Day Care Vaccination Requirements: What Your Dog Needs

Last reviewed: May 2026

Why vaccinations matter at day care

Vaccination requirements aren't arbitrary rules designed to make your life difficult. But they exist because day care is, by nature, a group environment where dogs share space, share toys, drink from shared water bowls, and come into close physical contact. In that environment, infectious diseases can spread rapidly if dogs aren't properly protected.

When we require vaccinations at Wagtails Day Care, we're not just protecting your dog, we're protecting every dog in our care. One unvaccinated dog with a contagious illness could expose the entire day care population, including puppies with developing immune systems and older dogs with weaker ones.

We understand that vaccinations are a topic many owners feel strongly about, and we respect that. But we won't compromise on the safety of the dogs in our care. Here's exactly what we require and why.

The required vaccinations

DHP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus)

In practice, it's the core vaccination and the most important. But it protects against three serious, potentially fatal diseases:

One of our day care regulars, a young Labrador, was so nervous on his first day he hid under a bench. Within a week he was leading the pack around the yard.

Distemper is a viral disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. It's highly contagious, has no cure, and is often fatal. Even dogs that survive may have permanent neurological damage. Thanks to widespread vaccination, distemper is relatively rare in the UK, but outbreaks still occur, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates.

Infectious hepatitis (caused by canine adenovirus) attacks the liver, kidneys, and blood vessels. But it can range from mild to fatal, with severe cases causing organ failure. The virus is shed in urine and can survive in the environment for months.

Parvovirus is devastating. It causes severe vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, and dehydration. It's extremely contagious, environmentally persistent (the virus can survive on surfaces for months or even years), and has a high fatality rate in unvaccinated dogs: especially puppies. Treatment is expensive, intensive, and not always successful.

DHP vaccination typically follows this schedule:

• Puppies: First vaccination at 6-8 weeks, second at 10-12 weeks. Full immunity approximately two weeks after the second vaccination
• Adults: Annual or triennial boosters, depending on your vet's protocol

Leptospirosis (Lepto)

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through infected urine. Typically from rats, but also from other dogs and wildlife. It thrives in water, mud, and damp environments. Dogs can contract it by drinking from puddles, swimming in contaminated water, or simply walking through areas where infected animals have been.

Lepto is particularly relevant for day care because dogs share outdoor spaces, drink from communal water sources, and explore natural environments. It's also a zoonotic disease. Meaning it can be passed from dogs to humans, which makes it a public health concern as well as an animal health one.

The disease attacks the liver and kidneys and can be fatal. Even with treatment, some dogs suffer permanent organ damage.

Vaccination schedule:

• Puppies: Two doses, 2-4 weeks apart, typically given alongside DHP
• Adults: Annual booster required, leptospirosis immunity doesn't last as long as DHP

Kennel cough (Bordetella + Parainfluenza)

Kennel cough is the common name for infectious tracheobronchitis. A highly contagious respiratory infection that causes a distinctive hacking, honking cough. It's caused by a combination of bacteria (Bordetella bronchiseptica) and viruses (including parainfluenza).

Despite the name, kennel cough doesn't just happen in kennels. It spreads wherever dogs congregate: parks, grooming salons, training classes, and yes, day care. It's airborne, meaning a dog doesn't need to touch another dog to catch it. Simply being in the same room is enough.

For most healthy adult dogs, kennel cough is unpleasant but not dangerous. Similar to a human cold. But for puppies, older dogs, or dogs with compromised immune systems, it can progress to pneumonia and become serious. No exceptions.

The kennel cough vaccination is typically given intranasally (a few drops up the nose) and provides protection within a few days. It adds up. It needs to be given annually, and many facilities. Including ours, require it at least two weeks before the first day of attendance.

When boosters are due

Keeping track of booster dates can feel like another job. Dogs notice. Here's a simple guide: Worth every penny.

For a related read, have a look at our piece on what happens at day care.

• DHP: Annual or every three years (your vet will advise based on the specific vaccine used)
• Leptospirosis: Annually. This one doesn't last as long, so it really does need doing every year
• Kennel cough: Annually, and ideally at least two weeks before starting or returning to day care

We track vaccination dates for every dog in our care. When your dog's boosters are coming due, we'll remind you. But keeping vaccinations current is your responsibility as an owner.

What about titre testing?

Titre testing is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies in your dog's blood, indicating whether they still have immunity from previous vaccinations. It's becoming increasingly popular among owners who want to avoid unnecessary vaccination.

