When do puppy vaccinations start and finish?

The core series usually starts at 6–8 weeks and runs to 16 weeks or older, with a dose every 3–4 weeks (typically at ~6–8, 10–12, 14–16 and 16–18 weeks). A puppy adopted a bit later starts as soon as it’s in your care. Your vet sets the exact dates.

Is the leptospirosis vaccine really necessary?

It’s now considered core. Following the 2023 ACVIM consensus and the 2024 AAHA update, leptospirosis is recommended for essentially any dog that goes outdoors — not just rural or high-risk ones. It’s usually two doses starting no earlier than 12 weeks, then boosted yearly. Ask your vet about your area.

Can my puppy go outside before it’s fully vaccinated?

Keep exposure to unknown dogs and public ground controlled until about two weeks after the final puppy round, when immunity has built up. That said, the socialization window is also closing during this time, so safe, gentle socialization — friendly vaccinated dogs, carrying your pup, puppy classes with requirements — still matters. Balance protection with careful socializing, and ask your vet.

What are non-core (lifestyle) vaccines?

These are recommended based on where you live and what your puppy does: Bordetella (kennel cough — for boarding, daycare and classes), Lyme disease (tick-heavy regions), and canine influenza (social or boarding dogs). Your vet will advise which fit your puppy’s lifestyle.

Why must the final shot be at 16 weeks?

Antibodies a puppy gets from its mother can neutralize a vaccine given too early. By 16 weeks those maternal antibodies have usually faded, so the final DHPP must land at 16 weeks or older to be reliable — some vets now extend the last booster to 16–20 weeks.

Interactive tool · Puppy health

Puppy Vaccine Schedule Generator

Enter your puppy’s birth date (or your best estimate) for a personalized, dated schedule of the core puppy vaccines — the shots every puppy needs — so you know roughly when each is due. Then confirm the real dates with your vet.

Enter your puppy’s birth date above for a dated schedule. (The dated generator needs JavaScript — with it off, use the by-age schedule below.)

Which vaccines does my puppy need?

Core vaccines are recommended for essentially every puppy: DHPP/DAP (distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus) and rabies. As of the 2024 AAHA update, leptospirosis is now core too — recommended for almost any dog that goes outdoors, not just rural or high-risk ones — usually two doses from about 12 weeks. Non-core (lifestyle) vaccines depend on where you live and what your puppy does: Bordetella (kennel cough), Lyme disease, and canine influenza. Ask your vet which fit your puppy.

How the timing works

The core series runs every 3–4 weeks from about 6–8 weeks until 16 weeks or older. The final DHPP must land at 16 weeks or older because antibodies from the mother can block a dose given too early. During this window your puppy’s protection is still building, so keep exposure to unknown dogs and public ground controlled until about two weeks after the final round — while still making time for safe, gentle socialization, because that window is closing too.

After the puppy series

Your puppy gets its first adult boosters about a year after the initial series. After that, DHPP is boosted every 1–3 years, rabies on the schedule your state or locality requires (1 or 3 years), and leptospirosis yearly. Your vet will keep you on the right cycle.

The by-age schedule

6–8 weeks: DHPP #1. First core round — distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus (DHPP/DAP).
10–12 weeks: DHPP #2. Second DHPP, 3–4 weeks after the first.
14–16 weeks: DHPP #3 · Leptospirosis #1 · Rabies. Third DHPP, plus leptospirosis dose 1 (core, AAHA 2024) — given no earlier than 12 weeks. First rabies falls in the 12–16 week window (required by law; exact timing varies by state).
16–18 weeks: DHPP — final dose · Leptospirosis #2. The last DHPP must land at 16 weeks or older so lingering maternal antibodies don’t block it. Leptospirosis dose 2 completes the 2-dose series, 2–4 weeks after dose 1. Keep exposure to unknown dogs controlled until ~2 weeks after this round.
12–16 months: DHPP + Rabies + Leptospirosis boosters. First adult boosters ~1 year after the puppy series. After that: DHPP every 1–3 years, rabies per local law (1 or 3 years), leptospirosis yearly.

Frequently asked questions

When do puppy vaccinations start and finish?: The core series usually starts at 6–8 weeks and runs to 16 weeks or older, with a dose every 3–4 weeks (typically at ~6–8, 10–12, 14–16 and 16–18 weeks). A puppy adopted a bit later starts as soon as it’s in your care. Your vet sets the exact dates.
Is the leptospirosis vaccine really necessary?: It’s now considered core. Following the 2023 ACVIM consensus and the 2024 AAHA update, leptospirosis is recommended for essentially any dog that goes outdoors — not just rural or high-risk ones. It’s usually two doses starting no earlier than 12 weeks, then boosted yearly. Ask your vet about your area.
Can my puppy go outside before it’s fully vaccinated?: Keep exposure to unknown dogs and public ground controlled until about two weeks after the final puppy round, when immunity has built up. That said, the socialization window is also closing during this time, so safe, gentle socialization — friendly vaccinated dogs, carrying your pup, puppy classes with requirements — still matters. Balance protection with careful socializing, and ask your vet.
What are non-core (lifestyle) vaccines?: These are recommended based on where you live and what your puppy does: Bordetella (kennel cough — for boarding, daycare and classes), Lyme disease (tick-heavy regions), and canine influenza (social or boarding dogs). Your vet will advise which fit your puppy’s lifestyle.
Why must the final shot be at 16 weeks?: Antibodies a puppy gets from its mother can neutralize a vaccine given too early. By 16 weeks those maternal antibodies have usually faded, so the final DHPP must land at 16 weeks or older to be reliable — some vets now extend the last booster to 16–20 weeks.

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