Health and vet care
What shots do puppies need? Core and non-core
Every puppy needs the core shots: a combination vaccine against distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis) and parvovirus, plus rabies where the law requires it. In the US, AAHA also lists leptospirosis as core. Non-core shots, such as kennel cough, Lyme disease and canine influenza, depend on where your puppy lives and what it does.
What are the core puppy shots?
Core vaccines are those advised for every dog unless there is a medical reason not to give them. AAHA, the US guidance, lists distemper, adenovirus type 2, parvovirus, leptospirosis and rabies as core.
WSAVA's worldwide core list is distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus. It treats rabies as core wherever rabies is present, and leptospirosis as core where it is common and suitable vaccines exist.
| Vaccine | Type | Puppy course |
|---|---|---|
| Distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus | Core | At least 3 combination doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, between 6 and 16 weeks |
| Leptospirosis | Core | 2 doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, from 12 weeks |
| Rabies | Core | As required by law |
| Parainfluenza | Optional part of the combination shot | Same timing as the combination shot |
| Kennel cough (Bordetella) | Non-core | One nose or mouth dose, or 2 injected doses 2 to 4 weeks apart |
| Lyme disease | Non-core | 2 doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart |
| Canine influenza | Non-core | 2 doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart |
Sources: AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, 2024 update (opens in a new tab)WSAVA vaccination guidelines, 2024 (opens in a new tab)
What is the 5 in 1 puppy shot (DHPP)?
Puppy combination shots are often named by the diseases they cover. DHPP stands for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. Hepatitis here means infectious canine hepatitis, which the adenovirus type 2 part protects against, so some records write the same shot as DAPP.
Names such as 5 in 1 or 5-way count the diseases on the label, and products differ. Check the vaccine record or ask your vet which diseases your puppy's shot covers, and whether leptospirosis is included or given on its own.
Sources: AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, 2024 update (opens in a new tab)AAHA canine adenovirus guidance (opens in a new tab)
How many vaccines should a puppy get?
In the US example, a puppy gets at least six shots before the first booster visit: three combination doses, two leptospirosis doses and one rabies shot. A vet may add a fourth combination dose at 18 to 20 weeks where parvo risk is high, and non-core vaccines add more.
Worked example
Birth ; US; no core viral doses given
- Core viral dose 1 (8 weeks)
- Core viral dose 2 and first leptospirosis dose (12 weeks)
- Rabies window (12 to 16 weeks)
- to
- Core viral dose 3 (16 weeks)
- First viral booster
Dates checked against the Puppy Vaccination Schedule. The second leptospirosis dose is due 2 to 4 weeks after the first; your vet sets it.
The worked example shows how the Puppy Vaccination Schedule lays out the core visits for a US puppy born in September 2026.
Sources: AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, 2024 update (opens in a new tab)AAHA canine parvovirus guidance (opens in a new tab)
Which non-core shots does my puppy need?
Non-core vaccines are for some dogs, based on lifestyle, place and risk. AAHA notes that where a disease such as Lyme disease is common, local practices may treat its vaccine as core.
- Kennel cough
Worth asking about if your puppy will mix with many dogs in shared spaces.
- Lyme disease
Worth asking about where the ticks that spread Lyme disease are common.
- Canine influenza
Worth asking about if your vet knows of cases near you or your puppy will be around many dogs.
Sources: AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, 2024 update (opens in a new tab)
What about puppies outside the US?
The core viral course is much the same worldwide, but extra vaccines and rules differ. WSAVA treats rabies as core where the disease is present and leptospirosis as core where it is common. The Australian Government states that Australia is free of rabies.
Use the country edition of the Puppy Vaccination Schedule that matches where your puppy lives. Each one shows its own example dates and notes.
Sources: WSAVA vaccination guidelines, 2024 (opens in a new tab)Australian Government DAFF: Protecting Australia from rabies (opens in a new tab)
Try it with your own details
Use the Puppy vaccination schedule to build your own result.
For general information only, not professional advice. Check the official sources below. Use your own judgement and speak to your vet before you act.
Common questions
More answers on this topic.
What shots do puppies need?
Core shots for every puppy: distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis) and parvovirus, plus rabies where required. In the US, AAHA also lists leptospirosis as core. Your vet adds non-core shots based on risk.
How many shots do puppies need?
In AAHA's US guidance, at least three combination doses, two leptospirosis doses and a rabies shot before the first booster visit. The exact number depends on the start age and risk.
What does DHPP stand for?
Distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus and parainfluenza. It is one combination shot, given several times while a puppy is young.
Is the 5 in 1 shot the same as DHPP?
Not always. Names like 5 in 1 count the diseases on the label, and products differ. Check the record or ask your vet which diseases are covered.
Is kennel cough a core vaccine?
No. AAHA lists it as non-core, for dogs at risk of exposure. Ask your vet if your puppy will mix with many dogs.
Sources and checked dates
Each note explains what its source supports. Open the link to read the guidance yourself.
Table 2: core vaccines are advised for all dogs unless there is a medical reason not to vaccinate. Distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus (with or without parainfluenza): at least 3 combination doses between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart, a booster within 1 year, then every 3 years. Leptospirosis: 2 doses 2 to 4 weeks apart from 12 weeks, then yearly. Rabies as required by law. Bordetella, Lyme disease and canine influenza are non-core.
Adenovirus type 2 vaccine is core because it cross-protects against adenovirus type 1, the cause of infectious canine hepatitis. It follows the distemper and parvovirus schedule and is usually part of a combination vaccine.
Core worldwide: distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus; rabies is core where it is endemic and leptospirosis where it is endemic and suitable vaccines exist. Maternal antibodies vary within litters, so core doses are given every 2 to 4 weeks with the final dose at 16 weeks or older; these repeat doses are not boosters. Antibody testing 4 or more weeks after the last puppy dose, or a dose at or soon after 26 weeks. Early socialisation classes carry low parvovirus risk. Core vaccines should not be given more often than needed.
Parvovirus vaccine is core for all dogs. The puppy course starts at 6 to 8 weeks and repeats every 2 to 4 weeks until older than 16 weeks, with 18 to 20 weeks preferred in high-risk areas. Maternal antibodies may persist to 13 to 15 weeks or longer. Unfinished courses explain many apparent vaccine failures. Booster within 1 year, then every 3 years.
States that Australia is one of the few countries that remains free of rabies, and describes import conditions for dogs and cats.