Can someone please tell me the normal schedule for puppy shots? Our breeder just called and said that the puppies can't get their shots till they're 8 weeks now (it was scheduled for 6 weeks), so we won't be able to pick up Semper to bring him home until February 1st. That's only a week later than was planned, but is that normal? The breeder said up until now they've always done the shots at 6 weeks but the vet just called and said they can't do it this time till 8 weeks. I'm so confused.

Any chance you can call the vet to inquire? from vet to vet there may be very different vaccination schedules that are normal for them. it could be any number of things that may have changed in their office too.

Thanks! I just called the vet a little bit ago and they said they do them between 6 and 7 weeks. So, I called the breeder back and they said we can still get him at 7 weeks like we already planned on and then just him his shots and everything ourselves if we'd like. I'm so glad we'll be able to stick to our vet's usual schedule! Our vet is really good and comes highly recommended, so there must be a reason for that!

Generally shots are given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. If the last shot is given before 16 weeks, the vet may do another booster four weeks after the 3rd shot is given just to be safe, since puppies don't generally lose the immunity given to them by their mom at birth until around 16 weeks. That's what happened to Layla -- she got her last set of shots at 15 weeks and the vet wanted us to come back at 19 weeks for a fourth shot.

Our vet does a series of 4 sets of shots. Typically at between 6 and 7 weeks, then 3-4 weeks after that, 3-4 weeks after that, and the final set at 3-4 weeks after that. With the final set they also do the rabies shot. Maybe that's why they do 4 sets though, cuz of the immunity of the mother. Not sure. I'm going to call and ask the vet again tomorrow and try to figure this out. We'd really love to be able to bring him home on the 25th as planned, but maybe the shots should be done differently then. I just want what's best for him.

I was also wondering if things changed. I'm getting a pup this weekend, and her breeder's vet recently started doing them at 8 weeks too (yesterday for this litter). I am not sure of the reason, but I actually prefer three shots at 8, 12, 16 weeks over four at 6, 10, 14, & 18). If I ventured a guess, I would think maybe some vets to this to make sure breeders aren't letting pups go too soon (not that mine would, but many do).

I thought 7 to 8 weeks was ok for the puppy to go to it's new home. Is that wrong? Sorry, I'm kind of new to this. I know he is already eating puppy food and not nursing any more though.

Typically it's 8 weeks and in some places it is illegal prior to 7.

In michigan it's illegal prior to 8 weeks.

Most of the breeders I know follow dr. Jean Dodds protocol - 8 - 12 - 16

May I ask who your breeder is? I'm from Michigan and know most of the breeders in this state pretty well.

They're new breeders, haven't been around for very long. The lady's mom has been a breeder for many years though and she's kind of the one in charge and helping them out. I'm not sure of the mother's name though, can't remember at the moment and I have a bad memory. I did the research on them before we considered them though and they're legit.

Where did you find the information about the laws in Michigan regarding adopting out a puppy and their age? Everywhere I've looked only specifies that a pet shot cannot adopt out before 8 weeks. I can't find anything specific about breeders or rescues though. I definitely don't want to get the people in trouble or take Semper too soon if it's illegal or not healthy for him though. As of right now we're planning on bringing him home just a few days before he turns 8 weeks. He'll be about 7 1/2 weeks. The other option would be to wait until he's 8 1/2 weeks. I hope we won't have to do that though. His Puppy Obedience class is starting in March and we're hoping to have about a month with him before he starts that plus we want to make sure he gets at least some of his shots beyond the first ones by then.

Id wait until after 8 weeks. It also helps with nipping and other behaviors, the longer they with their littermates the more they learn from eachother and their mother. My breeder when i got koda kind of made me mad. She said after 8 weeks pups will go home. Soo i waited, will she started letting the pups going home early cause some familys wnted them for christmas, so my pup was the only 1 left with the one she kept, so he didnt learn as much as he could of i think. But he is alot better.

I know next time i will go to a more reputable breeder. She was nice, but i want a breeder that does the eye and hip tests on the dogs they are breeding, and are into breeding for bettering the breed.

As for the shots i think koda got his first one at 6 weeks. But i cant remember.

I wanted to give an update to the OP and anyone else interested... I got my pup last Saturday, and took her to my vet on Monday. I asked him why some vets are starting to go with 8 weeks for the first vaccination. He said that some recent studies have come out showing that shots before 9 weeks don't do much for immunity and that a minimum of two shots after 9 weeks are needed to confer immunity AND one needs to be as old as 16 weeks. So... a pup started at six weeks will also need 10, 14, and 18 weeks. A pup started at 8 weeks will just need additional 12 and 16 weeks. His personal preference because he prefers fewer shots (and what he does with his own dogs, since he breeds goldens) is 8, 12, 16 weeks, BUT, he gives the owners the info and lets them decide which vaccination schedule to use. I hope that helps anyone who was wondering!

Thanks for the background info! Good to know for our second pup ...

Thanks for the info, Samantha! When I called back to my vet's office they said he would only need them at 12 weeks and 16 weeks if we waited and had them do the shots at 8 weeks, so that's what we're doing now. Originally it was supposed to be today that we would pick him up, but now it's switched to February 1st. I'm kind of glad for that though because we're in the midst of a horrible winter storm right now. The roads are NOT safe at all, and they're about 45 minutes away when the roads are decent.

I'm glad you're waiting. Safer drive for you and (imo) better for your pup in the long run.

Yea, from everything I've been researching puppies are really better with their mom and littermates till 8 weeks. There's a lot that they learn from them up till then.

Due to the temporary immunity given through the mother's milk (if she has been vaccinated), giving a vaccine at 6wks old is pretty useless as the antibodies from mom will destroy it before the pup has a chance to create any of his own. Plus, at that age there is a higher risk of causing a reaction to the vaccine.

The reason why so many shots are given to pups is because the age at which the temporary immunity given by mom fades will vary. These shots are an attempt to make sure that the time span where the pup would have no immunity, between mom's fading and the vaccine entering, is a small as possible. Most often, mom's will be faded between 12-16wks, and any shot given after 16wks will pretty much do the job in getting the pups to build their own immunity. This, and possible vaccine reaction, is most likely the reason why the rabies shot is given at 16wks (or older) and not done multiple times like the Distemper/Parvo shots.

Titan, my newest addition, received his Distemper/Parvo at 8wks, 12wks, & 16wks. He received his rabies at 5 months old (or 18wks).