Vaccinating your puppy is one of the most important things to take care of during their first few weeks. You’ll need to follow the full course of vaccinations with annual booster shots. Keeping up to date will help ensure that your puppy is free from common infectious diseases.

But what specific puppy vaccinations do they need, and when? How far apart should each vaccination be, and how much will it cost? In this brief guide, we’ll answer some of the most common questions puppy owners have regarding vaccinations and explain what a puppy vaccination schedule looks like.

Why does my puppy need vaccinating?

We all want the best for our furry friends, and vaccines help protect our pets from disease. There are many important reasons to get your dog vaccinated, such as:

• Vaccines can save your dog’s life: Some diseases can be fatal. Dog vaccinations protect against most diseases.
  
  
• Vaccines benefit your dog and others: Mass vaccination creates herd immunity. This means that diseases are less likely to spread.
  
  
• Treatment costs can be high, even with pet insurance: If a disease is preventable and you choose not to vaccinate against it, you may not be covered for treatment by your insurance policy. And depending on your policy, you may still have to pay an excess on your pet insurance if your dog gets sick.
  
  

Your dog’s immunity to these diseases can diminish over time, so they’ll need to have booster vaccinations to maintain their immunity.

What vaccinations does my puppy need?

There are five main puppy vaccinations that all dogs in the UK need. Your vet will be able to advise on the best timings for these vaccines:

Canine Parvovirus

A highly contagious life-threatening viral disease. It’s passed on through infected dog faeces.

Symptoms include vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and severe dehydration.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment, and puppies can be particularly vulnerable. The disease is more prevalent in certain parts of the country, so vaccination advice may vary.

Canine Distemper

A severe contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks several body systems, including the nervous and respiratory system.

Symptoms include a temperature, eye and nose discharge, coughing and lack of appetite. In later stages, it can cause seizures and limb weakness. Extreme cases are sometimes fatal, and dogs can suffer ongoing complications if they recover.

Canine distemper spreads through direct contact with infected saliva and urine. There is no cure, only prevention.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis

A highly contagious viral infection that affects the liver, kidneys, lungs and eyes of a dog.

It spreads through the bodily fluids of infected dogs.

Infectious canine hepatitis can be fatal, but most dogs do recover.

Leptospirosis 

A bacterial disease which causes kidney and liver failure. Often, it progresses quickly and is fatal to dogs and humans. Dogs pick it up from contact with infected urine or contaminated water. It enters the body through the eyes, nose, mouth or broken skin, such as a cracked paw pad.

Symptoms include a temperature, excessive drinking, vomiting and muscle pain.

Antibiotics can treat the disease, but there are often long-term complications.

Kennel Cough (or canine infectious tracheobronchitis)

A respiratory infection that can be caused by several different bacteria and viruses. It gives your dog a bad cough similar to flu in humans.

Kennel cough is highly contagious and spreads through close contact with an infected dog, as well as sharing toys or water bowls. If your dog is going into kennels, doggy day care or competing in dog shows, it is highly likely that they will need to have this vaccine.

The treatment is given up the nose and is valid for six months.

You should consult your vet before deciding which vaccinations your puppy needs and when to get them. If your puppy will be travelling abroad, they may also need the rabies vaccination when they are around 12 weeks of age.

Who can vaccinate my dog?

Many owners choose to register their puppy with a vet before they bring them home, so that they can get booked in promptly for their second puppy vaccinations. Make sure that you choose a vet that is registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Vets with the initials MRCVS or FRCVS after their name indicate that they are members of the RCVS and fully qualified. Ask for recommendations from family, friends and neighbours to help find a vet that you can trust.

When do puppies have their vaccinations?

Puppies are usually safe from most diseases for a few weeks after birth due to the immunity passed onto them from their mother’s milk. As a general rule, puppies will need to get their first vaccination between six and nine weeks old.

They will then require a second course of injections two to four weeks after the first set. Always consult with your vet about the best timings for your puppy.

Vets will need to see your puppy’s vaccination record, too — responsible dog breeders will give this to you when you pick up your pup.

Puppy vaccination schedule UK

In the UK, you will usually follow this puppy vaccination schedule*:

• First set of vaccinations: Puppies usually have their first vaccinations at eight to 10 weeks, although they can be vaccinated as early as four weeks.
  
  
• Second set of vaccinations: Your pup will then have a second dose of the same vaccinations two to four weeks later.
  
  
• Booster vaccinations: Your puppy will then need a booster vaccination at six to 12 months. Depending on the vaccine, they may require frequent boosters throughout their lives.

*This is a guide to the common puppy vaccination schedule in the UK. Speak to your vet for precise timings.

How often do I need to vaccinate my dog?

You will need to take your dog for boosters every year or every three years, depending on the vaccine.

