Puppy Vaccination Schedule by Country: US, UK, EU

This is one of those topics where every source online gives slightly different answers, because the schedule really does vary by country, by region within the country, and by individual vet. Below is the most accurate general picture we can give, broken down by where you live.

Important: this post is a reference. It is not a substitute for your vet. Always confirm the specific schedule for your puppy with the clinic that treats them.

If you want a personalized schedule with the next dose date for your specific breed, age, and country, use the free Puppy Vaccination Schedule Generator. It covers 30 dog breeds and the US, UK, and EU schedules below.

This is a deep dive on vaccination scheduling. For the broader first-year context, see our full first-year puppy guide, and pair this with the puppy socialization window — these two timelines overlap, and getting the balance right matters.

What each vaccine does

There are roughly eight vaccines you will hear about in your puppy’s first year. Not all are needed for every puppy. Here is the short version.

• DHPP / DAPP / DA2PP: the combined core vaccine covering distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Universal in the US and in most of Europe. US schedules follow the AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines; UK practice is shaped by Royal Veterinary College clinical guidance.
• Rabies: required by law in most US states after 16 weeks per the AVMA rabies resource. Not routine for domestic dogs in the UK (due to the island’s rabies-free status), required for EU pet passport via Defra (UK Government) pet travel guidance.
• Bordetella (kennel cough): non-core, often required by daycares, boarding facilities, and puppy classes.
• Leptospirosis: non-core, region-dependent. Important in warmer, wetter climates and near standing water.
• Lyme disease: non-core, region-dependent. Important in tick-heavy areas (parts of the US Northeast and UK).
• Canine influenza: non-core, region-dependent. Mostly a US concern.
• Rattlesnake: non-core, relevant in the US Southwest.

Your vet will guide which non-core vaccines matter for where you live.

US puppy vaccination schedule

Typical schedule for a puppy born at week 0 and picked up around week 8.

Age	Core	Non-core (by region)
6 to 8 weeks	DHPP #1	Bordetella #1 (if going to puppy class or daycare)
10 to 12 weeks	DHPP #2	Leptospirosis #1 (regional), Lyme #1 (regional)
14 to 16 weeks	DHPP #3	Leptospirosis #2, Lyme #2, Bordetella (annual or semi-annual after)
16 weeks+	Rabies #1 (required by law in most states)	—
12 months	DHPP booster, Rabies booster	Leptospirosis annual, Lyme annual, Bordetella annual

After first year: DHPP every 1 to 3 years (vet-dependent). Rabies every 1 or 3 years depending on state law and vaccine type.

UK puppy vaccination schedule

UK schedule is slightly different. Rabies is not routine for domestic UK dogs unless traveling abroad (pet passport).

Age	Core	Non-core (by region)
6 to 9 weeks	DHPPi + Lepto 2 or 4 #1	Kennel cough intranasal (if needed for class)
10 to 12 weeks	DHPPi + Lepto 2 or 4 #2	—
16 weeks (fully protected)	—	Lyme disease if region has ticks
12 months	Annual booster (DHPPi + Lepto)	Kennel cough annual

Rabies is only needed in the UK if you plan to travel with your dog internationally. It is administered via pet passport process, separate from puppy series.

Lepto 2 vs Lepto 4: as of 2025, UK clinics have largely transitioned to Lepto 4 (4 strains: Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Grippotyphosa) over Lepto 2 (the older 2-strain version). The WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines now recommend L4 in the UK due to increased prevalence of Australis and Grippotyphosa strains. Manufacturer Canigen also discontinued Lepto 2 in February 2025, accelerating the switch. Most UK vets default to L4 now; ask yours to confirm. Adverse-event rates for both vaccines are very low (well under 0.05%).

EU puppy vaccination schedule

EU schedules vary by country but share a core pattern close to the UK schedule with rabies added for pet passports (required for cross-border travel within the EU).

Age	Core	Non-core
6 to 9 weeks	DHPPi (+ Lepto) #1	—
10 to 12 weeks	DHPPi (+ Lepto) #2	—
12 to 16 weeks	Rabies (required for EU pet passport)	Lyme, others by region
12 months	Annual boosters	—

For exact timing in your country, talk to your vet and consult the local veterinary association.

Core vs non-core vaccines explained

Core vaccines are recommended for every dog, everywhere, because the diseases they prevent are common, serious, and widespread. DHPP and Rabies (where applicable) are core.

Non-core vaccines depend on where you live and what your dog does. Leptospirosis matters more in wet regions and near standing water. Lyme matters more in tick-heavy areas. Bordetella matters if your dog goes to daycare, boarding, or puppy class.

Non-core does not mean unimportant. It means individual. A suburban indoor dog in Arizona and a hiking companion in Vermont have very different non-core profiles.

Common questions

Can I skip vaccines? You can, but you increase your puppy’s risk of preventable disease (some of which kill puppies, like parvo). Cornell University maintains a canine parvovirus reference describing how fast it moves in unvaccinated puppies. Core vaccines should not be skipped. Non-core is a conversation with your vet.

Can I delay vaccines if my puppy is small, anxious, or recovering? Usually yes, by a week or two. Longer delays compromise immunity. Always confirm timing with your vet.

Can vaccines be combined into fewer visits? Some can, some cannot. Your vet will know which combinations are safe and which need spacing. Do not combine without asking.

My puppy already had some vaccines before pickup. Do I start over? No. Bring the paperwork to your first vet visit. Your vet will continue from where the breeder or shelter stopped. This is why saving that paperwork matters.

How long does immunity last? Different vaccines have different durations. DHPP now commonly lasts 3 years in adult dogs (after the first-year boosters). Rabies is 1 or 3 years depending on vaccine and region. Leptospirosis is annual. Your vet tracks this.

Titer testing instead of boosters? Some vets offer titer tests (a blood test to check if immunity is still strong) in place of repeat boosters for core vaccines in adult dogs. Availability and acceptance vary by region and by vet. Ask yours.

See also

• Puppy socialization window
• Puppy first vet visit checklist
• How to organize pet records
• Generate your puppy’s vaccination schedule

Your puppy’s personal schedule

Because so much depends on your puppy’s breed, country, region, and lifestyle, the safest schedule is the one your vet writes for you. Bring this guide to the visit. Ask which non-core vaccines apply where you live, and write the next dose date down somewhere you will not lose it.

If you use the Flok app, snap a photo of the vaccine card the vet hands you and Flok files it under your puppy’s profile. The next dose date is one tap away, with a reminder a few days before. Free on iOS, no spam.

Sources

• WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines for Cats and Dogs: international standard
• AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines: US clinical practice
• AVMA: Vaccinations and your pet’s health: owner-facing reference
• Royal Veterinary College (UK): UK clinical context
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Canine Parvovirus: disease-specific reference

This post is general guidance for pet parents and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Last reviewed: 2026-04-28.