All dogs need four core vaccines: distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus (hepatitis), and rabies. Beyond those, your dog may need additional vaccines depending on where you live, whether they board or visit dog parks, and how much time they spend outdoors. The full picture breaks down into a puppy series, adult boosters, and lifestyle-based additions.
Core Vaccines Every Dog Needs
Core vaccines protect against diseases that are widespread, highly contagious, or fatal. Veterinary guidelines classify four diseases as requiring vaccination in every dog regardless of lifestyle.
Distemper is a viral disease that attacks the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. It spreads easily through airborne droplets and is often fatal in unvaccinated puppies.
Parvovirus causes severe, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, primarily in puppies. It survives in the environment for months and carries a high mortality rate without intensive treatment.
Adenovirus (hepatitis) targets the liver and can cause organ failure. The vaccine typically uses adenovirus type 2, which also provides cross-protection against type 1.
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear and can spread to humans. Most states legally require rabies vaccination for dogs, typically by three to six months of age. About ten states lack a state-level rabies vaccination law, but local ordinances often fill the gap.
The first three are usually bundled into a single combination shot called DAPP, DHPP, or DA2PP. That one injection also includes protection against parainfluenza, a respiratory virus that contributes to kennel cough. So in practice, your dog gets two shots for the core diseases: the combination vaccine and the rabies vaccine.
The Puppy Vaccination Schedule
Puppies receive antibodies from their mother’s milk, but that protection fades unevenly over the first few months. Because there’s no way to know exactly when maternal antibodies drop low enough for a vaccine to take effect, vets give a series of shots spaced three to four weeks apart. This isn’t the same vaccine wearing off. It’s repeated attempts to catch the window when your puppy’s immune system can respond.
The typical schedule looks like this:
- 6 to 8 weeks: First DAPP combination vaccine
- 10 to 12 weeks: Second DAPP dose, plus leptospirosis in many clinics
- 12 to 16 weeks: First rabies vaccine
- 14 to 16 weeks: Final DAPP dose (this one is critical and should not be given before 16 weeks)
The final dose at 16 weeks or later is the most important in the series. Giving it too early risks that maternal antibodies will block the vaccine from working. Until your puppy has completed the full series, limit exposure to unfamiliar dogs and high-traffic areas where unvaccinated animals may have been.
Adult Booster Schedule
After the puppy series, your dog needs a booster for the DAPP combination within one year of the last puppy dose. After that, the American Animal Hospital Association recommends boosters every three years for distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. These are not annual vaccines for adult dogs.
Rabies follows a similar pattern. The first rabies vaccine is good for one year. After the one-year booster, most states accept a three-year rabies vaccine going forward, though some jurisdictions still require annual shots. Your vet will know your local law.
Non-core vaccines like bordetella and leptospirosis don’t last as long and typically require annual boosters if your dog needs them.
Lifestyle-Based Vaccines
Non-core vaccines are recommended based on your dog’s specific exposure risks. Here are the most common ones and who should get them.
Bordetella (kennel cough): If your dog goes to boarding facilities, doggy daycare, grooming salons, or dog parks, most facilities require this vaccine. It protects against the primary bacterial cause of kennel cough and is given annually or sometimes every six months for dogs who board frequently.
Leptospirosis: This bacterial infection spreads through contaminated water, soil, and wildlife urine. Dogs that hike, swim in natural water sources, or live in areas with raccoons, rats, or other wildlife are at higher risk. Some vet clinics, including UC Davis, now include leptospirosis in the standard puppy series because of how widespread the bacteria is. It requires two initial doses followed by annual boosters.
Lyme disease: If you live in or travel to areas with high tick populations, particularly the Northeast, upper Midwest, or Pacific coast, your vet may recommend this vaccine. In regions where Lyme disease is endemic, many practices treat it as effectively core. It requires two initial doses two to four weeks apart, then annual boosters.
Canine influenza: Dog flu spreads rapidly in close quarters. Boarding facilities and doggy daycares increasingly require it. Two initial doses are needed, followed by annual boosters.
Rattlesnake toxoid: This is a niche vaccine for dogs in the southwestern U.S. or areas with Western diamondback rattlesnakes. It doesn’t replace emergency veterinary care after a bite, but it may reduce the severity of a reaction and buy you time to get to a vet. Dosing depends on your dog’s body weight and how often they’re in snake habitat.
Titer Testing as an Alternative
If you’re uncomfortable revaccinating your adult dog every three years, titer testing is an option for the core diseases. A titer test is a blood draw that measures your dog’s existing antibody levels against distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. If antibodies are still present, your dog has protection and doesn’t need a booster yet.
Some dogs maintain protective antibody levels for their entire lives after their initial series. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association supports titer testing as a more evidence-based approach than automatically giving boosters on a fixed schedule. The main downside is cost: a titer test often costs more than the vaccine itself. But for dogs with a history of vaccine reactions or owners who want to minimize unnecessary injections, it’s a reasonable choice.
One important caveat: titer testing works reliably for distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. It does not work the same way for bacterial vaccines like leptospirosis or Lyme disease, where a positive result indicates infection or exposure rather than immunity. And most states will not accept a titer test in place of a current rabies vaccination.
What Vaccines Cost
At a full-service vet clinic, expect to pay roughly $20 to $60 per dose for the DAPP combination vaccine, $20 to $30 for rabies, $20 to $30 for leptospirosis, $30 to $50 for bordetella, $45 to $65 for canine influenza, and $20 to $40 for Lyme disease. A puppy’s first year of vaccines, including the full series plus rabies, can add up to a few hundred dollars.
Low-cost options exist. Pet stores and animal shelters frequently host vaccination clinics with reduced pricing. Veterinary colleges offer supervised student clinics at lower rates. Scheduling multiple vaccines together in a package deal can also bring the per-shot cost down.
Common Side Effects
Most dogs handle vaccines with no trouble. When reactions do occur, they’re usually mild: tiredness for a day or two, a small firm lump at the injection site that resolves on its own, or a mild fever. Dogs that receive intranasal bordetella vaccine may sneeze or have a runny nose for a short time afterward.
Severe reactions are rare but possible. Signs of anaphylaxis include facial swelling, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms typically appear within minutes to a few hours after vaccination. If your dog has ever had a reaction, your vet can pre-treat with antihistamines before future vaccines or adjust which vaccines are given together.