Puppy Year One / Puppy first-year timeline: weeks 8 to 52

Puppy first-year timeline: weeks 8 to 52

Quick answerWeek 8 to 16: vaccines, deworming, socialization and house training. Month 4 to 6: teething, adolescent behavior and spay or neuter planning. Month 6 to 12: growth finishing and routines. Your vet’s plan comes first.

Your puppy’s first year, organizedCreate a profile, track weight and notes, set medication reminders and ask questions any hour of the day.Raise a happy puppy with every note in one place. Free to download. Try it free, no payment info needed, then decide after the trial.What is PawLine? An AI-powered pet health app whose answers draw on published veterinary research, including sources like PubMed. Ask health questions any hour, get emergency triage and first-aid steps, set medication reminders, keep a profile and daily notes for each pet and email them to your vet, and find nearby vets. Try it free for 30 days with no payment info needed; after the trial, continued access is an in-app purchase (weekly or yearly). Guidance only, not a diagnosis.

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Published Oct 19, 2026 · Updated Oct 19, 2026 · By the Editorial team. General education, not veterinary advice and not yet individually reviewed by a licensed veterinarian. About and sources

8 to 16 weeks

Vaccine series with your vet (AAHA: 6 to 16 weeks, at least 3 doses of the combination vaccine).
Socialization window (AVSAB: first three months).
Crate and house training, short sessions, lots of rewards.
Weigh regularly. Keep weights in your log.

Your puppy’s first year, organized

Create a profile, track weight and notes, set medication reminders and ask questions any hour of the day.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Complete pet profilesBreed, age, weight, health conditions and photos for each pet, so advice fits that animal.
Instant health answersAsk about a symptom, diet or behavior question and get a research-backed answer, day or night.
Daily health notesWrite down symptoms and observations, then share the records with your vet by email.

Raise a happy puppy with every note in one place. Free to download. Try it free, no payment info needed, then decide after the trial.

What is PawLine? An AI-powered pet health app whose answers draw on published veterinary research, including sources like PubMed: instant health answers, emergency triage with first-aid steps, medication reminders, pet profiles and daily notes you can email to your vet, and nearby vet search. The 30-day free trial needs no payment info; after it, continued access is an in-app purchase, weekly or yearly (see the store listing). PawLine gives guidance and information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for medical decisions.

4 to 6 months

Teething. Provide safe chew items.
Rabies timing per your vet and local law.
Spay or neuter conversation (AAHA ranges by breed size).
Adolescent testing of rules. Keep consistent.

Raise a happy puppy with every note in one place. Get PawLine on the App Store · Get it on Google Play

6 to 12 months

Large breeds keep growing. Ask your vet about food for growth.
Ongoing training and exercise.
First annual wellness plan, and which noncore vaccines to repeat.
Adult food change, if your vet recommends one.

Your puppy’s first year, organized

Create a profile, track weight and notes, set medication reminders and ask questions any hour of the day.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Complete pet profilesBreed, age, weight, health conditions and photos for each pet, so advice fits that animal.
Instant health answersAsk about a symptom, diet or behavior question and get a research-backed answer, day or night.
Daily health notesWrite down symptoms and observations, then share the records with your vet by email.

Raise a happy puppy with every note in one place. Free to download. Try it free, no payment info needed, then decide after the trial.

What to log

Weight, vaccine dates, deworming, food, training wins and anything odd. PawLine pet profiles hold weight, breed, age and conditions, and daily notes capture the rest. Birthday reminders include breed facts.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do in the first week with a new puppy?

Schedule a vet visit, start a routine for feeding and bathroom breaks, begin gentle socialization, and keep notes. See the first vet visit checklist.

Your puppy’s first year, organized

Create a profile, track weight and notes, set medication reminders and ask questions any hour of the day.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Complete pet profilesBreed, age, weight, health conditions and photos for each pet, so advice fits that animal.
Instant health answersAsk about a symptom, diet or behavior question and get a research-backed answer, day or night.
Daily health notesWrite down symptoms and observations, then share the records with your vet by email.
Medication remindersSet medication schedules for every pet, get push notifications, and track dosing history.
Emergency triageHelps you judge whether your pet needs urgent veterinary care, with step-by-step first aid while you get to the vet.
Nearby vets and pet placesFind vet clinics, dog parks, groomers and pet shops, and save favorites.
Birthday remindersA reminder before each birthday with breed facts.
Many speciesDogs, cats, birds, rabbits, reptiles, small pets, and livestock such as horses, goats, sheep, cows and chickens.

Raise a happy puppy with every note in one place. Free to download. Try it free, no payment info needed, then decide after the trial.

Sources

AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines (updated 2024) https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/
AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Puppy-Socialization-Position-Statement-FINAL.pdf
AAHA 2019 Canine Life Stage Guidelines: proposed ages for sterilization https://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/spay-and-neuter-timing/
Merck Veterinary Manual: Puppy Care (dog owners) https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/routine-care-of-dogs/puppy-care

More from Puppy Year One

Puppy socialization passport: a checklist of first experiencesA printable checklist of people, surfaces, sounds, handling, places and animals to meet in the puppy window, going at your puppy’s pace.Puppy vaccine schedule: what AAHA recommendsAAHA recommends at least 3 doses of the combination vaccine between 6 and 16 weeks, 2 to 4 weeks apart, plus rabies and leptospirosis. Your vet sets the schedule.Puppy socialization before vaccines are finishedThe AVSAB says the first three months are the primary socialization window and classes can start at 7 to 8 weeks. How to do it safely.Your puppy’s first vet visit: checklist and questionsWhat to bring and what to ask at the first appointment, from records to questions on vaccines, parasites and food.