All puppies should be vaccinated against four potentially fatal diseases: Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Leptospirosis.

Puppy vaccination

• 1st vaccination 8 weeks
• 2nd vaccination 12 weeks
• newer vaccines are now available which can be started even earlier at 6 and 10 weeks. Discuss this with your vet.

In the past the recommendation was to keep the puppy at home until a week after the vaccination course finished. However as the best time to socialise a puppy is between 3-12 weeks of age it is now advised that you expose your pup to the outside world as early as possible. Many vet surgeries hold puppy parties where healthy pups can mix together and learn basic obedience training and good puppy behaviour.

Puppies over 12 weeks

• 1st vaccination - any time
• 2nd vaccination 2-4 weeks later

After the initial vaccination course an annual booster is recommended.