He said that once the dog gets the vaccination at 18 months, his body becomes immune to Rabies. He said the vaccination can hurt my dog. The law says I have to get it for my dog. I want to follow the law, but I don’t want my dog to have unnecessary vaccinations. What should I do?
Your dog needs his initial Rabies. Most states go every 2-3 years after the initial vaccine, depending on the incidence of the disease in their area. You may be able to convince your vet to do a vaccine titer (blood test to check immunity) on your dog every time his Rabies is due, and issue you a new tag based on his continued immunity.
I agree that Rabies isn’t necessary for adult dogs — the blood titers support your breeder’s theory. But it’s hard to argue with the law. 
ADD: Rabies is *not* an annual vaccine. All Rabies vaccines produced are certified for 3 years of coverage…it’s up to the individual state to determine how often they want dogs vaccinated (again, depending on how prevalent the disease is in the state), and most are going with every 3 years. Some still require the vaccine every 2 years.
#1 by Cherry on August 11, 2010 - 10:11 am
Your dog needs a Rabies shot once a year.
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#2 by ozfozz on August 11, 2010 - 10:41 am
I have yet to see any harm done by rabies vaccinations when administered properly.
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#3 by Tanya M on August 11, 2010 - 11:15 am
Well you could get a second opinion from another vet. If its a concern about an allergy to the drug thats keeping the vet from giving it to your dog, he would need to give you some paper work stating that your dog has allergies to it which can be harmful to your dog, may even result in death. This would be good enough for the state, and any groomers or kennels that require proof of rabies.
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#4 by SuziQ on August 11, 2010 - 11:52 am
The breeder is wrong. All dogs need rabies vaccinations.
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#5 by ragapple on August 11, 2010 - 12:38 pm
Your between a and rock & hard place
the rabies is necessary by law – which is written more for the benefit of the PEOPLE than the dog
A FEW states would accept a good titer test…..
ozfoz: I have a dog who’s lifelong Addisons was triggered by a rabies shot – POSSIBLY he would have broke with it anyway (his brother broke without a vaccine) but the rabies was definatlly the straw that broke the camels back!
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#6 by Kenzi R on August 11, 2010 - 1:23 pm
A puppy should get its first Rabies Vaccine at 16 weeks (4 months) and then every year after that.
They call it a Rabies BOOSTER because it needs to be administered each year.
The only reason I might follow your breeders advice, is if it states in the contract that if you don’t follow THEIR recommendations, then it will violate the contract and make it null and void.
But I would only do this if it is written in the sales contract.
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#7 by 2bzy on August 11, 2010 - 1:32 pm
"Breeders" are always so full of lovely advice. That advice sounds even less sensible than the last one I heard, which was: if you shave a six week old poodle puppy down to the skin, when the hair grows back it will always be curly.
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#8 by Loki ❆ Wolfchild on August 11, 2010 - 2:12 pm
Your dog needs his initial Rabies. Most states go every 2-3 years after the initial vaccine, depending on the incidence of the disease in their area. You may be able to convince your vet to do a vaccine titer (blood test to check immunity) on your dog every time his Rabies is due, and issue you a new tag based on his continued immunity.
I agree that Rabies isn’t necessary for adult dogs — the blood titers support your breeder’s theory. But it’s hard to argue with the law.
ADD: Rabies is *not* an annual vaccine. All Rabies vaccines produced are certified for 3 years of coverage…it’s up to the individual state to determine how often they want dogs vaccinated (again, depending on how prevalent the disease is in the state), and most are going with every 3 years. Some still require the vaccine every 2 years.
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#9 by Kaska on August 11, 2010 - 2:31 pm
Ask the breeder where he got his information.
How about asking your vet since he is the one with the diploma.
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#10 by MamaB on August 11, 2010 - 2:47 pm
I don’t know where your breeder lives (or understand what he’s saying) but when we were out in Canada, it was required by law to have a rabies booster every year. And you had to show a current disc/papers when you bought a licence. Things may have changed, and may be different in different States as this was a while ago. And there has been a lot of rethinking about yearly boosters for the other diseases, so I’d say ask your vet. By law, you may have no choice with rabies however.
