How I Approach Puppy Vaccines (And Why)
One of the most common questions I get from puppy buyers is how I handle vaccines—and why my approach looks different from what many people are used to.
I want to share my reasoning openly so you can make informed decisions for your dog with confidence. There is no single “right” answer for every family, but understanding how immunity actually works gives you far more control over your puppy’s long-term health.
My Puppy Vaccine Protocol
6 Weeks: Neopar (Parvo)
At six weeks of age, our puppies receive Neopar, a single-dose parvo vaccine.
Neopar is unique because it has a higher vaccine mass, which allows it to bypass maternal antibodies that typically block early vaccination. This is important, because most vaccines given before eight weeks simply don’t “stick.”
In my experience, Neopar reliably creates immunity. I’ve seen this consistently over the years—puppies may be a little sleepier for a day or two afterward, but I have not had a single case of parvo since switching to this protocol. This is especially meaningful because parvo has existed on my property historically, which makes real-world protection critical.
8 Weeks: NeoVac DA2 (Distemper & Adenovirus)
At eight weeks, I use NeoVac DA2, which covers:
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Distemper
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Adenovirus Type 1
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Adenovirus Type 2
Combined with Neopar, this provides protection against four of the five core puppy diseases. The only one not included is parainfluenza, which is generally mild (similar to a cold), and whose vaccine is not particularly reliable.
Why I Don’t Booster My Personal Dogs
Parvo, distemper, and rabies are very stable viruses. They do not mutate like influenza. Once a dog develops immunity, that immunity is typically lifelong.
This is why titer testing—a simple blood test that measures antibodies—can show protective immunity many years, even decades, after vaccination. If you want confirmation, titers can be run about 4–6 weeks after vaccination to ensure immunity has developed.
Because of this, I do not routinely booster my own dogs once immunity is established.
A Look at Traditional Vaccine Schedules
For many years, the standard puppy schedule included vaccines at 8, 12, and 16 weeks, plus rabies around 16 weeks. In recent years, this has expanded—often to four rounds of combination vaccines, sometimes including Bordetella, leptospirosis, and coronavirus.
By 16 weeks, some puppies have been vaccinated for 9–12 different things.
In my experience, this is unnecessary. Once a puppy has received an effective dose and developed immunity, additional boosters don’t increase protection—they simply add more preservatives and adjuvants (heavy metals, often mercury and aluminum) and immune stress.
Over time, I’ve observed that dogs who receive fewer vaccines and chemical treatments tend to live longer, healthier lives. My own stud dog is nearly 11 years old and looks far younger than his age, while I frequently hear of heavily vaccinated pet dogs developing serious health issues earlier in life.
Thoughts on Specific Vaccines
Rabies
Rabies vaccination is required by law. I recommend giving it sometime between 16 weeks and 6 months.
Leptospirosis
The strains most common in Arizona are not covered by the vaccine, which means vaccinated dogs can still contract it. For that reason, I do not routinely recommend it.
Canine Coronavirus (not COVID)
This is typically mild and not something I feel is worth vaccinating for.
Other Preventative Care I Recommend
Heartworm Prevention
I prefer ivermectin-based heartworm prevention, typically prescribed by a veterinarian as an oral tablet. You do not need combination products that include additional drugs unless there is a specific reason.
(Some owners choose injectable ivermectin labeled for livestock and calculate dosage carefully, but this requires education and precision.)
Flea & Tick Prevention
I strongly recommend avoiding all oral flea and tick medications. I’ve seen far too many dogs develop seizures and gastrointestinal cancers associated with these products.
If flea or tick prevention is needed, topical treatments like Frontline are far safer when used seasonally based on exposure.
Please avoid NexGard in particular.
Deworming
Dogs need routine deworming based on lifestyle and exposure—typically every 2, 3, or 6 months.
I recommend Swan Essentials Perfect Log Herbal Dewormer, which is effective while remaining gentle on the system. It can be purchased in bulk or as a subscription based on exposure level. (There’s a short quiz on the website to help determine frequency.)
A Note on Vaccines and Veterinary Practices
Vaccines save lives—but it’s also true that they’ve become a predictable source of recurring income for many veterinary clinics. This can create tension between what research supports and what clinic business models rely on.
Most veterinarians genuinely care about animals. However, owners should feel empowered to ask questions, request titer testing, and understand whether a booster is truly necessary.
Advocating for your dog doesn’t mean rejecting veterinary care—it means participating in it thoughtfully.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, you are the owner, and the decision is yours. My goal is not to dictate choices, but to give you the information needed to make confident, informed decisions for your dog’s health. I am not a veterinarian, my processes are reflections based on my own dogs and the feedback I’ve received from hundreds of my dog owners over the years.
If you’d like to talk through titers, timing, or individual risk factors, I’m always happy to help. Raising healthy dogs starts with understanding how their immune systems work—and trusting yourself to advocate for them.
