Vaccines protect dogs from serious illnesses. Which ones your dog needs, and when, depends on age, where you live and how your dog spends their days. Your vet sets the plan; this guide helps you understand it.
This guide is general information. It does not replace advice from your veterinarian.
Core and optional vaccines
Core vaccines are recommended for almost every dog. Others are added when your dog’s lifestyle puts them at risk, for example kennels, travel or wildlife.
| Stage | Typical timing | Ask your vet about |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy series | From about 6 to 8 weeks, repeated every 2 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks | Which shots, how many visits |
| First booster | About a year after the series | Timing for your area |
| Adult boosters | Every 1 to 3 years, depending on the vaccine | A reminder date to keep |
Timing differs by country and by vaccine. Always follow your vet’s schedule.
A typical puppy timeline
Puppies carry protection from their mother that fades over the first weeks, so they need several shots to build their own. The last puppy shot is usually given at around 16 weeks or later. Until the series is finished, ask your vet where it is safe to walk and who your puppy can meet.
Boosters through life
Some vaccines protect for years, others need a yearly top-up, and rabies follows the law of the place you live. Boosters keep the protection going; a missed date is usually easy to catch up, so call your vet rather than starting over on your own.
Keeping track
Paper booklets get lost, and photos of receipts are hard to find. Write down each vaccine with its real date and the next due date, in one place you can open at the clinic.
Questions for your vet
- Which vaccines does my dog need where we live?
- When is the next booster due?
- Are there any reasons to wait or skip one?
