Puppy Vaccination Schedule
What to give, when to give it, and what to expect after each visit, plus breed-specific notes for the puppies we place in Millersburg, Ohio.
Why the Vaccine Schedule Is Non-Negotiable
Puppy vaccines aren’t optional extras. They’re the reason diseases like parvovirus and distemper, which once killed enormous numbers of dogs every year, are now preventable. A single missed dose in the core series can leave your puppy unprotected during the exact window when their immune system is most vulnerable.
When puppies are born, they get temporary protection from their mother through her milk. This maternal immunity starts fading somewhere between 6 and 16 weeks, though the exact timing is different for every puppy. The vaccine series is spaced out specifically to catch the moment maternal immunity drops and your puppy’s own immune system has to take over. Skipping or delaying a dose leaves a gap that a virus like parvo will find.
Core vs. Non-Core Vaccines Explained
Not all vaccines are recommended for every puppy. Veterinarians divide them into two categories based on disease risk and severity. The 2022 AAHA vaccination guidelines also moved leptospirosis from the non-core list to the core list for most dogs, which is reflected below.
Core Vaccines (nearly every puppy needs these)
- DA2PP / DA2P+CPVCovers distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus, and parainfluenza in one shot. Given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks.
- LeptospirosisReclassified as core in the 2022 AAHA guidelines and now recommended for nearly all dogs. Two doses, starting around 12 weeks and spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart.
- RabiesLegally required in most states. In Ohio, the requirement is set county by county rather than by one statewide law, so check with your local health department. Given once at 16 weeks, then again at 1 year, then every 1 to 3 years depending on vaccine type and local law.
Non-Core Vaccines (recommended based on lifestyle)
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough)Recommended before boarding, grooming, or dog park visits. Given as nasal drops or an injection.
- Lyme DiseaseRecommended in tick-heavy parts of Ohio and the surrounding region. Two-dose initial series.
- Canine Influenza (H3N2/H3N8)Recommended for dogs who spend time in group settings like doggy daycare or dog shows.
The Complete Vaccination Schedule: Age by Age
Here is every vaccine your puppy needs, organized by age. Print this out and bring it to every vet visit to make sure nothing is missed.
First DA2PP, Done Before Your Puppy Comes Home
This is the first dose in the core series. Our raising partners take care of this before your puppy leaves their home. It starts building immunity against distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza, though one dose isn’t enough on its own. This visit also confirms the puppy is healthy and developing normally.
Second DA2PP, Plus Leptospirosis Begins
This is your puppy’s first vet visit after coming home, and one of the most important ones. The second DA2PP boosts the immune response started at 8 weeks, and this is also when the leptospirosis series typically begins now that it’s considered core for most dogs. It’s a good time to talk with your vet about Bordetella too, especially if you plan to board or groom your puppy.
Third DA2PP, Rabies, and Leptospirosis #2
This visit completes the core series. The third DA2PP matters: without it, the series is incomplete and your puppy may not have full protection against parvovirus. Rabies and the second leptospirosis dose are also given at this visit. Two weeks after this appointment, your puppy has full protection and can safely go to dog parks, pet stores, and public walks.
One-Year Boosters, Locking In Long-Term Protection
About one year after the puppy series finishes, your dog needs booster doses of DA2PP, rabies, and leptospirosis. This visit is also a good time for a full wellness check, a conversation about spay or neuter timing, and a review of which lifestyle vaccines still make sense for your dog.
Adult Maintenance, Ongoing Protection for Life
After the one-year booster, DA2PP shifts to every 3 years for most adult dogs using the standard vaccine, or annually if your vet uses a 1-year formulation. Whether rabies boosters are legally required depends on your city or county rather than one blanket state law, but many vets move to the 3-year rabies vaccine after that first-year booster. Leptospirosis needs its own annual booster regardless of titers. Annual wellness exams let your vet reassess the whole schedule as your dog ages.
What to Expect After Each Vaccine Visit
Most puppies handle vaccines very well. Mild reactions are normal and temporary. They’re actually a sign the immune system is doing exactly what it should.
Normal, No Action Needed
- Sleepiness for 12-24 hours
- Soreness at injection site
- Reduced appetite same day
- Mild low-grade fever
- Less playful than usual
- Small firm bump at injection site (fades in days)
Watch Closely, Call Your Vet
- Symptoms lasting more than 48 hours
- Not eating for more than 24 hours
- Persistent crying or whimpering
- Limping at injection site after 24 hrs
- Mild vomiting (1-2 times)
- Diarrhea same day
Emergency, Go to Vet Now
- Facial swelling or hives
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Collapse or sudden weakness
- Repeated vomiting or bloody diarrhea
- Pale gums
- Extreme agitation or disorientation
Breed-Specific Vaccine Notes
All three breeds we place at Boundless Horizon Puppies follow the same core vaccine schedule, but there are a few breed-specific factors worth discussing with your vet before each appointment.
| Breed | Vaccine Consideration | Vet Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Maltipoo | Small body weight means smaller vaccine volumes may be appropriate. Confirm with your vet at the first appointment. Some veterinarians use adjusted protocols for very small dogs under 5 lbs. | Feed a small meal 1-2 hours before the vet visit to stabilize blood sugar. Very small Maltipoos can be prone to low blood sugar when stressed. |
| Cavapoo | Generally good vaccine tolerance thanks to Poodle genetics. The Cavalier side occasionally shows mild immune sensitivity, so ask about splitting vaccines across visits if your vet recommends it. | Stay at the vet for 15 minutes post-vaccine on the first visit to observe for any reactions. Cavapoos tend to be vocal about discomfort. |
| Teddy Bear (Shichon) | Cross of Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise. Generally good tolerance. Some flat-face (brachycephalic) traits from the Shih Tzu side, so morning appointments help reduce overheating risk in waiting rooms. | Check the injection site 24 hours after the visit. A small lump is normal; a spreading red patch warrants a call to your vet. Bring a familiar blanket to reduce stress during the visit. |
Titer Testing: An Alternative for Adult Dogs
After your dog finishes the full puppy series and the one-year boosters, titer testing is worth knowing about. A titer test is a blood test that measures the antibodies your dog already has against a specific disease. If your dog has strong titers for distemper and parvovirus, some vets will accept this in place of a routine booster, which reduces the total number of vaccines given over a lifetime.
Titer testing isn’t a replacement for the puppy series or the one-year boosters. It’s a tool for managing an adult dog’s vaccine schedule more precisely. It also doesn’t apply the same way to every vaccine: it works well for the viral core vaccines, distemper and parvovirus, but leptospirosis is a bacterial vaccine that most vets don’t titer-test for, so it stays on its own booster schedule. Rabies requirements are set by your state or county, not by titer results, so check your local rule either way.
Every puppy we place has their first DA2PP done before they come home, and you get the vaccine records to prove it. The next step is yours: schedule that 12-week vet appointment before you even pick up your puppy. The families that put everything on the calendar before day one have the smoothest experience. Your puppy’s health is the investment that protects everything else.
— Dan and Melissa, Owners | Boundless Horizon Puppies, Millersburg, Ohio | Est. 2022Vaccination Questions We Hear Every Week
Sources & Expert References
- AVMA, Vaccinating Your Pet
- American Kennel Club, Puppy Vaccination Schedule: What Shots Do Puppies Need?
- ASPCA, Vaccinations for Your Pet
- American Animal Hospital Association, 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines (including leptospirosis’s move to core status)
- RabiesAware.org, Ohio: rabies vaccination requirements are set county by county, not by one statewide law
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