A puppy gets its first combination shot (protection against several dangerous infections at once) at 6–8 weeks, then repeats it every 2–4 weeks. The final dose of the series must land at 16 weeks of age or older. The rabies shot is given from 12 weeks. Around six months there is one more, a repeat shot, and after that the dog is vaccinated every 1–3 years.
01Schedule by age
Age
Shot
Note
6–8 weeks
First combination shot
distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus
10–12 weeks
Second combination shot
+ leptospirosis if advised
12–16 weeks
Rabies
single dose; needed for travel
14–16 weeks
Final dose of the series
must be at 16 weeks or later
~26 weeks
Repeat shot
replaces the old one-year booster
~12 months
Rabies booster
then every 1–3 years
02What these shots are
The combination shot protects against three viruses at once; vets shorten it to DHP: canine distemper, infectious hepatitis and parvovirus enteritis (a severe intestinal infection that often kills puppies). A leptospirosis shot is sometimes added, covering a dangerous bacterial disease a dog catches through water, mud and rodents. The schedule above is the baseline from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), used to vaccinate dogs worldwide.
03Why a series of several doses
While a puppy nurses, its mother’s antibodies protect it, and those same antibodies keep the vaccine from working. This protection fades at a different time in every puppy, so the shot is repeated several times up to 16 weeks. That closes the dangerous gap when the mother’s protection is fading but the puppy’s own has not built up yet. This is why the last dose is not given before 16 weeks: by then the vaccine is almost certain to work.
Your vet will adjust the exact dates for your puppy and region: the table shows the baseline schedule. In some countries the leptospirosis shot is now required for all dogs, so it is often added from the second dose.
Platera reminds you about every shot
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04Frequently asked
Can I move a shot by a week?
A small shift is fine: doses are usually 2–4 weeks apart. If the gap ran longer than a month, the vet may add one more dose so the shots definitely work. The final dose of the series should not be given before 16 weeks.
When can the puppy go for walks?
Walking freely where other dogs go is fine after the last shot of the series (at 16 weeks or later) plus another 1–2 weeks while protection builds. See the separate article on when a puppy can go outside after vaccinations.
What if I missed the repeat shot?
For an adult dog a missed yearly or three-year shot is usually caught up with a single dose: you do not restart the whole series. The exact approach depends on the vaccine, so check with your vet.
PUPPY · FIRST VACCINE SERIES
