2–4 weeks apart starting at 12 weeks, then a booster every year. The WSAVA counts it as core wherever the disease is common, usually starting from 8 weeks depending on the vaccine.

When puppies get the rabies shot

United States and Canada: rabies vaccines are labeled for puppies 3 months (12 weeks) and older. State, provincial or local law sets the exact age and how often boosters are due. A booster is due 1 year after the first shot, then every 1 or 3 years depending on the vaccine and the law.
United Kingdom: rabies has been eradicated from UK animals other than bats, so it isn't part of the routine schedule. If you plan to travel abroad, your puppy can be vaccinated from 12 weeks. For the EU or Northern Ireland you must wait at least 21 days after the vaccination before travelling; other countries can require a blood test and a longer wait, so check GOV.UK before booking.
Australia: Australia is free of rabies, so it isn't part of the routine puppy schedule.

Lifestyle vaccines

Lifestyle (non-core) vaccines are given to dogs whose life puts them at risk, such as dogs that go to boarding kennels, daycare or tick areas. Your vet will suggest them based on where you live and what your dog does.

Vaccine	Puppy doses	Then
Kennel cough (Bordetella), nose or mouth	One dose; some products from 3 weeks, others from 7–8 weeks	Every year
Kennel cough (Bordetella), injection	Two doses, 2–4 weeks apart	Every year
Lyme disease	Two doses, 2–4 weeks apart, from about 8 weeks	Every year, just before tick season
Canine influenza (dog flu)	Two doses, 2–4 weeks apart, from 6 weeks	Every year

The AAHA does not recommend the canine influenza vaccine for all dogs. Ask your vet whether it makes sense for yours.

Keep your puppy's vaccine record and bring it to every visit. Boarding kennels, daycares, groomers and travel rules often ask for proof of vaccination.

Puppy Vaccine Schedule: Which Shots and When (Chart) — Save this chart for later or share it with a friend.

Questions people ask

When should a puppy get its first shots?

At 6–8 weeks of age. Both the AAHA and WSAVA guidelines start the core vaccines in that window, then repeat them every 2–4 weeks until the puppy is at least 16 weeks old.

How many rounds of shots does a puppy need?

Usually three rounds of the core vaccine, for example at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. A puppy that starts at 6 weeks may need four. In the US the AAHA adds two leptospirosis doses and a rabies shot; under the WSAVA guidelines a further core dose follows at about 26 weeks.

Why do puppies need shots until 16 weeks?

Antibodies from the mother can stop a vaccine from working, and they fade at different ages in different puppies. Continuing until at least 16 weeks makes sure the last dose comes after they are gone.

When does a puppy get the rabies vaccine?

In the US and Canada rabies vaccines are labeled from 12 weeks (3 months), and the law where you live sets the exact age. In the UK it is only needed for travel abroad, and in Australia it is not routinely given.

Does my puppy need the leptospirosis vaccine?

In the US, the AAHA has listed it as a core vaccine for most dogs since January 2025. The WSAVA treats it as core wherever leptospirosis is common. Ask your vet whether it applies where you live.

What does DHPP stand for?

Distemper, hepatitis (caused by adenovirus type 1; the vaccine uses the related type 2 to protect against it), parvovirus and parainfluenza. You may also see it written as DAPP or DA2PP.

What if my puppy missed a vaccine?

Book a visit as soon as you can and bring any records of earlier shots. Your vet will decide whether the series can continue or whether some doses need repeating.

Puppy vaccine schedule