Home › Health & Safety

Puppy Vaccination Schedule: What Your Dog Needs and When

By the PawSmart Team · Updated 2026-06-14

PawSmart is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.

Vaccinations are one of the most important things you'll do to protect your new puppy — they prevent serious, often fatal diseases. The schedule can look confusing at first, so here's a clear overview of what puppies typically need and when. One important note up front: exact schedules vary by country, region, and your puppy's circumstances, so your veterinarian's plan always takes precedence over any general guide.

Core vs. non-core vaccines

Vaccines are generally grouped into 'core' (recommended for essentially all dogs because the diseases are widespread and dangerous) and 'non-core' (given based on lifestyle and risk). Your vet will recommend which non-core vaccines make sense for your dog based on where you live and what your dog does.

• Core typically protects against diseases like distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus/hepatitis, and rabies (rabies requirements vary by country/region)
• Non-core may include things like kennel cough (Bordetella), leptospirosis, or Lyme disease, depending on risk
• Which non-core vaccines your dog needs is a conversation to have with your vet

The typical puppy timeline

Puppies usually receive a series of vaccinations every few weeks starting from around 6-8 weeks of age, continuing until about 16 weeks, with boosters later. The reason for the series is that immunity passed from the mother gradually fades, and the spaced doses make sure the puppy stays protected as it does. Your vet will give you the exact dates.

• Roughly 6-8 weeks: first vaccinations often begin
• Every 2-4 weeks after: follow-up doses in the series
• Around 12-16 weeks: final puppy doses (rabies often given here where required)
• Boosters: at around one year, then periodically as your vet advises

Why you shouldn't fully socialize before the series is done

Until your puppy's vaccination series is complete, they're vulnerable to diseases like parvovirus, which can linger in the environment. That's why vets advise avoiding dog parks and unknown dogs early on — while still safely socializing in controlled ways (see our puppy socialization guide for how to do this safely).

The bottom line

Vaccinations are essential, and the series matters. Use this as a general map, but follow the precise schedule your veterinarian gives you — it's tailored to your puppy, your region, and the current guidance. Keep a record of each vaccination for boarding, training classes, and travel.

More from Health & Safety