New puppies usually need a core vaccine every 3 to 4 weeks from about 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old, then a booster around 1 year, and North Carolina law requires a rabies vaccine once a puppy is over four months old. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is a veterinary clinic on Old Sardis Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, that sets each puppy's shot plan at the first visit, based on age, records and daily life.
Started shots with a breeder or rescue? Bring the records; the vet usually continues the series rather than restarting it.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
What is the puppy vaccine schedule at Petfolk SouthPark?
At Petfolk SouthPark, puppies get a distemper-parvo combination shot every 3 to 4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old, the approach set out in the AAHA canine vaccination guidelines. The core shot, often written DHPP, covers distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus and parainfluenza.
About 8 weeks. First core shot, a nose-to-tail exam, a stool check and a parasite plan. Bring breeder or shelter records.
About 12 weeks. Second core shot. Lifestyle vaccines, such as leptospirosis (a bacterial infection spread in wildlife urine in water and mud) or Bordetella for daycare and classes, may start here.
About 16 weeks. Final core shot and rabies. In North Carolina, a puppy can get its first rabies vaccine as early as three months old (NC Rabies Control Manual).
About 1 year. Boosters, including the first rabies booster.
The dog vaccines page explains each lifestyle vaccine, and the deworming page covers why most puppies are dewormed more than once.
Why does a puppy need several rounds of shots?
A puppy needs a series because antibodies from the mother protect a newborn puppy for a while but also block vaccines from working, and they fade at a different age in every puppy. Repeating the doses at Petfolk SouthPark makes sure one lands after those antibodies are gone. One set of shots is not enough.
How do SouthPark puppies do with their series?
Nearly 9 in 10 puppies who start at Petfolk SouthPark come back for more of the series. Among puppies whose first core vaccine was given at Petfolk SouthPark between October 2025 and June 2026 (followed through October 2026):
The typical puppy got its first shot with us at about 11 weeks old.
Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) came back for at least a second distemper-parvo booster.
87% also got their rabies vaccine at Petfolk.
Do the breeder's shots count?
Usually, yes, as a start. Breeders and rescues often give the first one or two doses, and the Petfolk SouthPark vet counts what is valid from your records and fills in the rest. Shots given very young may not count toward the series because of the mother's antibodies. Bring every record you have, even a sticker sheet or a handwritten note. Rabies is given at the clinic once your puppy is old enough, and the rabies certificate becomes the record groomers, kennels and the county will ask for.
When can my puppy go to a dog park?
Not until the series is complete. Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation requires every dog in its county dog parks to be current on rabies (with the tag number), DHLPP and Bordetella (a common cause of kennel cough), which a puppy partway through the series won't meet. Parvovirus also survives in soil for a long time. Ask the Petfolk SouthPark vet at the final booster.
How can I socialize my puppy safely before the shots are done?
Puppies learn what is normal in a short window early in life, so the goal is safe exposure, not none:
Carry your puppy into new places instead of letting them walk where unknown dogs go.
Invite calm, vaccinated adult dogs you know for short play dates.
Choose puppy classes that require proof of vaccines and clean their floors.
Practice handling paws, ears and mouth at home so visits to Petfolk SouthPark feel familiar.
The team was very thorough and listened to all my “new puppy mom” questions. They provide great advice and really made me feel better. Sara D., Google review
How much do puppy vaccines cost at Petfolk SouthPark?
At Petfolk SouthPark, puppy vaccines are given at a wellness exam that starts at $99 or is included with PetfolkCare, and each vaccine is priced on top. You see an estimate before anything is given.
When is a reaction after puppy shots an emergency?
A sore spot, a quiet evening or a smaller appetite for a day are common after shots and usually pass. Facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting, trouble breathing or collapse within hours of a vaccine needs care right away; go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if you can't reach Petfolk SouthPark. Vomiting or bloody diarrhea in a puppy that isn't fully vaccinated also needs urgent care.
New puppy and no vet in SouthPark yet? Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is at 4914 Old Sardis Rd, Unit C5, Charlotte, NC 28211. Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, or see all veterinary services in SouthPark.
New puppy shot questions
Off Old Sardis Road, near Randolph Road