Puppy vaccination schedule by birth date
Most puppies get their first core vaccine at about 8 weeks, then a dose every 4 weeks until at least 16 weeks old, and a booster about a year later. Rabies usually starts at 12 weeks. Pick your country and your puppy's birth date to see the dates. Your vet sets the final plan.
Sources checked 20 October 2026. How we check facts
Core vaccines
Your dog is over a year old, so the puppy schedule no longer applies. Adult boosters depend on the shots your dog already had. Ask your vet, or add the records to Maggie to get the next dates.
After the puppy shots
Ask your vet about these
A plan for a puppy with no shots yet, from your puppy's age only. Your vet sets the final plan, and the brand of vaccine can change the dates.
Puppy vaccination schedule by age, country by country
These are the core puppy vaccines for a puppy with no shots yet, by week of age. The dates in the tool above come from the same rules.
United States
| Age | Core vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 1 |
| 12 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 2; Rabies; Leptospirosis, dose 1 |
| 14 weeks | Leptospirosis, dose 2 |
| 16 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 3 |
Then: DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1) booster at about 16 months old, then every 3 years; Rabies booster at about 15 months old, then every year; Leptospirosis booster at about 15 months old, then every year.
Ask your vet about: Kennel cough (Bordetella), Canine Influenza, Lyme Disease, Rattlesnake.
India
| Age | Core vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | DHPPiL4 (9-in-1), dose 1 |
| 12 weeks | DHPPiL4 (9-in-1), dose 2; Rabies |
| 16 weeks | DHPPiL4 (9-in-1), dose 3 |
Then: DHPPiL4 (9-in-1) booster at about 16 months old, then every year; Rabies booster at about 15 months old, then every year.
Ask your vet about: Kennel cough (Bordetella), Canine Coronavirus.
United Kingdom
| Age | Core vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 1 |
| 12 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 2; Leptospirosis, dose 1 |
| 14 weeks | Leptospirosis, dose 2 |
| 16 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 3 |
Then: DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1) booster at about 16 months old, then every 3 years; Leptospirosis booster at about 15 months old, then every year.
Ask your vet about: Rabies, Kennel cough (Bordetella).
Canada
| Age | Core vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 1 |
| 12 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 2; Rabies; Leptospirosis, dose 1 |
| 14 weeks | Leptospirosis, dose 2 |
| 16 weeks | DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1), dose 3 |
Then: DHPP / DA2PP (5-in-1) booster at about 16 months old, then every 3 years; Rabies booster at about 15 months old, then every year; Leptospirosis booster at about 15 months old, then every year.
Ask your vet about: Kennel cough (Bordetella), Canine Influenza, Lyme Disease.
Australia
| Age | Core vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | C3 (distemper, hepatitis, parvo), dose 1 |
| 12 weeks | C3 (distemper, hepatitis, parvo), dose 2 |
| 16 weeks | C3 (distemper, hepatitis, parvo), dose 3 |
Then: C3 (distemper, hepatitis, parvo) booster at about 16 months old, then every 3 years.
Ask your vet about: Leptospirosis, Kennel cough (Bordetella).
How the puppy schedule works
A puppy gets some protection from its mother's milk, but that protection fades and can also block a vaccine. So puppies get a series of doses a few weeks apart, and the last one is at 16 weeks or older. A booster about a year after the series finishes the puppy course. After that, the core combination shot is every year in India and every 3 years in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia.
A puppy older than about 26 weeks with no shots usually needs only one dose of the core combination to finish the puppy course, then the booster a year later.
Puppy vaccines: common questions
Why must the last puppy shot be at 16 weeks or older?
Antibodies from the mother can block a vaccine in the first weeks of life, and in some puppies they last until about 16 weeks. A dose at 16 weeks or later makes sure the vaccine works even in those puppies.
Why do boosters differ between India and the US or UK?
In India most vets give a 7-in-1 or 9-in-1 combination every year, with leptospirosis included because of the monsoon. In the US, UK and Canada the core 5-in-1 is usually given every 3 years after the first adult booster, with leptospirosis as a separate yearly shot.
Does my puppy need a rabies vaccine?
In India, the US and Canada, yes: rabies starts at about 12 weeks. In the UK it is not routine and is given for travel abroad. Australia has no canine rabies, so there is no rabies shot for pet dogs there.
What does core mean?
Core vaccines protect against diseases that are common and serious where you live, so every puppy should get them. Other vaccines depend on how your dog lives, for example boarding, daycare, ticks or hiking. Ask your vet about those.
My puppy missed a dose. What now?
Ask your vet about a catch-up dose. A missed date does not mean starting again from zero in most cases. From about 26 weeks old, one dose of the core combination can be enough to complete the puppy course.
Sources
- 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group). Journal of Small Animal Practice. Accessed 20 October 2026.
- Vaccination guidelines. World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Accessed 20 October 2026.
- 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Accessed 20 October 2026.
Related guides
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How often does my dog need vaccines?
Adult dogs need the core vaccine every 3 years in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and yearly in India. See rabies, lepto and kennel cough by country.
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The 3-year rabies vaccine: what the label means for your dog's record
Is your dog's rabies shot good for 1 year or 3? The product label decides. How the US schedule works, the first-year booster rule and what to keep on record.
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Why combination vaccines make coverage confusing, and how to count it properly
What does a 7-in-1 dog vaccine cover? Five diseases, each with its own booster date. What 5-in-1, 7-in-1 and 9-in-1 shots include, and how to track each one.
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Dog vaccination records: free printable and keeping clinic details
Print a free dog vaccination record for A4 or Letter. Copy clinic details, keep original documents and organise vet-provided dates. See what to record.
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Leptospirosis and the monsoon: what wet season means for your dog
Leptospirosis risk in dogs rises with the monsoon. How dogs catch it from standing water, the months of highest risk in India, and when to book the booster.
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