While your dog may not love baths, they’re necessary to keep a clean, sweet-smelling pup. The best dog shampoos make bath time easier and more pleasant, so we evaluated top products to help simplify your decision.
We reviewed products on safety, ease of use, and effectiveness. While we typically steer clear of shampoos with artificially-added fragrances, we like when shampoos contain natural fragrances like lavender. Here are the best dog shampoos for the next time your pup is soiled and stinky.
Dr. Alleyne recommends Natural Dog Company Sensitive Skin Shampoo, especially for the colloidal oatmeal. This ingredient helps dogs with itchy skin, perfect for canines who suffer from allergies or other skin irritations.
Dr. Alleyne says the colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera in the shampoo especially helps pets who suffer from dry skin. He also said he hasn’t noticed any adverse reactions from using the product, which leads him to believe the ingredients are probably safe.
Lavender can have therapeutic effects, but some dogs — and people — may be sensitive to lavender, so this would be something to consider. Dr. Alleyne recommends 4-Legger because it contains organic ingredients that nurture dry skin.
Like our product reviewer, Dr. Alleyne values the convenience of this product. He suggests using Vet’s Best for quick, convenient cleans or for pups who refuse to get in the tub.
Dr. Alleyne appreciates the all-natural approach, but there’s more to be learned about the ingredients. We don’t know exactly what’s in the coconut base, so he’s hesitant about recommending this product for certain. He also notes that oat and aloe, a common pair in dog shampoos, is missing from this choice. Oat and aloe are moisturizing agents that especially aid in relieving dry skin. Some dogs also may be sensitive to lavender and tea tree oil, two ingredients that are in this shampoo.
Dr. Alleyne likes how Pure and Natural doesn’t interfere with flea and tick treatments. He also appreciates that it’s an all-natural choice. His only concern is that since it’s unscented, it may not be the best option for the really stinky dogs.
We scoured the internet for the best dog shampoos and consulted our vet, Dr. Alleyne. He helped us narrow down our list before we made our final selections and sent them off to our product reviewer, Sara. After trying out each shampoo on Sara’s dogs, Sara and Dr. Alleyne helped us choose the best ones for each of the categories above. Learn more about each of the criteria we graded these shampoos against below.
Here’s our top products compared by overall price, amount, and price per ounce.
*price at the time of our review
Our team collaborated with Dr. Alleyne and Sara to determine the criteria for our shampoo tests and reviews. For shampoos, we chose these five criteria to test against:
Always look for dog shampoos that don’t have any sulfates or added fragrance. The best shampoo for your dog is going to depend on several individual factors such as age, skin condition, and even how often they need to be bathed.
It might be tempting, but don’t get in the habit of using human shampoo on your dog. One bath with a tearless baby soap (or even Old Spice) probably won’t immediately agitate your dog’s skin. But over time, it’ll dry out their coat.
If you have to use human shampoo for an emergency (like when your mom calls and says she’s coming over in an hour), use the least fragrant soap you have. And definitely don’t use bar soap — they’re usually much too potent.
Dog skin has a different pH than human skin. Human skin hovers around 5.5 on the pH scale, which is slightly acidic. Thus, human shampoo is often acidic and filled with surfactants — a type of chemical that bonds dirt and oil from our skin with water. This is what creates the lather we all know and love.
Dog skin, in contrast, falls around 7.5 on the pH scale, which is far more alkaline or basic. They also have only a handful of layers of skin, whereas humans have seven to ten. Used consistently (and often), the acidity in human shampoo can break down a dog’s skin mantle and make it vulnerable to bacteria and parasites.
There are shampoos on the market made with ingredients that may be harmful to pets, and certain chemicals and cleaning agents can cause irritation to skin and coat.
Grooming products for animals aren’t as closely regulated or tested as nutritional products like dog foods and treats. Basically, companies don’t have to tell you what they put into their products, nor are they put through any kind of testing for safety.
When shopping for the best dog shampoos, consider our picks above or take note of these items to watch out for when reading a bottle’s ingredients.
You may find the word “fragrance” in an ingredients list on a bottle of shampoo. That sounds like one ingredient, right? Wrong. According to the FDA, fragrances can be made up of many ingredients to achieve a desired scent. These combinations can be kept secret, and the FDA isn’t allowed to force a company to disclose what the fragrance contains. This creates a grey area and a fair amount of uncertainty about what exactly is in the product, harmful or not.
It’s unclear if mineral oils alone have the potential to be carcinogenic, but some studies suggest that it depends on how purified or contaminated the oil is. Generally, unless prescribed by your vet for specific skin conditions or other medical concerns, you should avoid this ingredient. Mineral oil can be especially bad for dogs, so as a best practice, steer clear of this potential pore clogger.
While proven to be safe in small quantities for humans, these surfactants can irritate the skin of animals. The two most common sulfates found in shampoos are sodium lauryl and sodium laureth. Pro tip: If you see “sulfate” in combination with another word, that’s a sulfate too!