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#11 by Rotten Rotts on August 11, 2010 - 3:36 pm
Is your breeder going to pay your fines since vaccines are the law in every state?
I wish no dog had to have vaccines but its better to be safe then sorry. Rabies is nothing you want to fool around with.
Its your dog, thank her for her opinion and do what you think is best for your dog.
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#12 by Carol on August 11, 2010 - 3:55 pm
I am in agreement about OTHER shots not being administered after about 3 to 4 years of age but NEVER rabies! You are talking to the BREEDER, NOT a veterinarian! Check with the vet, they know for certain! I am also the same way with my horses…certain shots need not be given every year or even ever again after a certain age. Again, I go by my vet’s recommendations.
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Experience with my dogs and horses ONLY…NO professional experience at all…just me!
#13 by cat & jo on August 11, 2010 - 4:29 pm
In my State, you can find Vet’s that give a three year vaccination which is valid under the law. Find out what is available where you live and whether it is meeting the requirements of the law or not. The complications of not having a dog vaccinated are potentially worse than having a dog vaccinated and where I live it does not have to be done yearly which is a good thing.
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#14 by lorien1625 on August 11, 2010 - 4:38 pm
IN this case your breeder is wrong. Rabies must be given by law. Should your dog not be given rabies vaccinations and then break the skin on someone even by accident when playing etc and that person reports it your dog can be seized to protect that person from getting rabies as they will need to determine if your dog has rabies or not. If you cannot prove your dog is vaccinated against rabies you are putting your dog at risk. Vaccinate your dog for rabies.
There are many breeders who have cut back on re vaccinating their dogs for other things like distemper, parvo etc believing that once they are fully vaccinated they have a lifetime protection. The vaccine companies have mostly gone to a 3 year recommendation at this point. You should discuss with your vet any changes you want to make in your vaccination protocol. Titer tests are available to check your dogs status but their are questions about the validity of that telling you the actual status of the dogs immunity to a specific disease vs a response to exposure to that disease.
Bottom line vaccinate against rabies as required by law in your state, some are 1 year some are 3 year.
Then discuss with your vet you desire to look into alternative vaccination protocols for the basic vaccines like the DA2PPvL
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#15 by hydez2002 on August 11, 2010 - 5:00 pm
LOKI WOLFCHILD is correct. the first initial shot is given when the pup is atleast 4 months and then after that it’s a year. then it’s given every 3 years.
Rabies is for the protection of your dog and for humans. If it’s the law in your state/town you should do it. The vet can explain to you the risks and concerns of ANY vaccination.
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#16 by rescue member on August 11, 2010 - 5:27 pm
She has a point, but the law says the dog needs rabies vaccinations – in many counties 3 year vaccinations are now accepted and there are 2 kinds of rabies vaccinations, one less likely to trigger problems than the other.
Most dogs have absolutely no problem with the vaccination – none – and if you are going to travel with your dog or take him about anywhere in public, he must have the rabies vaccination. If you have reason to suspect he may have allergies to the vaccine, you can have a titer done – it’s more expensive than the vaccination and may, or may not, be acceptable as proof your dog does not have rabies.
It is debatable as to how long a dog has immunity to rabies from his first vaccination, and it is by no means proven that it is life long. We live in a rabies hot zone, that means wild animals like raccoons have been found with rabies, so rabies vaccinations are mandatory for dogs – mine get the 3 year vaccination.
Many vets think that dogs are over vaccinated, and that may be true, but there are no clear facts and no guides as to what is not necessary. If you have ever watched a dog die of parvo or some other horrible disease that can be prevented by vaccinations, you will go along with the standard vaccinations – it’s a lot better than having your dog die from something easily preventable.
In the case of rabies, it is far worse – humans die of rabies, horribly and inevitably if they don’t get – in a very short window of opportunity – the rather painful shots that cures it.
