Dog vaccination schedule: United States, UK and Canada guide

Q: Is rabies vaccination annual?

It depends. Some vaccines and jurisdictions use 1 year timing, others allow 3 year products. Local law overrides general guidance.

Keeping your dog’s vaccines up to date protects them against serious diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis and rabies. The hard part is knowing which vaccines are core, when puppies need each dose and which rabies rules apply in your country.

This guide gives a practical schedule and local notes for the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, plus a short checklist for Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Important: this article is educational and does not replace veterinary advice. Your veterinarian should adapt the schedule to your dog’s age, health, vaccine history, lifestyle, region and travel plans.

Quick answer: common dog vaccines

Vaccine	What it protects against	Usual starting point	Booster pattern
Distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis and parvovirus	Severe core viral diseases	6–8 weeks	Puppy series, first adult booster, then according to product and local guidance
Rabies	A fatal zoonotic disease	Often 12–16 weeks, depending on local law	Determined by law and vaccine label
Leptospirosis	A bacterial zoonosis linked to wildlife, water and rodents	Often from 8–12 weeks	Often annual where risk is present
Bordetella/kennel cough	Contagious respiratory disease	Depends on product and exposure	Often required by boarding, daycare or grooming facilities
Canine influenza or Lyme disease	Regional or lifestyle risks	Vet assessment	Depends on exposure and local disease risk

The WSAVA 2024 guidelines treat canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus as essential core vaccines for dogs. Rabies must be prioritized wherever the disease is endemic, legally required or needed for travel.

Puppy vaccination schedule

Puppy age	Typical plan
6–8 weeks	First core combination: distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis and parvovirus.
10–12 weeks	Second core combination. Leptospirosis may be started if appropriate.
14–16 weeks	Final puppy core dose. Rabies is commonly given in this window where local rules allow or require it.
6–12 months	First booster after the puppy series, especially important if maternal antibodies interfered with early doses.

Until your vet confirms your puppy is adequately protected, avoid high-risk environments such as dog parks, unknown dog groups and heavily contaminated areas. Ask your clinic how to socialize safely while the vaccine series is still in progress.

United States: rabies depends on state and local law

In the US, rabies vaccination timing is influenced by state and local law, the vaccine product and your dog’s age. The CDC notes that rabies vaccine schedules vary by product and state, and local laws can affect timing.

Typical US planning looks like this:

Stage	United States: practical notes
Puppy series	Core DA2P/DAPP-style vaccines commonly begin at 6–8 weeks and repeat every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks.
Rabies	Often given from 12–16 weeks, but the exact legal deadline varies by state or county.
Adult dog	Rabies boosters follow the law and vaccine label, commonly 1-year or 3-year products. Other vaccines depend on risk.
Travel	USDA APHIS and CDC rules apply for international travel and for dogs entering or returning to the US.

For dogs entering the US, CDC requirements depend on where the dog has been in the previous 6 months and where it was vaccinated. Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries may need the CDC Dog Import Form, while dogs that have been in high-risk countries have additional rabies documentation requirements.

If your dog may return to the US after being in a high-risk country for dog rabies, check CDC requirements before departure. A regular rabies certificate may not be enough: CDC may require the CDC Dog Import Form receipt and a specific rabies vaccination certification completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before travel.

United Kingdom: rabies is mainly a travel requirement

The UK is not a place where most pet dogs receive rabies vaccine as a routine domestic requirement. Rabies becomes central when a dog travels abroad or returns under pet travel rules.

For travel from Great Britain to the EU, dogs usually need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate issued before travel. After a primary rabies vaccination, you must wait at least 21 full days before travelling.

Typical UK planning:

Stage	United Kingdom: practical notes
Puppy series	Core puppy vaccines are arranged with the vet, commonly starting around 6–8 weeks.
Rabies	Usually needed for EU or international travel rather than everyday domestic life.
Adult dog	Boosters for core and non-core vaccines depend on product, health and lifestyle.
Travel	Plan early: microchip, rabies vaccine, 21-day waiting period and Animal Health Certificate can take time.

Canada: rabies rules are shared across levels of government

Canada is not considered to have dog-maintained rabies, but rabies exists in wildlife and remains a reportable disease. The CFIA explains that rabies management is shared by federal, provincial and territorial authorities.

