Vaccination Schedule for Dogs: What You Need to Know (Canada)

Dog vaccines protect against serious, often fatal diseases—and they’re a key part of responsible pet ownership in Canada. Your dog’s ideal vaccination schedule depends on age, lifestyle, travel, and local risk (including provincial requirements for rabies). Always follow your veterinarian’s plan, but the guide below will help you know what to expect and what to ask.

Core vs. Lifestyle Vaccines (What Most Dogs Need)

Core vaccines are recommended for nearly all dogs:

DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza)
Rabies (often required for boarding, grooming, licensing, and may be mandated by local bylaws)

Lifestyle (non-core) vaccines depend on exposure risk:

Bordetella (kennel cough) for daycare, boarding, dog parks
Leptospirosis for dogs exposed to wildlife, puddles, lakes, or rural/urban rodent areas
Lyme in tick-prone regions (common in parts of Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes, and expanding elsewhere)

Typical Dog Vaccination Schedule (Puppies to Adults)

Puppies: Start early because maternal antibodies fade.

6–8 weeks: DHPP #1
10–12 weeks: DHPP #2 (consider Bordetella/Lepto if high risk)
14–16 weeks: DHPP #3 + Rabies (timing varies by product/province)
12 months: Booster for DHPP and Rabies

Adults: Many DHPP boosters are every 3 years after the 1-year booster; rabies is typically 1–3 years depending on the vaccine and regulations. Some lifestyle vaccines (like Bordetella) may be every 6–12 months.

Actionable tips: Keep a digital copy of vaccine records for travel/boarding, book boosters before busy holiday boarding seasons, and ask your vet about tick prevention if Lyme is relevant.

Conclusion

A clear vaccination schedule helps your dog stay healthy and keeps you compliant with Canadian boarding and municipal rules. If your dog is overdue or you’ve adopted a dog with unknown history, your vet can safely “catch up” with an updated plan.