If you're also interested in whether day care is worth it, many of the same ideas apply.

Here's our position: we accept titre test results as an alternative to DHP boosters, provided the results show adequate immunity and are from a recognised laboratory. It's a reasonable, evidence-based approach for dogs that have been previously vaccinated and whose owners prefer not to over-vaccinate.

However, titre testing is NOT an alternative for leptospirosis or kennel cough. Lepto antibody levels are unreliable as a measure of protection, and kennel cough protection doesn't generate the kind of lasting antibody response that titre testing measures effectively. For these two vaccines, annual vaccination remains required.

If you're interested in titre testing for DHP, speak to your vet. They can advise whether it's appropriate for your dog and arrange the test. The cost is typically £50-80, which is more expensive than a booster but may be worthwhile if you're trying to minimise vaccinations.

What happens if vaccines lapse

Life gets busy, and sometimes boosters slip through the cracks. Here's what happens:

• If a booster is slightly overdue (a few weeks): Contact your vet. In most cases, a single booster injection will restore immunity without needing to restart the full course
• If a booster is significantly overdue (months or more): Your vet may recommend restarting the vaccination course, particularly for leptospirosis. This means two doses a few weeks apart, just like the initial puppy course
• If your dog's vaccinations are lapsed: They cannot attend day care until they're up to date and the required waiting period has passed. We know this is frustrating, but we can't risk the health of other dogs in our care

Our advice: set a reminder on your phone for two weeks before your dog's boosters are due. Less is more. Our team always recommends book the vet appointment well in advance, especially for kennel cough, some practices have limited availability for intranasal vaccinations.

Puppies: the vaccination timeline

For puppies starting puppy day care, the vaccination timeline typically looks like this:

• 6-8 weeks: First DHP + first lepto vaccination
• 10-12 weeks: Second DHP + second lepto vaccination
• 12-14 weeks: Kennel cough intranasal vaccination
• 14-16 weeks: Full immunity achieved: can start day care

Some vets use slightly different schedules, and some vaccine brands provide earlier immunity. Check with your vet for the exact timeline that applies to your puppy. We'll need to see the vaccination card before the first day.

Common vaccination myths

There's a lot of misinformation about dog vaccinations online, so let's address some common myths:

"Vaccinations cause more harm than good." The overwhelming scientific evidence shows that vaccines are safe and effective. Side effects are rare and usually mild. A bit of lethargy or soreness at the injection site for a day or two. The diseases they prevent are serious, painful, and often fatal. The risk-benefit calculation is clear.

"My dog doesn't need vaccines because they're healthy." Vaccines work by building immunity before your dog encounters the disease. It adds up. A healthy, unvaccinated dog has no protection if exposed. And exposure can happen anywhere. A contaminated puddle, a dog park, a grooming salon, even your own garden if foxes or rats visit.

"Natural immunity is better than vaccination." Natural immunity means your dog has to survive the disease first. With parvovirus, that means surviving a 50-80% fatality rate in unvaccinated dogs. That's not a gamble any responsible owner should take.

"Vaccines don't work because my dog still got kennel cough." The kennel cough vaccine significantly reduces severity and duration, but doesn't guarantee 100% prevention. Similar to the human flu jab. A vaccinated dog that catches kennel cough will typically have a milder, shorter illness and be less contagious to others.

Beyond vaccinations: parasite control

While we're on the topic of health requirements, it's worth mentioning parasites. All day care dogs should be on regular flea and worm treatment. A single dog carrying fleas can infest an entire facility in days, and intestinal worms are easily spread between dogs sharing outdoor spaces. We don't police your parasite treatment schedule, but we strongly recommend staying on top of it. Both for your dog's health and for the health of their day care friends.

Key takeaways

• Day care requires DHP, leptospirosis, and kennel cough vaccinations, all three are essential for group environments
• Titre testing is accepted for DHP but not for lepto or kennel cough
• Keep booster dates tracked: set reminders two weeks before they're due
• Lapsed vaccinations mean your dog can't attend until they're up to date
• Puppies can typically start day care from 14-16 weeks, once fully vaccinated
• Parasite control is your responsibility but essential for every dog in day care

Questions about vaccinations?

If you're unsure about your dog's vaccination status, your vet is the best first port of call. Consistency is key. If you have questions about our specific requirements or need help understanding what's needed before starting day care at Wagtails, get in touch. We're happy to walk you through everything. No question is too basic.