A dog vaccination schedule starts around six weeks of age and does not finish until a puppy gets a shot at 16 weeks or older. After that, adult dogs follow a booster calendar that runs from yearly to every three years. This guide covers puppy shots, adult boosters, and which vaccines are core or optional. It also explains the five vaccines we require at Topanga Pet Resort before a dog stays with us. Your veterinarian sets the exact plan, so use this as a map for that conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Puppies need at least three DHPP doses between 6 and 16 weeks, two to four weeks apart, with the last at 16 weeks or older.
- California requires rabies vaccination for dogs over three months old. Other shots follow vet guidelines and facility rules.
- Adult dogs get DHPP and rabies boosters every three years. Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and dog flu shots are usually yearly.
- AAHA lists leptospirosis as a core vaccine for all dogs, while WSAVA calls it core only where the disease is common.
- Topanga Pet Resort requires proof of five vaccines: rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, leptospirosis, and canine influenza.
On This Page
- Puppy Vaccine Schedule: Shots From 6 to 16 Weeks
- Adult Dog Vaccine Schedule: Boosters After the First Year
- What Vaccines Do Dogs Need: Core Versus Lifestyle Shots
- Vaccines Required for Boarding at Topanga Pet Resort
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Check Your Dog’s Vaccine Dates Before You Book
Puppy Vaccine Schedule: Shots From 6 to 16 Weeks
The puppy vaccine schedule centers on the DHPP vaccine for dogs, a combination shot against distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Puppies carry antibodies from their mother’s milk, and those fade at different speeds in each puppy. Leftover antibodies can block early shots, so one dose is never enough. The AAHA canine vaccination guidelines call for at least three doses, two to four weeks apart. The WSAVA 2024 guidelines add that the final dose should land at 16 weeks or older.
| Age | What Is Typically Due |
|---|---|
| 6 to 8 weeks | First DHPP |
| 10 to 12 weeks | Second DHPP |
| 12 weeks | First leptospirosis, with a second dose two to four weeks later |
| 3 months | First rabies |
| 16 weeks or older | Final DHPP |
Your vet may shift these dates for your puppy’s health or risk.
Adult Dog Vaccine Schedule: Boosters After the First Year
Adult dogs get one DHPP booster within a year of finishing the puppy series, then every three years, per AAHA. Rabies follows the product label. In California, the state rabies vaccine compendium lists a booster one year after the first shot, then every three years.
| Vaccine | Booster Timing |
|---|---|
| DHPP | Within a year of the puppy series, then every three years |
| Rabies | One year after the first dose, then every three years |
| Leptospirosis | Yearly |
| Bordetella | Yearly |
| Dog flu | Yearly, after a two-dose first series |
If your dog is overdue or the paperwork is lost, call your vet before booking anything.
What Vaccines Do Dogs Need: Core Versus Lifestyle Shots
What vaccines do dogs need? Core vaccines protect against serious diseases most dogs could meet: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and rabies. Noncore vaccines match a dog’s lifestyle and local risk.
Leptospirosis is where the experts split. AAHA treats it as core for every dog, and WSAVA treats it as core where the disease is common. Boarding, hiking, and shared water bowls all raise exposure, and our post on whether the lepto shot is needed walks through the risk.
Bordetella and parainfluenza target kennel cough. Before you assume one shot blocks every cough, read what the Bordetella vaccine does and doesn’t cover.
The dog flu vaccine is not routine for every dog. The AVMA’s guidance on dog vaccines calls it advisable for dogs that board or mix with many others.
Vaccines Required for Boarding at Topanga Pet Resort
Every dog staying with us needs current proof of five vaccines: rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, leptospirosis, and canine influenza. You can bring the records to check-in or email them. Right after you reserve, our team runs a vaccination check, so any gap shows up before travel day instead of at the door.
Our days make that check matter. Dogs spend five to six supervised hours outdoors across 6.5 acres in matched groups, then rest in private, climate-controlled rooms. Shared yards are why we ask for the full set. To see how a stay runs, read about dog boarding at Topanga Pet Resort.
Our rabies guide explains how California’s rabies rules and boosters work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should Dogs Be Vaccinated?
Puppies get shots every two to four weeks from 6 to 16 weeks. Adult dogs then need DHPP and rabies boosters every three years, while leptospirosis, Bordetella, and dog flu are usually yearly. Your vet may adjust timing for your dog’s age, health, and lifestyle, so confirm dates at the next checkup.
When Can a Puppy Go Outside After Vaccines?
Ask your vet, because the safe date depends on your puppy’s shots and local parvovirus risk. Many vets advise limiting contact with unknown dogs and public ground until the series ends at 16 weeks or older. Playdates with healthy, fully vaccinated dogs in clean spaces are often fine sooner.
Does My Dog Need the Dog Flu Vaccine?
The dog flu vaccine is not routine for every dog. It is advisable for dogs that board, attend daycare, or meet many unfamiliar dogs. First-timers need two doses two to four weeks apart, then a yearly booster. We require it for boarding, so schedule the two doses early.
How Long Before Boarding Should My Dog Get Vaccinated?
Allow about a month. A first-time dog flu or leptospirosis series needs two doses, with up to four weeks between the first and second. Email or bring your records after you reserve, and we will run the vaccination check. Unsure about your dog’s dates? Call us at (888) 818-1622.
Check Your Dog’s Vaccine Dates Before You Book
Pull out your dog’s records and compare them with the tables above. If a booster is due, book the vet visit first, then the stay. Your vet has the final say on the schedule, and we only need proof of the five shots. Once the dates line up, check boarding availability with our team.
