Puppies are usually vaccinated at eight and ten weeks (although they can be vaccinated at four and six weeks) and the second dose is usually given two to four weeks later. Talk to your veterinarian about the best times. Your puppy will need a booster shot at 6 or 12 months. The socialization of puppies is vitally important for their emotional and behavioral development, and it's not just about them being sociable with other dogs or even people.
Owners must regularly vaccinate their dogs and puppies against rabies, but specific timelines for vaccinating puppies and dogs vary by state. These vaccines are vital for all puppies based on the risk of exposure, transmissibility to humans, and the severity of the disease. Puppies usually start getting their shots around six weeks of age, with booster shots at two to four week intervals, until they are about four months old. A vaccination program for dogs consists of periodic boosters for adults*, which are combinations of the same type of DHPP vaccine given to puppies, along with several other additions.
Similarly, some puppies are born with deficiencies in their immune system, or their immune systems may develop more slowly due to diet or other factors. Parvo is a highly contagious virus that affects all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than four months are at greatest risk of contracting it. Puppies should begin developing immunity through a series of vaccines as soon as they are old enough to leave their mother. Non-basic vaccines, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica and Leptospira, may not be necessary for some puppies because the risk of exposure (whether depending on location or lifestyle) may be low.
The puppy vaccine series usually starts between 6 and 8 weeks of age, with new vaccines and boosters given every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is between 16 and 17 weeks of age (some puppies may need an additional booster at about 20 weeks of age, this is especially true with the %26 tan black races). Therefore, to provide the best level of protection to the greatest number of puppies in the greatest number of situations, “puppy vaccines” are given as a series of initial shots and booster shots throughout the first few months of life.
