Standard core schedule (DHPP series, leptospirosis, rabies). Every clinic fine-tunes by region and risk, your vet's plan wins. Dates carry a ±1 week window. Full details in the vaccination guide.
How the puppy vaccine schedule works
Puppies are born with antibodies from their mother that fade between 6 and 16 weeks, which is exactly why core vaccines come in a series rather than one shot. The distemper, parvovirus and adenovirus combination (DHPP) is given every 3 to 4 weeks from about 8 weeks until 16 weeks, so at least one dose lands after the maternal antibodies have dropped. Rabies is a single dose at 12 to 16 weeks in most countries, with a booster a year later.
The schedule above takes your puppy's birth date and lays out the visits with dates, so you can book them in advance and know when it is safe to hit the park. Until a week after the final DHPP dose, keep socialisation to vaccinated dogs and clean surfaces. Non-core vaccines (leptospirosis, kennel cough, Lyme) depend on where you live and what your dog does; your vet will advise.
Every visit produces a certificate you will need later: boarding, daycare, travel and border crossings all ask for dates and batch numbers. Pawport's health drawer stores the record with reminders for the next due date, and Border Mode shows it clean on one screen when someone asks.
Common questions
When can my puppy go outside?
About one week after the last dose of the core series, usually around 17 weeks. Before that, carry them in public and meet only vaccinated dogs.
Do adult dogs need yearly vaccines?
Rabies boosters follow local law (1 or 3 years). Core vaccines are commonly boosted at 1 year and then every 3 years; leptospirosis and kennel cough are annual where used.
What if we missed a dose?
Call the vet. A short delay usually just means resuming the series; a long gap may mean starting a two-dose restart. Do not skip ahead.
