At what age do puppies start their vaccinations?

Most puppies get their first core DHPP/DAP shot at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. The series then continues every 2 to 4 weeks until roughly 16 weeks.

How many rounds of shots does a puppy need?

A puppy usually needs three or four rounds of core DHPP/DAP doses spaced across the 6-to-16-week window. The exact number depends on when the series starts and your vet's protocol.

When can my puppy go outside or meet other dogs?

Vets often advise waiting about one to two weeks after the final puppy series, near 16 weeks, before full public access. Safe, controlled socialisation can begin earlier — ask your vet what is right for your area.

What is the difference between core and non-core vaccines?

Core vaccines protect against the most serious, widespread diseases and are recommended for nearly all dogs, including DHPP/DAP and rabies. Non-core vaccines, such as bordetella or leptospirosis, are optional and chosen based on your dog's lifestyle and region.

Do adult dogs still need boosters after the first year?

Yes. After the one-year booster, core vaccines are often repeated about every three years, while some non-core vaccines are given yearly. Your vet sets the schedule for your dog and location.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule by Week (Printable Chart)

Bringing a puppy home means a short but important run of vaccinations in the first few months. This guide walks through a typical puppy vaccination schedule week by week — from about 6 weeks to 16 weeks, plus the first annual booster — so you know roughly what to expect and what to confirm with your own vet. It is part of our complete first-year guide.

What vaccines does a puppy actually need?

Puppies need a series of core vaccines that every dog should have, plus optional non-core vaccines chosen for their lifestyle and where they live. Core vaccines guard against the most serious and widespread diseases, and are recommended almost everywhere.

Core — DHPP / DAP: a single combined shot covering distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus, and usually parainfluenza. You will see it written as DHPP, DAP, DA2PP or DHLPP depending on the clinic and what is included.
Core — Rabies: a separate vaccine, required by law in many regions.
Non-core (optional): bordetella (kennel cough), leptospirosis, canine influenza, and Lyme disease — recommended case by case.

The core combo is given as a series of doses, not a single shot. Puppies carry antibodies from their mother that fade at different times, so repeat doses across several weeks make sure protection takes hold once those maternal antibodies wear off.

What is the puppy vaccination schedule by week?

Most puppies get DHPP/DAP doses roughly every 2 to 4 weeks between about 6 and 16 weeks of age, with rabies usually added near the end of that window. Here is a typical schedule you can print and bring to appointments.

Age / Week	Vaccine(s)	Notes
6–8 weeks	DHPP / DAP (1st dose)	First core combo, often given as maternal antibodies begin to fade.
10–12 weeks	DHPP / DAP (2nd dose); optional bordetella, leptospirosis, canine influenza	Non-core shots added here based on lifestyle and region.
14–16 weeks	DHPP / DAP (final puppy dose); rabies	The last core dose is key — it should land at or after 16 weeks. Rabies timing follows local law.
12–16 months	DHPP / DAP booster; rabies booster	First annual booster, about a year after the puppy series.

Until the series is complete, keep your puppy away from unvaccinated dogs and high-traffic areas like dog parks. Safe, controlled socialisation still matters in these weeks — ask your vet how to balance it.

When does a puppy get the rabies vaccine?

Rabies is usually given once between 12 and 16 weeks of age. It is a separate shot from the core combo and is legally required in many places, so the exact minimum age can be set by local rules rather than by your vet alone.

After that first rabies dose, a puppy gets a booster around the one-year mark. From then on, rabies boosters are typically due every 1 to 3 years depending on the vaccine used and your local law.

Are the optional (non-core) vaccines worth it?

Non-core vaccines are optional and depend on your puppy’s lifestyle and surroundings. Your vet weighs the real risk your dog faces before recommending them.

Bordetella (kennel cough): often required for daycare, boarding, grooming or training classes.
Leptospirosis: considered for dogs with access to standing water, wildlife or rural areas.
Canine influenza: useful where dogs gather in groups or where outbreaks occur.
Lyme disease: relevant in regions with a high tick burden.

If any of these apply, your vet will fit them into the same 10 to 16 week window and tell you whether a second dose is needed.

When is the first annual booster due?

The first booster comes about a year after the initial puppy series — usually around 12 to 16 months of age. It typically renews the DHPP/DAP core combo and the rabies vaccine at the same visit.

After this one-year booster, adult dogs move to a longer interval. Core boosters are often given every 3 years, while some non-core vaccines are repeated yearly. Your vet sets the cadence that fits your dog and your area.

Does the puppy vaccination schedule change by region or vet?

Yes — schedules vary by country, region and individual clinic, so treat any chart as a starting point rather than a fixed rule. Local law, the diseases common in your area, the specific products your vet stocks, and your puppy’s health all shape the final plan.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Always confirm your puppy’s exact schedule, dates and vaccine choices with your own vet, and follow the reminders they give you.

How do you keep track of every dose?

The simplest way is to write each dose down as it happens, with the date and the next due date, so nothing slips through in those busy first weeks. A single record beats scattered receipts and phone reminders — see what to track in your puppy’s first year for the full picture.

Vaccinations sit alongside the other first-year routines worth logging, like your feeding schedule by age and weight and your potty-training timeline. Our free printable puppy checklist gathers the essentials on one page to get you started.

When you want one calm place to keep it all — vaccination dates, vet notes, weight, milestones and photos — the Puppy Log Book has a 12-month vaccination tracker built in. Pair it with our free new-puppy checklist and you will have your puppy’s first year covered from day one.