Our Vaccination Philosophy
Shomaisou Shiba Inu supports thoughtful, age-appropriate vaccination and preventive care. Our goal is not to avoid core protection. Our goal is to avoid unnecessary overlap, poorly timed combinations, avoidable higher-valency vaccines, and rushed medical decisions during sensitive developmental periods.
We consider core protection important, especially for distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. Rabies vaccination must comply with applicable law. Depending on geographic risk, veterinary advice, boarding, daycare, travel, local disease prevalence, or lifestyle, your veterinarian may also discuss additional vaccines such as Bordetella, Leptospirosis, Lyme, or Canine Influenza.
Current Shomaisou Puppy Protocol
Vaccination timing may vary based on age, litter logistics, Puppy Preschool participation, veterinary guidance, product availability, and whether puppies go home at 8 weeks or later. The puppy's actual veterinary record controls what has already been administered.
| Age / Timing | Typical Protocol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | First core puppy vaccination when a litter participates in Puppy Preschool or puppies are going home at approximately 8 weeks. | Most veterinarians do not stock a limited two-way distemper/parvovirus vaccine. A DHPP/DA2PP 5-way puppy vaccine is acceptable when the preferred limited product is not reasonably available. Blue Lake Animal Hospital in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area has administered this initial puppy vaccine for Puppy Preschool litters. |
| 10 weeks | Older protocol timing for puppies staying longer. | This may still apply in some circumstances depending on litter timing, veterinary direction, and go-home age. |
| 14-16 weeks | Continuation of puppy vaccine series with the buyer's veterinarian. | The veterinarian should review the records provided by Shomaisou before deciding the exact booster date. |
| 18 weeks | Parvovirus-focused final puppy protection if available and appropriate. | Discuss product availability with your veterinarian. Avoid unnecessary vaccine combinations. |
| 20 weeks or older / as required by law | Rabies vaccination according to state and local law. | Do not give rabies with any other vaccine. Separate rabies from other vaccines by at least 3-4 weeks whenever legally and medically practical. |
| 1 year | Distemper/parvovirus booster or titer discussion. Rabies as legally required. | Rabies should not be administered with distemper/parvovirus or optional vaccines. |
Puppy Preschool and Go-Home Timing
Some Shomaisou and co-bred litters participate in Puppy Preschool with our trusted co-breeder in Grand Rapids, Michigan. These puppies may go home at approximately 8 weeks instead of 10 weeks. That earlier go-home timing changes when the puppy vaccine series begins.
If there is availability in Puppy Preschool and the litter participates, puppies may receive their first core puppy vaccine at approximately 8 weeks. New homes may be able to pick up puppies in either Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Brecksville, Ohio, depending on litter logistics and breeder coordination.
Over-Vaccination and the Health Guarantee
Over-vaccination voids the Shomaisou Health Guarantee. For our purposes, over-vaccination includes giving too many vaccines at once, giving vaccines too close together, giving rabies with another vaccine, using unnecessarily broad combination vaccines, or revaccinating when adequate titers and veterinary judgment indicate that vaccination is not needed.
- Do not give rabies at the same appointment as any other vaccine.
- Do not give optional vaccines such as Bordetella, Leptospirosis, Lyme, or Canine Influenza together with core vaccines.
- Separate optional vaccines from core vaccines by at least 2 weeks. A 3-4 week separation is preferred when practical.
- Avoid 7-way, 10-way, and higher-valency vaccines. A DHPP/DA2PP 5-way puppy vaccine is acceptable when a limited two-way distemper/parvovirus product is not reasonably available.
- Review the puppy's actual records before administering any booster so the schedule is not duplicated or compressed.
Dr. Jean Dodds' Published Canine Vaccination Protocol
Dr. Jean Dodds' current Hemopet protocol, published April 6, 2024, recommends distemper + parvovirus at 9-10 weeks, distemper + parvovirus at 14-15 weeks, parvovirus only at 18 weeks, rabies at 20 weeks or older if allowable by law and separated from other vaccines by 3-4 weeks, and distemper/parvovirus titers every three years thereafter.
Core Vaccines We Consider Important
- Distemper - a serious viral disease affecting multiple body systems.
- Parvovirus - a dangerous and often severe gastrointestinal virus, especially in puppies.
- Rabies - legally required and public-health significant.
Additional vaccines should be based on real local or lifestyle risk and administered separately from core vaccines whenever possible.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm prevention is recommended and should be discussed with your veterinarian based on your location, travel, seasonality, and exposure risk. Heartworm prevention is not a vaccine, but with young puppies we still prefer not to stack multiple new medical stressors on the same day when avoidable.
What New Owners Should Do
- Schedule a wellness visit with your veterinarian soon after pickup.
- Bring every vaccination, microchip, fecal, and wellness record provided by Shomaisou.
- Ask your veterinarian to identify the next due date based on what has already been given.
- Avoid uncontrolled dog parks, high-traffic pet-store floors, rest stops, and unknown dogs until the puppy series is complete.
- Use safe socialization: trusted dogs, clean environments, carried exposure, puppy-safe classes, and controlled handling/grooming practice.
- Follow the Animal Placement Contract and Health Guarantee requirements.
Resources
Questions About Your Puppy's Schedule?
If you are bringing home a Shomaisou puppy, review the records provided with your puppy and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. You are also welcome to schedule a call with us to review what has already been given and what is expected next.