Puppy vaccination schedule: core vaccines by age
What the AAHA and WSAVA guidelines say about puppy core vaccines: when the series starts, why the last dose is at 16 weeks or later, rabies, boosters and the record to keep.
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Short answer
The AAHA guidelines call for at least 3 doses of the combination vaccine (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus) between 6 and 16 weeks of age, 2 to 4 weeks apart, and WSAVA says the final dose should be given at 16 weeks or older. Leptospirosis starts at 12 weeks, rabies follows the law where you live, and a booster comes within a year. Your veterinarian sets the exact dates for your puppy.
Choose this if
Use the ages below to understand your vet’s plan and keep a record of every dose.
Choose the other option if
A puppy that has missed doses, has an unknown history or reacts to a vaccine needs a vet visit rather than a calendar.
At a glance
| Feature | Puppy series | After the series |
|---|---|---|
| Distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus | At least 3 doses between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart | One booster within a year, then every 3 years (AAHA) |
| Leptospirosis (AAHA core) | Two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart, starting at 12 weeks | One dose within a year, then yearly |
| Rabies | As required by law; licensed for puppies 3 months and older | Booster 1 year after the first dose, then as the law and the vaccine require |
| Bordetella (noncore) | For dogs at risk; one intranasal dose, or two injections 2 to 4 weeks apart | Yearly if the dog stays at risk |
The core vaccines and when they start
The 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines define core vaccines as those recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle: distemper, adenovirus type 2, parvovirus type 2, leptospirosis and rabies. For puppies 16 weeks old or younger, AAHA recommends at least 3 doses of a combination vaccine between 6 and 16 weeks of age, 2 to 4 weeks apart. For parvovirus the minimum age to begin is 6 to 8 weeks.
A calendar that fits those limits is our own example, not an official schedule: doses at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Your vet may start earlier or add a dose, so follow the dates you are given.
Why the last dose is at 16 weeks or later
Puppies carry antibodies from their mother, and those antibodies block the vaccine. AAHA says they decline over time and may persist for 13 to 15 weeks or longer, so it recommends revaccination every 2 to 4 weeks until the puppy is older than 16 weeks, with 18 to 20 weeks preferred where parvovirus risk is high.
WSAVA’s 2024 guidelines say the same thing from the other side. Because maternal antibody levels vary within and between litters, they recommend multiple core doses every 2 to 4 weeks with the final dose at 16 weeks or older. If a puppy can only have one vaccination, it should be the core vaccines at 16 weeks or older.
Leptospirosis and rabies
AAHA lists leptospirosis as core and recommends two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart, starting at 12 weeks. WSAVA treats it as core where the disease is endemic and suitable vaccines are available, so the answer depends on where you live and what your vet sees locally.
Rabies is a legal question first. AAHA says the vaccine is legally mandated in many places, and the law can set the age at first vaccination and the timing of boosters. All licensed rabies vaccines for dogs are labeled for puppies 3 months of age and older, and AAHA recommends a booster 1 year after the first dose. Ask your vet and your local health department for the rules where you are.
Boosters
After the puppy series, AAHA recommends one booster of the combination vaccine within a year, then boosters every 3 years. For parvovirus it states that annual boosters are not necessary. WSAVA advises a revaccination at or after 26 weeks of age rather than waiting until 12 to 16 months, to protect the few puppies that still had maternal antibodies at 16 weeks.
Noncore vaccines are a different decision. AAHA lists Bordetella, Lyme, canine influenza and rattlesnake toxoid as noncore, recommended for some dogs based on lifestyle, location and risk of exposure, usually with yearly boosters. Ask your vet which apply to your puppy.
Missed doses and titers
If a dose is late or the history is unknown, AAHA’s rule of thumb is to vaccinate when in doubt, and to ask the vaccine maker for instructions on overdue doses. It also says that failing to complete the primary series, or errors in storage and handling, may account for many or most vaccine failures in young dogs, so finishing the series matters.
WSAVA supports blood tests for antibodies from 20 weeks of age to confirm that the vaccines worked. AAHA notes that titers are not a substitute for vaccination in rabies. Ask your vet whether a titer makes sense for your dog.
What your vet decides
Both guidelines are broad. AAHA calls its recommendations discretionary and says vets should follow the manufacturer’s label for each vaccine, since different vaccines for the same disease can produce different immune responses. WSAVA says its guidelines are not mandatory or minimum standards of care and are meant to help vets build schedules for local conditions.
AAHA also says each dog should be assessed at least once a year to decide which vaccines it needs, especially as travel and vector-borne diseases spread. The schedule in your puppy’s record is therefore a plan that your vet adjusts, not a fixed list.
The record to keep
Our own suggestion: for every dose, write the date, the vaccine name, the lot number and the clinic, and keep the paper certificate. Rabies vaccination is legally mandated in many places, so keep that certificate where you can find it. For a litter, keep the record per puppy.
Tell your vet about any reaction after a shot. AAHA says the risk of an adverse event exists at the level of the individual dog, and vets should report reactions to the manufacturer or the USDA.
Frequently asked questions
When do puppies get their first shots?
AAHA says the series starts between 6 and 8 weeks for parvovirus, with at least 3 doses between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart. Your vet sets the first date.
Why do puppies need several doses?
Antibodies from the mother can block the vaccine, and their level varies between puppies. Several doses, with the last at 16 weeks or older, make sure each puppy responds.
When can a puppy get the rabies vaccine?
Licensed rabies vaccines for dogs are labeled for puppies 3 months and older, and the law where you live sets the rules. AAHA recommends a booster a year later.
How often do dogs need boosters after puppy shots?
AAHA recommends one booster within a year of the puppy series, then the combination vaccine every 3 years. Leptospirosis and noncore vaccines are yearly.
Is Littero available?
See the official app page for current availability and pricing.
Our pick
Littero, a record for every puppy in the litter
The schedule is the vet’s. The record is yours, and for a breeder it has to be kept for each puppy. Littero keeps each puppy from birth with weigh-ins and documents, so a vaccination certificate can sit with the puppy it belongs to, and it sends reminders for key dates and vet visits. It can export reports for your vet. It does not choose vaccines or set a schedule; that stays with your veterinarian.
- Each puppy from birth, with weigh-ins and documents
- Reminders for vet visits and key dates
- Exports for your vet and your records
Sources · checked October 1, 2026
- AAHA: 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines
- AAHA: Recommendations for core and noncore canine vaccines
- AAHA: Key vaccination, canine parvovirus
- AAHA: Key vaccination, rabies
- AAHA: Postvaccination adverse events and reactions
- WSAVA: Vaccination Guidelines page
- WSAVA: 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats, executive summary
