Puppy Care
Puppy Vaccination Schedule: What Vaccines Are Needed & When
Understanding your puppy's vaccination schedule is one of the most important parts of responsible puppy ownership. Here's what your breeder should provide and what your vet will continue.
April 10, 2024 · 6 min read
Why Puppy Vaccines Matter
Puppies are born with some maternal immunity from their mother's milk, but this immunity fades over weeks. The vaccine series fills the gap — building the puppy's own immune protection against potentially fatal diseases. Missing or delaying vaccines leaves puppies genuinely vulnerable during their most physically fragile period.
Core Vaccines for All Puppies
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) — the most important combination vaccine, given at 6–8 weeks, 10–12 weeks, and 14–16 weeks of age, then boostered at 1 year
- Rabies — required by law in most states; given at 12–16 weeks, boostered at 1 year, then every 1–3 years depending on state law
Non-Core Vaccines (Recommended Based on Lifestyle)
- Bordetella (kennel cough) — recommended for puppies who will attend puppy classes, grooming, boarding, or dog parks
- Leptospirosis — recommended for dogs with outdoor exposure, especially near standing water or wildlife
- Lyme disease — recommended in tick-endemic regions
- Canine influenza — recommended in high-exposure situations
What Your Breeder Should Provide
A responsible breeder will start your puppy's vaccine series before placement. At Star Struck Puppies, puppies receive their first DHPP combination vaccine at approximately 6–8 weeks of age, before going home. We provide:
- Documentation of all vaccines given — brand, lot number, date, and administering veterinarian
- Deworming record — puppies are dewormed multiple times starting at 2 weeks of age
- Recommendation for the timing of the next vaccines
What Your Vet Will Continue
After placement, your veterinarian will booster the DHPP series at the appropriate intervals and administer the rabies vaccine. This is why we recommend your first vet appointment within 3–5 days of bringing your puppy home — your vet will review the records, confirm the schedule, and assess the puppy's overall health. Don't skip or delay these appointments.
A Note on Over-Vaccination
While under-vaccination is dangerous, over-vaccination carries its own risks. The current veterinary consensus (WSAVA and AAHA guidelines) supports a 3-year booster cycle for core vaccines in adult dogs after the initial series is complete. Ask your veterinarian about titer testing as an alternative to automatic boosters after the first adult series.