PetPass Guide
Dog vaccine schedule 🐶
Every shot a puppy and adult dog typically gets, when each one is due, and how long it's good for — plus what a boarding facility will actually ask to see.
What shots does my dog need for boarding?
Required almost everywhere
- Rabies
- DHPP (distemper/parvo combo)
- Bordetella
Often asked for too
- Canine influenza — common at daycares and after a local outbreak
- A negative fecal test within the last 6–12 months
- Proof of flea and tick prevention
Give yourself at least two weeks. Some of these need a second dose weeks after the first before they count, and many facilities won't accept a shot given in the last few days.
Core vaccines
Recommended for every dog, regardless of lifestyle.
Rabies
Required by lawRabies virus
Rabies — fatal once symptoms start, and transmissible to people.
- Puppy series
- One dose at 12–16 weeks, boosted one year later.
- How long it lasts
- Every 1 or 3 years, depending on which vaccine was given and what your state or county requires.
At the front desk: Every boarder, groomer, and daycare will ask for this one, and most want to see the certificate rather than take your word for it.
DHPP
Distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parainfluenza, parvovirus — also written DAPP or DA2PP
Distemper and parvovirus especially — both are common, both kill puppies, and both are largely preventable.
- Puppy series
- A series starting at 6–8 weeks, repeated every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks old, then boosted one year later.
- How long it lasts
- Every 3 years for most adult dogs.
At the front desk: Required by essentially every boarding and daycare facility.
Lifestyle vaccines
Recommended based on where you live and what your dog does — boarding, daycare, hiking, time outdoors.
Bordetella
Kennel cough
Bordetella bronchiseptica, the main bacterial cause of kennel cough. It doesn't prevent every case — it reduces how often and how badly dogs get it.
- Puppy series
- Intranasal or oral: one dose, often from 8 weeks. Injectable: two doses 2–4 weeks apart.
- How long it lasts
- Labeled for 12 months.
At the front desk: This is the big one people get caught by. The vaccine is labeled for a year, but a large share of boarders, groomers, and daycares require it within the last 6 months — so a shot that's still valid to your vet can be rejected at the front desk. Check the facility's policy before you book, not the morning you drop off.
Leptospirosis
Lepto
Leptospira bacteria, picked up from water, soil, and wildlife urine. It can cause kidney and liver failure, and it can spread to people.
- Puppy series
- Two doses 2–4 weeks apart.
- How long it lasts
- Annually.
At the front desk: Not usually required, but many vets now recommend it for nearly every dog that goes outside — ask about risk where you actually live.
Canine influenza
Dog flu, H3N2 and H3N8
The two canine flu strains circulating in the US.
- Puppy series
- Two doses 2–4 weeks apart.
- How long it lasts
- Annually.
At the front desk: Increasingly required by daycares and boarders, especially after a local outbreak. Remember the first-time series is two shots weeks apart — start it well before a trip.
Lyme
Borrelia burgdorferi
Lyme disease, carried by ticks.
- Puppy series
- Two doses 2–4 weeks apart.
- How long it lasts
- Annually.
At the front desk: Worth discussing if you're in or travel to a tick-heavy region. It is not a substitute for tick prevention.
Rabies is the legal one
Every other vaccine on this page is a recommendation. Rabies is a requirement, and the age, cadence, and which animals it covers are set by your state — sometimes tightened further by your county.
Dog vaccine questions people actually ask
How long is the Bordetella vaccine good for?
The vaccine is labeled for 12 months. The catch is that many boarding facilities, groomers, and daycares require it to have been given within the last 6 months, so a dose your vet considers current can still be turned away at check-in. Confirm the facility's window when you book.
What shots does my dog need for boarding?
Almost universally: rabies, DHPP (the distemper/parvo combo), and Bordetella. Many facilities also want canine influenza and a recent negative fecal test. Policies differ, so ask for the facility's written requirements before you book.
How far in advance should I get my pet vaccinated before boarding?
At least two weeks. Some vaccines need a second dose 2–4 weeks after the first before they count, and many facilities won't accept a shot given in the last 48 hours to 7 days. Booking a trip and vaccinating the same week is the most common reason a drop-off gets refused.
How often does my dog need a rabies shot?
The first dose is given around 12–16 weeks and boosted a year later. After that it's every 1 or 3 years, depending on which vaccine was used and what your state or county requires. The 3-year vaccine is only good for 3 years where local law recognizes it.
What happens if my pet's vaccine is overdue?
It depends on how overdue. A slightly late booster is usually just given as a booster. If enough time has passed, some vaccines need the initial two-dose series restarted, which means planning around a 2–4 week gap. Ask your vet before assuming one visit will fix it.
How do I get my pet's vaccine records from a previous vet?
Call and ask for them in writing. Most clinics will email or print a summary, though a number still fax records to another clinic rather than release them to you. Ask for a copy sent to you directly, then keep your own copy — records that live only at a clinic are the ones that go missing when you move or switch vets.
Keep the record, not the paperwork
Add your dog's shots to PetPass once and it tracks what's due, reminds you before a booster lapses, and gives you a shareable link for the boarder or a new vet.
Start freePetPass isn't a veterinary practice and this page isn't medical or legal advice. Schedules here follow the published AAHA and AAFP vaccination guidelines and describe what's typical — your vet decides what your pet actually needs based on age, health, and where you live. Vaccine law varies by state and county and can change; confirm current requirements with your vet or local animal control before you rely on them.