How Often Should You Vaccinate Your Dog? A Complete Schedule

Why Vaccination Matters

Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have for keeping dogs healthy. They work by training the immune system to recognize and fight specific diseases before your dog ever encounters them in the real world. Without vaccination, dogs are vulnerable to serious illnesses like parvovirus, distemper, and rabies, some of which are fatal and all of which are preventable.

Understanding the schedule can feel confusing, especially for first-time dog owners. The good news is that it follows a fairly predictable pattern, and your vet will tailor it to your dog's specific needs.

Core vs. Non-Core Vaccines

Veterinarians group dog vaccines into two categories:

Core vaccines are recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle or location. These protect against diseases that are widespread, highly contagious, or dangerous to humans:

• Rabies -- required by law in most regions; fatal once symptoms appear
• DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) -- a combination vaccine protecting against four serious diseases

Non-core vaccines are recommended based on your dog's lifestyle, environment, and risk factors:

• Bordetella (kennel cough) -- recommended if your dog visits boarding facilities, dog parks, or grooming salons
• Leptospirosis -- recommended in areas where dogs may contact standing water or wildlife
• Lyme disease -- recommended in tick-heavy regions
• Canine influenza -- recommended for dogs with high social exposure

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Puppies receive antibodies from their mother's milk, but this natural protection fades between 6 and 16 weeks of age. That's why puppies need a series of vaccines given at regular intervals to build their own immunity.

Age	Vaccine	Notes
6-8 weeks	DHPP (1st dose)	Start of the core series
10-12 weeks	DHPP (2nd dose), Bordetella	Add non-core based on lifestyle
14-16 weeks	DHPP (3rd dose), Rabies	Rabies often required by this age
12-16 months	DHPP booster, Rabies booster	Completes the puppy series

Adult Dog Vaccination Schedule

Once your dog has completed their puppy series, vaccinations move to a maintenance schedule:

Vaccine	Frequency	Notes
Rabies	Every 1-3 years	Depends on local law and vaccine type
DHPP	Every 3 years	After the 1-year booster
Bordetella	Every 6-12 months	If your dog is socially active
Leptospirosis	Annually	If at risk based on environment
Lyme disease	Annually	If in tick-endemic areas
Canine influenza	Annually	If recommended by your vet

Your vet may adjust this schedule based on your dog's age, health status, and local disease prevalence. Older dogs or those with chronic health conditions may need a modified approach.

What About Titer Testing?

Titer testing is a blood test that measures your dog's existing antibody levels for specific diseases. Some owners use titer tests to determine whether a booster is truly needed rather than vaccinating on a fixed schedule.

Titer testing is most commonly available for:

• Distemper
• Parvovirus
• Rabies (though rabies vaccination is legally required regardless of titer results in most places)

Talk to your vet about whether titer testing makes sense for your dog. It can be especially useful for dogs with a history of vaccine reactions.

Common Side Effects

Most dogs tolerate vaccines well, but mild side effects can occur:

• Mild lethargy or reduced appetite for 24 to 48 hours
• Slight swelling or tenderness at the injection site
• Low-grade fever

These are normal and typically resolve on their own. Contact your vet if symptoms persist beyond 48 hours, or immediately if you notice facial swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or collapse, as these can indicate a rare allergic reaction.

Keeping Track of It All

Between puppy series boosters, annual non-core vaccines, and three-year core vaccine cycles, it's easy to lose track of what's due and when. A missed booster can leave gaps in your dog's protection, and an unnecessary extra dose means a trip to the vet you didn't need.

Pawey's reminders feature is built for exactly this. Log each vaccine with its date and next-due date, and Pawey will notify you when it's time for a booster. No more digging through paperwork or trying to remember whether that last DHPP was two years ago or three.