Puppy guide · Free digital Pet Passport
Your puppy's first-year vaccination roadmap
A puppy's immune system develops in stages — which means the first year involves more vaccinations than any other period of their life. Miss a booster window and you may need to restart a course; arrive at daycare with an expired kennel cough shot and they simply turn you away.
Why this matters
This guide walks through the typical Western European first-year schedule week by week. Log every dose in the free LetzPaws Pet Passport as you go — expiry alerts mean you never wonder whether that lepto booster is still valid before boarding season.
Typical first-year puppy vaccination timeline
First puppy visit
Initial DHPPi (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza). Full health check, microchip discussion and parasite prevention plan. Start the passport now — even if the only entry is today's date and vet name.
Second core booster
DHPPi booster. Often the first leptospirosis dose is given here in high-risk areas. Log exact product names — some combo vaccines cover different strains.
Rabies & socialisation window
Rabies vaccination (legally required for EU travel). Third DHPPi if your vet's protocol requires it. Kennel cough (Bordetella) before any group puppy class or boarding trial.
Final puppy boosters
Leptospirosis second dose if started at 10–12 weeks. Some vets give final parvo/distemper booster in this window. After this point, most puppies can attend daycare and boarding with complete records.
First annual booster
Annual DHPPi, leptospirosis and kennel cough boosters. Rabies re-vaccination depending on vaccine used (1- or 3-year). The passport flags anything approaching expiry before you book travel or boarding.
Exact timing depends on when maternal antibodies wane, your vet's protocol and local disease risk. Never start or adjust a schedule without your veterinarian.
Vaccines covered in the first year
| Vaccine / measure | Protects against | Typical schedule | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHPPi | Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza | Puppy series at 6–8, 10–12, 16–20 weeks; then every 1–3 years | Parvovirus is especially dangerous in unvaccinated puppies |
| Rabies | Rabies virus | From 12 weeks; booster every 1–3 years | Required for EU Pet Passport travel documents |
| Leptospirosis | Leptospira bacteria | Two-dose puppy course, then annually | Important for dogs that swim, hike or live on farms |
| Kennel cough | Infectious tracheobronchitis | Before socialisation; annually thereafter | Required by most kennels and puppy daycares |
Your vet may recommend additional vaccines (e.g. Lyme in endemic areas). Add any extra shots to the passport under vaccinations — the expiry alert system works for all of them.
Beyond vaccines — what else to log in year one
Parasite prevention start date
Flea, tick and worm treatments often begin at the first puppy visit. Log the product and date — sitters and family members must never double-dose.
Microchip number
Usually implanted at the first or second visit. Having it in the passport means any vet or shelter can identify your puppy instantly if they escape during the exploration phase.
Temperament milestones
The first year shapes behaviour. Note reactions to strangers, other dogs, grooming and handling — puppy class instructors and sitters use this to set your dog up for success.
Allergies as they emerge
Food trials, shampoo reactions and environmental sensitivities often appear in year one. Flag them early in the passport — they appear as health alerts on every future booking.
Expiry alerts
Every vaccination is tracked with its expiry date — anything overdue is flagged in red automatically.
One-tap sharing
Generate a private link and show the full passport at the clinic — no app needed on their side.
Seen by every pro you book
Allergies, temperament and care notes appear with every LetzPaws booking, before the appointment starts.
Frequently asked questions
Can my puppy go outside before vaccinations are complete? +
Your vet will advise based on local parvovirus risk. Many recommend carrying your puppy in low-traffic areas until the core series is complete. The passport helps you track exactly which doses are done and which are still pending.
What if we miss a booster appointment? +
Contact your vet immediately — some vaccines need restarting if the interval is too long. The passport's expiry alerts turn red when a dose is overdue, so you catch gaps before they become course restarts.
When can my puppy start daycare or boarding? +
Most facilities require completed DHPPi series plus kennel cough and rabies. Requirements vary — the passport gives you a clear at-a-glance status to show any facility before booking.
Is the LetzPaws passport the same as the EU travel document? +
No — the EU Pet Passport is an official paper document issued by an authorised vet for cross-border travel. The LetzPaws passport is a free digital record for everyday care. Most owners use both: the official document for travel, LetzPaws for everything else.
Does the passport cost anything? +
Completely free — create it in two minutes and add vaccinations as each appointment happens. Expiry alerts are included.
Book trusted care for your dog
Give your dog the passport they deserve
Free, forever — with expiry alerts, private sharing and every booking pre-briefed.
Create free passport