• Kennel Cough and Leptospirosis need a yearly booster.
  
  
• Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Parvovirus need boosters every three years.
  
  

Booster frequency also depends on your dog’s overall health and how common diseases are where you live. If you miss your dog’s annual booster, talk to your vet as soon as possible. Some vaccinations may need to be restarted if boosters are left too long, which will ultimately cost more. 

How much are puppy vaccinations?

Prices for puppy vaccinations vary according to your vet, your location, and what vaccinations your puppy needs.

Cost of first and second vaccinations

As a guide, initial dog vaccinations in the UK are usually between £30 and £60,* although prices may be slightly lower or higher depending on where you go. You’ll likely pay a single price for the first and second dose, so there isn’t necessarily a separate cost for a puppy’s first and second vaccinations. You’ll just pay once.

*Kitten & Puppy Vaccination Costs - WhatPrice Costs correct as of March 2025

Cost of annual boosters

The cost of annual dog booster vaccinations will be less than their first course of vaccinations. This is normally between £20 and £40.*

Some vets may be able to offer boosters and other care such as worming or flea treatments at the same appointment, saving time and money. Ask your vet about health plans to help spread the cost of routine preventative care visits. Remember, vaccines are a lot cheaper than the cost of treating a sick puppy.

*Kitten & Puppy Vaccination Costs - WhatPrice Costs correct as of March 2025

What is Titre testing?

Titre testing is a set of blood tests your vet can carry out to check if your dog is immune to three key diseases:

• Parvovirus
• Canine Distemper
• Hepatitis
  
  

The blood test will show if your dog carries antibodies to these diseases. Antibodies are produced when a virus triggers a response from the immune system. If your dog has adequate antibody levels in their blood, it shows that they have immunity against the bacteria or virus that causes a disease. If they do not have adequate levels of antibodies, your dog will need a booster vaccination.

Titre tests can be used to decide if an annual booster is needed. Talk to your vet about titre tests and whether they would recommend them for your dog. 

Are puppy vaccinations covered by insurance?

Pet insurance doesn’t cover puppy vaccinations. Pet insurance is in place to help you pay for unexpected vet fees following an accident or illness, so it doesn’t cover routine treatments like vaccinations.

If you take out pet insurance, some providers require you to keep up to date with your dog’s vaccinations and boosters to keep your policy valid.

It’s also worth knowing that if you don’t vaccinate your puppy and they get a disease or illness that could have been prevented by the vaccine, your insurer may not cover the treatment costs.

Potential side effects of puppy vaccines

Side effects of puppy vaccines are usually quite rare, with most dogs not experiencing any at all. If your pup does get some side effects, they may include a high temperature, low energy and reduced appetite. Often this will pass within a couple of days. Remember, that while vaccines may cause some side effects, the risk is much lower than being unvaccinated.

In extremely rare cases, dogs can suffer serious side effects. Speak to your vet if you’re worried about your dog after their jabs.

How long after the second vaccine can your puppy go out?

You’ll need to keep your puppy indoors for around a fortnight until their vaccination course is complete. Your vet will be able to advise you on the exact timings according to your puppy and their vaccination schedule.

Don’t take them to any public areas or any gardens where an unvaccinated dog could have been. It’s still important to socialise your puppy with dogs and people. Lots of vets run puppy classes where your puppy can learn to socialise with minimal risk of exposure to disease.

Can I walk my dog after vaccination?

Until your puppy has completed their course of initial vaccinations, they could still be at risk of picking up harmful diseases. You will need to wait for about two weeks before taking your puppy for a walk in a public place.

This is to minimise the risk of exposing them to an infectious disease that they are not yet ready to deal with. Instead of walking your puppy, exercise your dog in your garden or go to places that are unlikely to have been visited by other dogs. Visit friends’ gardens, where your puppy can socialise with other dogs that have already been vaccinated.

Can my dog meet other dogs before vaccination?

Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, your dog won’t be able to come into contact with:

• Unvaccinated dogs.
  
  
• Dogs you don’t know — they may not be up to date with their vaccinations.
  
  
• Areas near fresh water such as rivers and lakes.
  
  
• Areas that are known to have rodents due to the increased risk of Leptospirosis.
  
  

But it’s still important to socialise your puppy during these first few weeks to help them feel comfortable in a range of settings. Take your puppy to different places in your arms or a carrier so that they can see new things and become familiar with new places. Let them travel in the car too, so they get used to the noises and motion. Visit friends’ houses and let them meet new people and dogs as long as their dog is fully vaccinated.

Pet Insurance with Asda Money

Whilst dog insurance doesn’t cover puppy vaccinations, it can offer financial protection and peace of mind in the event of unexpected vet bills. Explore dog and puppy insurance with Asda Money to protect your pup today. Choose from our different cover types to get the right insurance for your four legged friend.