Dog Daycare Vaccine Requirements in Ontario

If you’re looking into daycare for your dog, one of the first things you’ll encounter is a list of required vaccinations. Every reputable daycare in Ontario will ask for proof of vaccines before your dog can attend — and that’s a good thing. It means the facility is serious about keeping every dog in the building healthy.

Here’s a straightforward breakdown of the three core vaccines required, what each one does, and how to make sure your dog is up to date.

The Three Required Vaccines

Most daycares in Ontario, including Academy Daycare, require proof of three vaccinations: rabies, bordetella, and DHPP. Let’s go through each one.

1. Rabies

Rabies is the one vaccine that isn’t optional — it’s legally required in Ontario under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Every dog in the province must be vaccinated against rabies, regardless of whether they attend daycare or not.

What it protects against: Rabies is a fatal viral disease that attacks the nervous system. It’s transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, and once symptoms appear, it’s almost always fatal in both animals and humans. Ontario has an active wildlife rabies control program because the risk is real — raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats can all carry the virus.

How often it needs boosting: The first rabies vaccine is given at around 12-16 weeks of age. A booster follows one year later. After that, rabies vaccines are typically given every three years, depending on the product your vet uses. Your vet will note the next due date on your dog’s vaccination certificate.

What proof looks like: Your vet will issue a rabies vaccination certificate that includes the date given, the product used, the lot number, and the next due date. Daycares will ask for this document specifically.

2. Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

Bordetella is probably the vaccine you hear about most in the context of daycare, and there’s a good reason for that.

What it protects against: Bordetella bronchiseptica is the primary bacterial cause of infectious tracheobronchitis — commonly known as kennel cough. It spreads easily in environments where dogs are in close proximity, sharing air and water. A dog with kennel cough develops a persistent, honking cough that can last for weeks. While it’s rarely life-threatening in healthy adult dogs, it’s miserable for the dog and highly contagious to others. In puppies or immunocompromised dogs, it can progress to pneumonia.

Why daycares care about it so much: Kennel cough spreads through airborne droplets and direct contact. In a daycare environment where dogs are playing together, sharing water bowls, and breathing the same air, an unvaccinated dog is both at high risk and a risk to every other dog in the facility. The bordetella vaccine doesn’t guarantee your dog won’t catch kennel cough — there are multiple strains — but it significantly reduces the likelihood and severity.

How often it needs boosting: Bordetella vaccines are typically given annually or every six months, depending on risk level. Most daycares require it to be current within the last 12 months. Some vets offer an intranasal version (drops in the nose) that takes effect faster than the injectable version — worth asking about if your dog’s due date is coming up and you need to start daycare soon.

3. DHPP (Distemper Combo)

DHPP is a combination vaccine that covers four diseases in a single shot. You might also see it written as DA2PP or DAPP — they all refer to the same core protection.

What it protects against:

• Distemper: A serious viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. It can be fatal, especially in puppies.
• Hepatitis (Adenovirus-2): Infectious canine hepatitis attacks the liver, kidneys, and blood vessels. The vaccine uses adenovirus-2, which cross-protects against adenovirus-1 (the actual hepatitis strain).
• Parainfluenza: A respiratory virus that contributes to kennel cough. While less severe on its own, it often acts alongside bordetella to make respiratory infections worse.
• Parvovirus: One of the most dangerous diseases a dog can contract. Parvo attacks the intestinal lining, causing severe vomiting and diarrhea. It’s highly contagious and can be fatal, particularly in puppies and unvaccinated dogs. The virus is extremely hardy and can survive in the environment for months.

How often it needs boosting: Puppies receive a series of DHPP vaccines starting at 6-8 weeks of age, with boosters every 3-4 weeks until about 16 weeks. After the puppy series, a booster is given at one year, then typically every three years for the life of the dog. Your vet will track the schedule.

Where to Get Your Dog Vaccinated

Any licensed veterinarian in Ontario can administer all three of these vaccines. If you don’t have a regular vet yet, low-cost vaccine clinics are sometimes offered through humane societies, rescue organizations, or community pet events. Just make sure you get proper documentation — a daycare needs to see official records from a veterinary professional, not just your word that it’s been done.

What Proof Looks Like

When a daycare asks for “proof of vaccination,” they’re looking for one of these:

• A vaccination certificate from your vet — This is the gold standard. It will list each vaccine, the date administered, and the next due date.
• A printout from your vet’s records — Most vet clinics can print a summary of your dog’s vaccination history on demand. Call ahead and they’ll usually have it ready for you.
• An emailed or faxed copy sent directly from the vet — Some daycares prefer this because it comes straight from the source.

A tip: keep a photo of your dog’s vaccination records on your phone. You’ll be asked for them more often than you think — daycare, boarding, groomers, training classes, even some dog parks.

What If My Dog’s Vaccines Have Lapsed?

If your dog’s vaccines have expired, you’ll need to visit your vet to get them updated before starting daycare. In most cases, a single booster shot will bring them back up to date. Your vet can advise on whether a waiting period is needed before your dog enters a group environment — this is especially relevant for bordetella, which can take a few days to reach full effectiveness.

A Note on Titer Tests

Some dog owners prefer titer testing — a blood test that measures your dog’s antibody levels — as an alternative to routine boosters for DHPP. While titers can be useful for understanding your dog’s immune status, most daycares require proof of vaccination specifically, not titer results. And regardless of titer status, the rabies vaccine remains a legal requirement in Ontario.

Getting Started

Vaccines are one of those things that feel like a hassle until you realize what they’re preventing. Every dog in a daycare setting benefits from every other dog being vaccinated. It’s the foundation that makes safe, supervised group play possible.

At Academy Daycare in Gormley, ON, we require current rabies, bordetella, and DHPP vaccinations for every dog. If you’re unsure whether your dog is up to date, your vet can check in minutes. Once you have your records in order, give us a call at 437-776-9563 to get your dog started.