This group of chemicals found in plastics, food, and hygiene products are suspected to be hormone disruptors. Some are even banned for commercial use. Phthalates are still used in human products and are said to be safe. But, an experimental study in animals found phthalate exposure to be especially disruptive to the development of the male reproductive system.
Although “formaldehyde” isn’t stamped on the bottle, chemicals that slowly release the preservative can show up on ingredient lists. Look for DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, all of which can be pretty harmful.
Studies have shown formaldehyde to be toxic to animals, especially when inhaled. While it’s deemed safe for humans in small doses, there’s no regulation that prohibits a company from using it (or a chemical that contains it) in a dog shampoo.. These “formaldehyde releasers” often prevent mold and bacterial growth. How much is released over time is unknown, especially in dog products.
Now that you know which ingredients to avoid, things get a little easier. It’s time to nail down the facts about your pup that no one knows better than you. Use the following considerations to refine your search for the best shampoo:
Age. Humans have soaps for different life stages, and dogs do, too. A puppy’s sensitive skin can be easily irritated by the ingredients and concentrations found in adult dog shampoo. It’s important to make sure you have the right product for your dog’s age.
Coat type. Your dog’s breed will determine the type of coat they have. Fox red Labrador retrievers have short fur with an undercoat that sheds. Yorkshire terriers have long hair that will grow out and may need a conditioner or detangler. Even if you don’t know what breed your dog is, observing and brushing your dog’s coat will tell you everything you need to know.
Skin type. Dogs can also have varying skin types depending on their breed. Some breeds are prone to dry and itchy skin, while others can be more oily. Choosing the wrong shampoo can exacerbate your pup’s current skin problems.
Medical conditions. If your dog has been diagnosed with a skin condition, your veterinarian may have prescribed a medicated shampoo to help relieve the issue. It’s best to follow your vet’s recommendations when it comes to washing. If you suspect your dog may be suffering from more than just dry or oily skin, make an appointment to get them checked out.
Bathing your dog can be a challenge, so being prepared is your best bet for success. Below are our vet-approved tips to help make bath time less stressful for both you and your pup.
Gather all of your products and tools — Do this long before you even say the word “bath” to your pup. The last thing you want is a wet dog running through the house because you forgot to grab something before you got them in the tub. If you’re filling the tub, do so before your dog’s even in the room. The loud noise of the faucet running can cause your dog anxiety.
Try a no-slip mat — Paws that slip on the wet tub floor can be stressful. A mat or damp towel under your dog’s feet can give them better footing. A few treats might also be in order to create a positive atmosphere.
Don’t forget a brush! — Brushing your dog’s coat out beforehand will remove loose hair and dirt while evenly distributing oil onto the hair strands, making lathering up a little easier. Brush after towel drying or while blow-drying with a canine-specific dryer to prevent tangles and give your dog’s coat a smooth and shiny appearance.
Give praise and treats — End bath time with a lot of praise and play to let your doggie know taking a bath isn’t so bad. Hopefully, they’ll look forward to it next time!
Keeping your pup clean is part of a good hygiene practice and can keep their fur from becoming matted. Your dog can definitely benefit from a canine-specific shampoo because human shampoo can dry out their skin and contain harmful ingredients.
Always use a shampoo made for dogs when bathing your pup. Human shampoo is more acidic than dog shampoo and can dry out their skin with long term use, especially if it’s sulfate-based. The best shampoo for your dog, however, can depend on a variety of factors such as age, coat, and allergies or special needs.
Some shampoos can contain toxic ingredients. This is especially true of human shampoo, as they can contain formaldehyde and an abundance of artificial fragrance chemicals. Even in dog shampoos, we prefer to steer completely clear of any shampoos with “fragrance” in the label because companies aren’t required to disclose the full list of chemicals and shampoos usually don’t go through testing for safety.
For long-term use, Dr. Alleyne recommends finding a dog shampoo that contains oatmeal and aloe. These ingredients are gentle enough for regular use, and they are nourishing to the skin and coat. He suggests avoiding heavily fragranced shampoos because they can cause problems with sensitive dogs and dry out skin over time.
Shop for shampoos that are meant specifically for dogs, and don’t contain potentially harmful ingredients such as sulfates, fragrances, or formaldehyde. Colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera can be helpful for itchy skin, and all-natural or organic ingredients are a plus.
Human shampoo is more acidic than dog shampoo and can dry out their skin with long term use. It’s OK to use human shampoo occasionally if dog shampoo isn’t available (as long as it doesn’t contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs!), but we don’t recommend using it on your pup often.
Look for shampoos that use natural ingredients such as lavender or chamomile to provide scent. Always avoid shampoos that simply contain “fragrance” on the product label as that word can masquerade as an unknown chemical combination. One word of caution: Essential oils are often used as a natural fragrance, but some can be harmful to dogs. If you have questions about a specific oil, you can always ask your vet to make sure it’s safe.
