When can my puppy go outside?

Vets generally advise avoiding areas with unknown dogs until the vaccine series is complete at 16 weeks or later, while still socializing carefully in controlled settings. Ask your vet for a plan for your area.

How many vaccine visits does a puppy need?

Usually three to four visits between 6 and 16 weeks for the core series, with rabies added at 12 to 16 weeks (VCA). Your vet's schedule may differ slightly.

How much do puppy vaccines cost?

Core vaccines are commonly $15 to $40 each, and puppy package examples published in August 2026 ranged from $69 to $269. See our vaccination cost guide for sources.

When should a puppy be spayed or neutered?

It depends on breed and size, and guidance for large breeds has shifted toward waiting for growth to finish. Your veterinarian will recommend timing for your puppy.

Puppy health

Puppy health: the first-year schedule

A puppy's first year is the busiest a dog's record will ever be: a vaccine series across several visits, deworming, microchipping, parasite prevention and often a spay or neuter. This page lays out the schedule by week so you can see what is coming and keep each step recorded.

By the PetVitale editorial team · Last reviewed 2026-10-19 · Sources listed below

The short answer

Core vaccines start at 6 to 8 weeks and repeat every 3 to 4 weeks until at least 16 weeks; rabies at 12 to 16 weeks (VCA).
Until the series is complete, a puppy is not fully protected, which shapes where it can safely go.
The AAHA new puppy checklist covers the vet visit, deworming, microchip, diet and training steps to plan for.

Puppy vaccine schedule by week

Typical schedule from VCA Animal Hospitals; your vet may adjust
Age	What happens
6 to 8 weeks	First DA2PP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza); first vet exam; deworming
10 to 12 weeks	Second DA2PP; leptospirosis per vet; Bordetella if boarding or daycare is planned
12 to 16 weeks	Rabies vaccine; third DA2PP
16 weeks and after	Final DA2PP of the series; discuss Lyme or influenza if exposure warrants
About 1 year	First adult boosters; schedule then moves to every 1 to 3 years

Rabies timing and booster intervals are set by local law. The AAHA 2022 canine vaccination guidelines are the detailed reference your veterinarian follows.

Deworming, parasites and microchip

Puppies are commonly dewormed at the first visits and then moved to a monthly preventive that covers heartworm and intestinal worms; follow your vet's product and timing.
Flea and tick prevention is started when the product label allows for the puppy's age and weight.
Microchipping is quick, usually done at a vaccine visit, and only works if you register your contact details.
Record each product, dose and date; the first year has many of them, and the refill dates are the ones that lapse.

Spay or neuter timing

Guidance has become more individualized, especially for large-breed dogs, where some veterinarians recommend waiting until growth is complete. Ask your vet what they recommend for your puppy's breed and size, and see the cost guide for what to expect financially.

Socialization while the series is incomplete

The early weeks are also the most important socialization window. Most vets suggest carefully chosen exposure (vaccinated adult dogs, puppy classes that require vaccination, carried outings) rather than isolation until the series ends. Avoid places with unknown dogs and standing water until your vet says the puppy is protected.

First-year puppy checklist

Book the first exam within a few days of bringing the puppy home.
Create the puppy's record: breeder or shelter paperwork, first vaccines, deworming dates.
Set reminders for each vaccine visit and the monthly preventive.
Register the microchip and keep the number in the record.
Decide on spay or neuter timing with your vet and note the plan.
Weigh monthly; puppies grow fast and the curve is useful later.

Questions pet parents ask

Sources

Vaccines for dogs — VCA Animal Hospitals
New puppy checklist — American Animal Hospital Association
2022 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines — American Animal Hospital Association

Vaccination checklistPuppy schedule as a checklist you can save.Vaccination cost Spay and neuter cost Dog health guide

This guide is general information, not veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. Prices are published estimates that vary by clinic, region and your pet's needs — ask your veterinarian for a written estimate. PetVitale organizes your pet's records and reminders; it does not replace your vet.