Staying on top of vaccinations is one of the most reliable things you can do for your dog's long-term health. The schedule is not complicated, but it does have several moving parts: a puppy series to complete, a first adult booster, then recurring reminders at intervals that vary by vaccine.
This guide covers what every dog needs, what is optional, and what changes depending on which European country you are in.
Core vaccines: required for every dog
Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs regardless of lifestyle or location. They protect against diseases that are widespread, severe, or transmissible to humans.
| Vaccine | Puppy series | First adult booster | Ongoing |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHPPi core Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza |
8–9 weeks, then every 2–4 weeks until 16 weeks | 6 months after final puppy dose, or at 12–16 months | Every 3 years (after confirmed immunity) |
| Rabies core | From 12 weeks, minimum 21 days before travel | 12 months after first dose | Every 1–3 years depending on vaccine and country |
The puppy series needs a final dose at or after 16 weeks of age to be effective. Maternal antibodies from the mother can block earlier vaccines, so the timing of that last dose matters more than the number of doses given.
Non-core vaccines: worth discussing with your vet
These are recommended based on your dog's specific exposure risk. A dog that regularly visits boarding kennels, swims in rivers, or lives in a tick-heavy area faces different risks than a dog that rarely leaves home.
| Vaccine | Consider if your dog... | Typical schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Leptospirosis (L4) | Swims, lives near water or wildlife, or spends time in rural areas | 2 doses, 4 weeks apart; annual booster |
| Kennel cough Bordetella + CPiV |
Uses boarding, daycare, dog parks, or group training | Intranasal or injectable; annually or before boarding |
| Lyme disease | Walks in tick habitats, especially in Central or Eastern Europe | 2 doses; annual booster before tick season |
| Leishmaniasis | Lives in or travels to Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece) | 3 initial doses; annual booster |
What changes by country
Core vaccines are consistent across Europe, following WSAVA guidelines. What differs is how Rabies boosters are handled, which non-core vaccines are standard practice, and whether your dog's passport needs to be up to date for travel within the EU.
- Rabies is not legally required for resident dogs, but is strongly recommended and required for EU travel
- Leptospirosis (L4) is widely considered standard practice due to local water exposure risk
- Kennel cough vaccine expected by most boarding facilities
- Microchip required for any cross-border travel
- Rabies is not legally required for most resident dogs, but is mandatory for travel within the EU and strongly recommended by vets
- Leptospirosis widely recommended, especially in rural and riverside areas
- Annual wellness visits with vaccination review are the norm
- EU pet passport required for travel between member states
- Rabies vaccination required by law for all dogs over 3 months old
- Enhanced tick monitoring due to higher Lyme disease prevalence in forested regions
- Leptospirosis recommended, especially outside cities
- Annual booster visits are standard
- Rabies required by law for all dogs; 3-year vaccines accepted after the first annual booster
- Leishmaniasis vaccination recommended in southern regions (Alentejo, Algarve) and wherever sandflies are active; discuss with your vet based on where you live and travel
- Leptospirosis recommended year-round due to climate
- EU pet passport issued by any licensed vet
- Rabies required for EU travel; not legally required for all resident dogs but broadly recommended
- Leishmaniasis vaccination recommended in high-risk regions: Mediterranean coast, Andalusia, Balearics, Valencia, Murcia. Risk is lower in the north and Canary Islands
- Testing for existing infection before vaccination is standard practice in endemic areas
- Sandfly season runs May to October; protection should begin before it starts
Adult dogs: what if the history is unknown?
If you have adopted a dog with incomplete or missing records, the approach is straightforward. A single dose of the core MLV vaccine is likely sufficient for dogs over 26 weeks old to develop immunity. A booster 2–4 weeks later may be recommended in higher-risk situations. Your vet can also run a titre test to check existing immunity before revaccinating.
The EU pet passport
If your dog travels between EU countries, they need a valid EU pet passport. It contains their microchip number, vaccination records, and owner contact details. The passport is issued by any licensed vet and stays valid for life as long as the rabies vaccination remains current. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine for the entry to be valid.
A simple way to stay on track
Most missed vaccinations happen not from neglect but from losing track of dates across different vaccines with different intervals. Keeping everything in one place makes it easier to know what is due, what is coming up, and what to bring to a vet visit. PetSense lets you add each vaccine once and handles the repeat schedule automatically. See how to set it up in the app.
- Know which vaccines your dog has had and when
- Track the next due date for each, not just the most recent visit
- Note any non-core vaccines relevant to your dog's lifestyle
- Check your dog's rabies status before any cross-border travel
- Bring a record of past vaccines to every vet appointment
Keep your dog's vaccination schedule in PetSense
Add vaccines, set reminders, and track your dog's Health Score in one place.