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Vaccination schedule / Canada

Puppy vaccination schedule in Canada

Canada has no national canine vaccination schedule. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association takes a principles based position and cites the 2022 AAHA guidelines, so Canadian practice follows AAHA and WSAVA. Rabies vaccination is a legal requirement in some provinces, Ontario being the clearest, and in many municipalities.

Get the dates for your puppy

The typical schedule: DHPP plus rabies where required

DoseTypical ageVaccinesTypeNotes
First puppy vaccination 6 to 8 weeks DHPP Core AAHA: begin the primary series at 6 to 8 weeks. WSAVA: start no earlier than 6 weeks of age.
Second puppy vaccination 10 to 12 weeks DHPP Core AAHA: every 2 to 4 weeks. WSAVA: every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
Third puppy vaccination 14 to 16 weeks DHPP Core At least three doses between 6 and 16 weeks under AAHA.
Final puppy vaccination 18 to 20 weeks DHPP Core AAHA prefers 18 to 20 weeks in high risk areas. WSAVA says continue to 20 weeks in especially high risk situations.
Rabies, first dose 12 to 16 weeks Rabies Rabies Ontario regulation requires every dog three months of age or over to be immunised against rabies. Other provinces and many municipalities have their own rules. There is no national requirement, so check your province and your city.
Booster after the puppy series 6 to 12 months DHPP Core AAHA: within 1 year of the last puppy dose. WSAVA: consider revaccinating at about 6 months instead. Your vet will pick one, both are defensible.
Rabies booster 15 months Rabies Rabies One year after the first dose. Ontario ties the next date to the certificate the vet issues, which follows the product label, rather than fixing 1 or 3 years in the regulation itself.
Leptospirosis, first dose 12 weeks Leptospira, 4 serovar Non core AAHA: strongly consider for most dogs in North America, first dose at or after 12 weeks, 4 serovar products recommended.
Leptospirosis, second dose 14 to 16 weeks Leptospira, 4 serovar Non core Two to four weeks after the first, then annually.
Bordetella and parainfluenza, intranasal 8 weeks Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza Non core A single intranasal dose for dogs that board, attend day care or go to classes. Annual revaccination.
Lyme disease, first dose 8 weeks Borrelia burgdorferi Non core AAHA notes Lyme disease is endemic in parts of Manitoba, eastern Ontario, southern Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Worth discussing if you live in or visit those areas.
Lyme disease, second dose 10 to 16 weeks Borrelia burgdorferi Non core Two to four weeks after the first dose, then annually.

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Local disease risk, the products your clinic stocks and your puppy’s own history all change the plan. Take this page to your vet as a starting point, not as an instruction.

Common questions

Is rabies vaccination legally required in Canada?

There is no national requirement, it depends on your province and often your municipality. Ontario's rabies immunisation regulation requires every dog three months of age or over to be immunised, and ties the next due date to the certificate the vet issues rather than fixing an interval. Other provinces have their own rules, so check locally rather than assuming Ontario's age applies everywhere.

Which guidelines do Canadian vets follow?

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association does not publish its own schedule. Its position statement is principles based and cites the 2022 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines, which are themselves written for both countries and discuss Canadian rabies and Lyme risk directly. Many Canadian practices also work from the WSAVA 2024 guidelines.

Other countries

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Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. If a date here does not match what your clinic tells you, your clinic is right.