Rabies shots shots should be given early, to ensure that your puppy receives antibody protection after he has stopped ingesting the natural antibodies in his mother's milk.
Vaccines help protect your dog against a range of common and serious illnesses such as canine distemper and parvovirus. The rabies virus is particularly dangerous, as it is deadly and contagious to humans.
Rabies vaccines are required by law in the U.S., though most states, counties and municipalities have their own regulations regarding rabies vaccinations and proof of rabies vaccination.
Vaccinations for puppies are especially important as puppies are vulnerable to a much wider range of diseases than are adult dogs. Puppy vaccination regimens usually begin at between six and four weeks of age. The first vaccinations your puppy receives will be against distemper, parvovirus, and canine hepatitis.
Your puppy should receive its first rabies vaccination between 16 and 26 weeks of age. While rabies is a very dangerous disease for both dogs and humans, your puppy is unlikely to catch it from another dog, due to the fact that rabies vaccinations are required by law. He is also unlikely to be exposed to wild animals carrying the disease during these first few months of his life. The age of first rabies vaccination, as well as the booster protocol, may vary somewhat in accordance with local law.
A rabies booster must be administered one year later. Further rabies vaccinations must be given in accordance with local law.