💉 Dog Vaccination Schedule Calculator

Core vs. Non-Core Dog Vaccines

Core vaccines are recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle, because the diseases they prevent are common, severe, or spread easily. These are DHPP (distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza) and rabies, which is legally required in most U.S. states.

Non-core vaccines are given based on real exposure risk — not just whether a dog "goes outside." Bordetella (kennel cough) matters for dogs in boarding, daycare, or grooming settings. Leptospirosis matters for dogs with exposure to wildlife, standing water, or rural areas. Lyme disease vaccine matters in tick-heavy regions. Canine influenza matters for dogs in high-density social settings.

Why Puppies Need Multiple Rounds

Puppies are born with some immunity passed from their mother through colostrum — but that protection fades unpredictably somewhere between 6 and 16 weeks. A vaccine given too early can be neutralized by leftover maternal antibodies before it has a chance to work. That's why puppies get a series of doses every 3–4 weeks rather than one shot: it guarantees at least one dose lands after maternal immunity has faded enough for the vaccine to take hold.

The 16-week dose is considered the most important one for this reason. Skipping it — even if earlier doses were given on time — can leave a real gap in protection.

Adult Booster Schedules

After the puppy series and a one-year booster, many vets move core vaccines (DHPP) to a 3-year schedule for healthy adult dogs, based on research showing extended immunity. Rabies boosters follow local law — often every 1 or 3 years depending on the vaccine type and jurisdiction. Non-core vaccines are typically re-evaluated annually based on lifestyle, since exposure risk can change year to year.

Titer testing — a blood test measuring existing antibody levels — is an option some owners use to check whether a booster is actually needed before automatically re-vaccinating. It's not available or appropriate for every vaccine (notably not a substitute for legally required rabies boosters), so it's worth discussing with your vet rather than assuming it applies across the board.