Keeping your dog’s vaccines up to date is one of the simplest ways to prevent serious (and expensive) diseases. In Canada, your exact dog vaccination schedule depends on age, lifestyle, region, and local by-laws—so use this guide to understand the basics and confirm details with your veterinarian.

Core vs. lifestyle vaccines (Canada)

Core vaccines are recommended for most dogs because the diseases are widespread and potentially fatal:

DA2PP (or DHPP): distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus, parainfluenza
Rabies: required by many Canadian municipalities and essential for public health

Non-core (lifestyle) vaccines are chosen based on exposure risk:

Bordetella (kennel cough): daycares, grooming, boarding, dog parks
Leptospirosis: wildlife/standing water exposure; higher risk in many parts of Canada
Lyme: tick-endemic areas (ask about risk in your province)

Typical puppy and adult vaccination schedule

Puppies need a series because maternal antibodies can block early protection.

6–8 weeks: DA2PP #1
10–12 weeks: DA2PP #2 (consider Lepto/Bordetella if risk is high)
14–16 weeks: DA2PP #3 + Rabies (timing varies by province/clinic)
12 months: booster(s) for core vaccines
Adults: core boosters every 1–3 years depending on product and vet guidance; lifestyle vaccines often annual (or more frequent for Bordetella in high-exposure dogs)

Actionable tips for dog owners

Ask your vet for a personalized schedule based on travel, hiking, daycare, and local outbreaks.
Keep a digital vaccine record (photo or PDF) for boarding and emergency visits.
After vaccines, monitor for mild soreness or sleepiness; call your vet urgently for facial swelling, vomiting, hives, or collapse.

Bottom line: the right dog vaccination schedule keeps your pet—and your community—safer. Book a vet checkup to confirm which core and lifestyle vaccines your dog needs this year.