Dog Vaccine Schedule (2026)

A complete dog vaccine schedule for every life stage — enter your dog’s age to see which shots are due next, or use the puppy schedule, adult booster chart and core vs lifestyle guide. Based on AAHA and WSAVA vaccination guidelines, with a printable chart you can take to the vet.

This tool gives a general, guideline-based schedule. Your veterinarian sets the exact plan for your dog based on age, health, local laws and risk — especially for rabies timing and lifestyle vaccines.

Enter your dog’s age to see which vaccines are due now and what’s coming up.

Dog’s age

Unit

Lifestyle (tick the ones that apply)
Boarding, daycare, grooming or shows (Bordetella)
Tick-heavy or Lyme-endemic area (Lyme)
Social, travelling or show dog (Canine influenza)

—

current life stage

Next up: —

Age / stage	Vaccines	Status

The standard puppy shot schedule, week by week.

Include lifestyle (non-core) vaccines

Puppy vaccine schedule

6 weeks to 1 year

Age	Vaccines

Adult dog vaccine schedule — what’s needed each year and every 3 years.

Adult booster schedule

1 year & older

Vaccine	Type	How often

Which dog vaccines are core (every dog) and which are lifestyle (by risk)?

Core vs lifestyle vaccines

what each shot is for

Vaccine	Type	Protects against

Print this schedule or save it as a PDF to take to the vet.

⬇ Download Printable PDF

Printable vaccine schedule

quick reference

Age / stage	Core vaccines	Lifestyle (by risk)
6–8 weeks	DAPP / DHPP #1	Bordetella
10–12 weeks	DAPP #2, Leptospirosis #1	Lyme #1, Influenza #1
14–16 weeks	DAPP final, Lepto #2, Rabies #1	Lyme #2, Influenza #2
~12 months	DAPP, Rabies & Lepto boosters	Lifestyle boosters
Adult, yearly	Leptospirosis	Bordetella, Lyme, Influenza
Adult, every 3 yrs	DAPP; Rabies (1–3 yrs by law)	—

Tip: a ready-made printable PDF version of this dog vaccine schedule is available to download, and you can also use your browser’s Print → Save as PDF on this page. Bring your dog’s records so your vet can fill in exact dates.

The Dog Vaccine Schedule at a Glance

The standard dog vaccine schedule starts at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with core DAPP/DHPP boosters every 2 to 4 weeks until at least 16 weeks old, plus the first rabies shot around 14 to 16 weeks. One year later, dogs get booster shots for DAPP, rabies and leptospirosis. After that, adult dogs move to a maintenance schedule: core DAPP and rabies every 3 years (rabies may be yearly depending on the product and local law), and leptospirosis plus lifestyle vaccines — Bordetella, Lyme and canine influenza — usually every year, based on risk. Use the My Schedule tab above to see exactly which shots are due for your dog’s age.

This guide follows the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines and WSAVA recommendations, the same framework most vets use. Exact timing varies by region and by your dog’s health and lifestyle, so treat this as a planning tool and confirm the details with your veterinarian.

Puppy Vaccine Schedule (6 to 16+ Weeks)

Puppies need a series of shots, not a single one. Newborns get temporary protection from their mother’s antibodies, which fade at different times and can block a vaccine from working. Giving boosters every few weeks until at least 16 weeks makes sure protection takes hold once those maternal antibodies are gone. The core series looks like this:

Puppy age	Core vaccines	Lifestyle (if recommended)
6–8 weeks	DAPP / DHPP (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza) — 1st dose	Bordetella
10–12 weeks	DAPP 2nd dose; Leptospirosis 1st dose	Lyme 1st, Canine influenza 1st
14–16 weeks	DAPP final dose; Leptospirosis 2nd dose; Rabies 1st dose	Lyme 2nd, Canine influenza 2nd
~12 months	DAPP, Rabies & Leptospirosis 1-year boosters	Lifestyle boosters

The single most important rule: the final parvovirus/distemper dose must be given at or after 16 weeks of age for reliable protection. Wait about 1 to 2 weeks after the last puppy shots before taking your puppy to dog parks, daycare or other busy public places.

