How Many Vaccinations Do Puppies Need?

Vaccinations are an important part of a puppy’s healthy start in life. How many vaccinations puppies need depends on the fact where you live, how much you travel, and what are the areal disease risks. If you wish to travel or compete with your dog, the vaccinations must be up-to-date.

Puppies are especially vulnerable to contagious diseases and these highly contagious diseases are life-threatening. This is a matter that is not to be treated with a holistic approach. The purpose of vaccinations is to boost dogs’ resistance to the diseases.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

The vaccination guidelines vary between different countries. However, the schedule shown below is based on an internationally recommended vaccination program for puppies. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association and American Animal Hospital Association both comply with this:

DHPP is a 4-in-1 vaccine that protects against four diseases: distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus.

• Parainfluenza & bordetella a.k.a kennel cough booster shot every year
• DHPP booster shot every 3 years
• Rabies booster shot every 3 years

Australian puppy owners should consider vaccinating their puppies against a bacterial infection called leptospirosis. Certain parts of Australia are affected by this disease.

How Many Vaccinations Do Puppies Need Before They Can Go Outside?

I’m going to be bold here and say it, NONE. Puppies need to see the world and the perfect time to expose puppies to the world is when they are 7-14 weeks old. Within that time frame, puppies absorb so much information about their surroundings: new sounds, new smells, new scenes, and socializing. It is pure nonsense to shelter puppies inside when they are at the age to be molded into good canine citizens.

Remember to keep common sense with you. Don’t let your puppy eat anything from the ground. Don’t let them get near other dogs’ droppings. But please let them explore and see the neighborhood. It is so important for their development.

How Many Vaccinations Do Puppies Need Before Meeting Other Dogs?

I just told you to let your puppy explore the world. But with meeting other dogs you must be more cautious. It takes two shots of vaccine and 5-10 days after the last shot is when your dog has gained full immunity.

If you have friends or family that have dogs, organize a meetup with them. Familiarizing your puppy with other dogs in your social circle is a good beginning. You know the owners and the dogs so there should not be any unpleasant surprises. It’s the safest way to start socializing with your puppy.

Socializing the dog at a young age has been proven to reduce behavior problems later in life. Puppies 7-14 weeks old are at the perfect age to meet other well-behaved dogs. The puppy should socialize with big and small breeds so they will not develop negative associations with certain breeds or sizes of dogs. 

Don’t let your puppy meet dogs you don’t know. Keep your distance and tell other dog owners that it’s not the right time yet. Explain that your puppy hasn’t had all their vaccines. Most decent dog owners understand the issue and will pass you by but unfortunately, there are always those ignorant ones. 

If your puppy is being approached by an unknown dog whose owner doesn’t seem to care, just raise your voice and ask them again to keep their distance. Usually, people back away when they realize that you are being serious.

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Conclusion

Puppies need at least three vaccinations at the ages of 8, 12, and 16 weeks. It takes two shots of vaccine and 5-10 days after the last shot when your dog has gained full immunity. In Finland getting vaccinations at the age of 8 weeks is not common yet. However, the schedule written above is internationally recommended and applies in most countries.

The perfect time to expose puppies to the world is when they are 7-14 weeks old. I don’t shelter my puppies indoors because it is scientifically proven that exposing a puppy to new things at a young age prevents later behavioral problems.

But it is the other dogs that can cause problems. Start socializing your puppy with your friend’s dog that you know and trust.