New puppies need a starter course of vaccinations to build protection against serious diseases like parvovirus and distemper. Here's how the timing usually works in New Zealand.
Every puppy is a little different, so treat this as a guide and let us tailor the exact plan to your pup.
A typical puppy schedule
- 6-8 weeks: first vaccination (often given by the breeder)
- 10-12 weeks: second vaccination
- 14-16 weeks: final puppy vaccination
- Then a booster around 12 months, and regular boosters after that
What puppies are vaccinated against
The core diseases are parvovirus, distemper and canine hepatitis - all serious and, in the case of parvo, often fatal in unvaccinated pups. Depending on your puppy's lifestyle we may also recommend kennel cough (for dogs that mix, board or go to training) and leptospirosis.
When can my puppy safely socialise?
Your vet will tell you when it's safe to have your puppy on the ground in public places - usually a week or two after the final vaccination. Because early socialisation matters so much, our puppy classes are run in a controlled, safe environment during this window.