Adult Dog Vaccine Schedule

After the first-year boosters, adult dogs no longer need shots as often. Core vaccines shift to a three-year schedule, while leptospirosis and lifestyle vaccines are typically annual:

Vaccine	Type	How often (adult)
DAPP / DHPP	Core	Every 3 years
Rabies	Core (required by law)	Every 1 or 3 years, by product and local law
Leptospirosis	Core in many regions	Every year
Bordetella	Lifestyle	Every 6–12 months (boarding, daycare, grooming)
Lyme disease	Lifestyle	Every year (tick-heavy / endemic areas)
Canine influenza	Lifestyle	Every year (social, travelling, show dogs)

Even in years when few vaccines are due, an annual wellness exam is worthwhile — it lets your vet catch problems early and confirm which boosters are coming up.

Core vs Lifestyle (Non-Core) Vaccines

Core vaccines are advised for every dog because the diseases they prevent are severe, common or a danger to humans. These are rabies and the combined DAPP/DHPP (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza); leptospirosis is now treated as core in many regions because it is widespread and can infect people. Lifestyle (non-core) vaccines are matched to your dog’s risk: Bordetella for dogs that board or socialise, Lyme for tick-heavy areas, and canine influenza for dogs that travel, show or mix with many others. The Core vs Lifestyle tab above lists what each one protects against.

Which Dog Vaccines Are Required by Law?

The rabies vaccine is legally required for dogs in almost all of the United States and many other countries, with the timing and renewal interval set by state or local law — usually a first shot by 14 to 16 weeks, a booster a year later, then every 1 or 3 years depending on the product used. No other dog vaccine is generally mandated by law, though boarding kennels, daycares, groomers and apartments often require proof of Bordetella and core vaccines before they will accept your dog. Always check your own region’s rabies rules.

Can I Skip or Space Out My Dog’s Vaccines?

Rabies cannot be skipped where it is legally required. For other vaccines, modern guidelines already avoid over-vaccinating: core boosters are spaced to every three years, and some vets use titer tests (blood tests that measure existing immunity) to decide whether a distemper or parvovirus booster is actually needed. What you should not do is skip the puppy series or let an adult dog’s core protection lapse entirely — parvovirus and distemper are often fatal and still common. If you have concerns about frequency or reactions, talk to your vet about a tailored, risk-based plan rather than stopping on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the recommended full vaccination schedule for dogs?

Core DAPP/DHPP shots start at 6–8 weeks and repeat every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks, with rabies at 14–16 weeks. Boosters for DAPP, rabies and leptospirosis follow at about 1 year, then DAPP and rabies every 3 years with leptospirosis and lifestyle vaccines yearly.

What vaccinations does a dog need each year?

Most adult dogs need a yearly leptospirosis booster, plus any lifestyle vaccines that apply — Bordetella, Lyme or canine influenza. Core DAPP and rabies are usually given every three years rather than annually, though rabies can be a 1-year product in some areas.

Can I skip my dog’s vaccine?

Rabies cannot be skipped where it is required by law. Core puppy shots should not be skipped because parvo and distemper are often fatal. For adult boosters, your vet may use titer tests or a risk-based plan to avoid unnecessary shots, but stopping vaccines entirely is risky.

Which dog vaccines are absolutely necessary yearly?

Leptospirosis and the lifestyle vaccines (Bordetella, Lyme, influenza) are the ones typically given every year. Core DAPP and rabies protect for about three years, so they are not usually needed annually, apart from 1-year rabies products required by some local laws.

When can my puppy go outside after vaccinations?

Wait about 1 to 2 weeks after the final puppy series (at or after 16 weeks) before visiting dog parks or other high-traffic areas. Until then, your puppy can socialise safely with vaccinated, healthy dogs in controlled settings.

How often does a dog need a rabies booster?

After the first shot at 14–16 weeks and a booster one year later, rabies is given every 1 or 3 years depending on the vaccine used and your local law. Always follow your region’s legal requirement.

What is the DAPP / DHPP vaccine?

DAPP (also written DHPP or DA2PP) is the combined core “5-in-1” shot that protects against distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. It is the backbone of both the puppy series and adult boosters.

Is this schedule a substitute for a vet?

No. It is a general, guideline-based planner. Your dog’s exact schedule depends on age, health, local law and lifestyle, so always confirm the plan with your own veterinarian.

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PetCalculatorHub Editorial Team

The schedule here — the 6–16 week puppy series, the final parvo/distemper dose at or after 16 weeks, the 1-year boosters and the adult 3-year core / annual lifestyle intervals — follows the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines and WSAVA recommendations. Timing, rabies law and lifestyle choices vary by region, so this is a planning guide, not a substitute for veterinary advice.

For official guidance see the AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Last updated: October 2026