For importing or returning to Canada, CFIA rules can require a valid rabies vaccination certificate, especially for dogs from countries that are not recognized as rabies-free. Provincial or municipal rules may also affect licensing and rabies vaccination.

Typical Canadian planning:

Stage	Canada: practical notes
Puppy series	Core vaccines usually begin around 6–8 weeks and continue until at least 16 weeks.
Rabies	Ask your vet and municipality about local obligations. Keep a valid certificate if travelling or importing.
Adult dog	Rabies, leptospirosis and other boosters depend on province, municipality, product and risk.
Travel	CFIA import/export requirements are disease-status based and can change by destination.

For importing or travelling with a dog, check CFIA requirements before the border. The documents can depend on the country of origin, your dog’s age, vaccination status and whether the movement is personal, commercial or rescue-related.

Australia, New Zealand and Ireland: what to check

These countries have their own rules for importing pets, travel documents and rabies-related requirements. Use this section as a checklist, not as legal advice.

Country	What to check
Australia	Import rules are strict and depend on country of origin, microchip, rabies vaccination, blood testing, permits and quarantine requirements.
New Zealand	Import rules depend on country of origin, approved countries, microchip, vaccination, testing and documentation.
Ireland	For EU/UK travel, check microchip, pet passport or animal health certificate, rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment where required.

Always check the official authority for the destination before booking travel, because import rules can change and may depend on the route, origin country and purpose of movement.

Lifestyle vaccines: when your dog may need more

Tell your vet if your dog:

Goes to daycare, boarding, grooming facilities, shows or training classes.
Swims, drinks from puddles, visits rural areas or encounters wildlife.
Lives in a region with ticks, Lyme disease or leptospirosis risk.
Travels in the US, Canada, the UK, the EU or other countries.
Is a puppy, senior, pregnant, immunocompromised or chronically ill.

That information helps decide whether Bordetella, leptospirosis, influenza, Lyme or other non-core vaccines make sense.

Side effects and when to worry

Most dogs tolerate vaccination well. Mild reactions can include:

Sleepiness or low energy for 24–48 hours.
Mild soreness or a small lump at the injection site.
Temporary low-grade fever.

Seek urgent veterinary care if you notice repeated vomiting, facial swelling, hives, trouble breathing, collapse or extreme lethargy after vaccination. These signs can indicate a serious allergic reaction.

What records to keep for each vaccine

To make the history useful for travel, emergencies or a change of clinic, keep:

Vaccination date.
Vaccine name or vaccine type.
Batch or lot number, if shown on the record.
Clinic or veterinarian who administered it.
Recommended date of the next booster.
Photo of the vaccine card, rabies certificate, pet passport or travel document.
Any reaction after vaccination, even if mild.

How Dogtorcito helps

Dog vaccine schedules become harder to track when different vaccines have different due dates, legal requirements and paper certificates. Dogtorcito keeps everything together.

Vaccine reminders

Record each dose and schedule the next booster before the date disappears from memory.

Complete health history

Save vaccine type, date, clinic, batch number and notes in your dog’s profile.

Attach documents

Add photos of rabies certificates, vaccine cards, pet passports or travel documents to each event.

Multiple dogs, separate records

Each dog has their own calendar, reminders and health timeline.

Keep vaccines, certificates and upcoming boosters in Dogtorcito so you can arrive at the vet or prepare for a trip with everything you need.

Start free at dogtorcito.com

FAQ

What vaccines does every dog need?

Most dogs need core protection against distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis and parvovirus. Rabies is essential where required by law, endemic risk or travel rules.

How often do dogs need distemper and parvo boosters?

After the puppy series and first booster, many core vaccines are boosted no more often than every 3 years, depending on product, local guidance and veterinary advice.

Is rabies vaccination annual?

It depends. Some vaccines and jurisdictions use 1-year timing, others allow 3-year products. Local law overrides general guidance.

What about Australia, New Zealand or Ireland?

Rules vary by country, route and purpose of travel. Check official import or pet travel guidance before moving a dog, especially for microchip, rabies vaccination, blood testing, quarantine, tapeworm treatment and travel documents.

Can a sick dog be vaccinated?

A dog with fever, vomiting, diarrhea or significant illness should be assessed by a veterinarian before vaccination. The appointment may need to be postponed.