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#17 by T J on August 11, 2010 - 5:34 pm
That is dictated by law, it isn’t like the rest of the vaccinations.
In most states the rabies certificate expires at 3 years, a few states have gone to a 5 year protocol. You can be subject to some large penalties if you don’t get the shot. (check to see what the quarantine will cost you if the dog bites someone)
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#18 by GoldenlyAddicted on August 11, 2010 - 6:05 pm
Wish I could help you on this one but my country, Malaysia has no rabies at all so our dogs don’t get any rabies shots…
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#19 by Jen on August 11, 2010 - 6:52 pm
There’s a little truth to both sides of this.
The most recent research is pretty much saying that the rabies vaccinations are providing immunity longer then people first thought. But the kicker is that there is no way to determine just how long it will last from dog to dog.
You have to remember that, what they’re doing with a rabies vaccination is basically fooling your dogs system into thinking that it’s got rabies. Then your dogs immune system creates antibodies for it. These antibodies tend to hang around for a while. So if it is exposed to the rabies virus, it already has antibodies to fight it off.
Every dogs immune system is going to be a little different. Some will have really strong immune systems so one vaccination will last for life. Others, maybe not. So your breeder is mistaken saying the dog only ever needs one vaccination. That may not always be true and the only way to tell for sure is to have a "titer" done for rabies antibodies. Those are expensive.
As far as multiple shots – there is a risk of toxicity with giving dogs rabies shots every year or even every three years as some places do, but I personally don’t think the risk is as bad as many people make it out to be. For years, in most places dogs were required to have rabies vaccinations every single year. And even then, very few dogs actually had toxicity problems from it.
As we’ve found out more about the vaccinations and the dogs immune system, some places have gone to requiring rabies vaccinations every three years. And I suspect that within a few years we’ll see that increase to about 5 years. In the mean time, if you’re all that worried about it, you can contact your local animal control and ask if they will allow titers in lieu of rabies shots. Some do, some don’t. And then, you have to find a vet that will draw blood and do the titer.
Personally, if the area your in only requires vaccinations every three years, I’d go ahead and do that. But that’s me, and I like to live on the edge …
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#20 by sweetiepie on August 11, 2010 - 6:57 pm
The breeder is wrong, wrong, wrong! While it is true that in some circles it is felt that we over-vaccinate our pets, I cannot stress the importance of rabies vaccination enough. It may be not only a local law but a state law. I have never seen a rabies vacc reaction but I have seen distemper vacc reaction. In that case, a vaccination without Lepto is used. Not only are you protecting your dog from rabies from wild animals or other dogs with rabies, but you are protecting yourself. Not only in case of a bite from your dog to yourself, but if not protected from rabies and he bites another person he’s going to end up quarrantined ($$$$) at an approved facility , or he’s going to be euthanized and sent to a state lab for analysis to check for rabies ($$$$$$$)–all at cost to you! Not to mention the cost of treatment and possible lawsuit by another party if bitten ($$$$$$$). A rabies vaccination is one of the cheapest insurance policies out there, not to mention taking care of your pet in a responsible, loving manner. As always, check with your vet. Give them a call or stop by to get your questions answered. Tell them the breed of your dog and your concerns, they often welcome a chance to inform the public.
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Former vet assistant, shelter worker
#21 by Presa owner on August 11, 2010 - 7:13 pm
If you don’t want to do it then don’t do it. Dogs bodies are very good at creating its own antibodies. A lot of city folk believe in getting these vaccinations and crap but I know of a few old country dog-men that will vaccinate until a certain age then stop. It’s your dog do with it as you want as long as your not putting it in harms way!
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#22 by Kate C *Attackofthebear* on August 11, 2010 - 8:00 pm
Listen to your breeder.
Get the rabies vac and thats it. No lepto, bordatella, etc. Only one required by law is rabies.
And I would have a talk to your breeder about you needing to follow the law and not wanting to harm the puppy.
Understand your source is against vaccination.
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have you considered going to a holistic vet?