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The Spruce Pets / Chloe Jeong
Our top pick isEarthbath Oatmeal and Aloe. We also like4-Legger Aloe Vera, Lemongrass & Organic Coconut Dog Shampoo.
What’sdoggy bath timelike at your house? For some pet owners, it’s a fun bonding experience. For others, everyone ends up soaked and nobody’s happy. Having the right shampoo can make things easier when the goal is a clean pet that doesn’t smell like wet dog.
“I like shampoos that dilute easily, clean well and not leave behind any residue, and that are as natural as possible as well as affordable,” says Kim Flatley, professional dog groomer and owner of St. Louis-basedFitness with Fido.
We looked for the best dog shampoos. Here's what we found:
Best Overall
Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo
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Amazon
No parabens, sulfates, phthalates
No fragrance
Watery formula
Some people prefer scented
There are so many different formulas and scents that there’s sure to be an Earthbath shampoo perfect for you and your dog. Our top pick, the Oatmeal and Aloe formula, is a good place to start. It’s fragrance-free with colloidal oatmeal and organic aloe vera to moisturize dry, itchy skin. Like all Earthbath products, it’s made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten and synthetic dyes. All items are cruelty-free and made in the United States.
Ask Earthbath fans and so many of them will have a favorite shampoo ranging from deodorizing to hot spot relief, shed control to conditioning. Natural scents include mango, peppermint, vanilla, and lavender. There’s also a popular vanilla and almond version of this oatmeal and aloe shampoo if you want something with a little scent.
Earthbath products are guaranteed so if you aren’t happy with the bath time results, they’ll refund your money.
Best Natural/Organic
4-Legger Organic Dog Shampoo
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Amazon
USDA-certified organic
Foams well
Leaves hair soft
Very watery
Some users did not like smell
“Looking for natural and organic is always the best way to go,” says professional groomer Youngker. “When products are certified organic, they don’t contain ingredients that can damage a dog’s skin.”
There are nine USDA-certified organic shampoos in the 4-Legger line, with an array of ingredients including oatmeal and lavender for dry and itchy skin, peppermint and eucalyptus for conditioning, and an unscented version with aloe vera for sensitive skin.This popular choice features aloe vera, lemongrass, and coconut oil for moisturizing.
All 4-Legger products are USDA certified organic and free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial colors and fragrances, or harmful preservatives. Shampoos are made in the United States and have a money-back guarantee. They’re vegan and cruelty-free.
Best for Sensitive and Dry Skin
Rocco & Roxie Calm Sensitive Shampoo
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Amazon
No parabens, phthalates, or other additives
Mild scent
Leaves very shiny fur
Doesn’t lather well
Very thick and hard to get out of bottle
This gentle formula has aloe vera extract for moisturizing and soothing skin and chamomile for calming and cleansing. Rosemary helps protect and promote healthy skin growth.This shampoo is targeted toward dogs and puppies with sensitive skin and has a mild coconut and honey fragrance.
This formula is free of paraben, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, artificial colors, dyes, and other additives. They’re pH balanced so they’re safe and comfortable for a dog’s skin.
Best for Odor
Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
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Walmart
Lathers easily
Not tested on animals
Includes conditioner
Scent may be overpowering for some people
Very thick and hard to get out of the bottle
This two-in-one conditioning shampoo has a soothing lavender and mint scent created by a mix of essential oils and essences including chamomile, sage, and rosemary extract. The fresh fragrance should help erase the wet dog smell that brought you and your pup to the bathtub in the first place.
The product is soap-free and alcohol-free and is built on a coconut base. It lathers well and is easy to rinse out, leaving a smooth coat behind. Buddy Wash is made in the United States and hasn’t been tested on animals. It’s safe for use on people in case bath time is tough and it’s just easier to wash your pup in the shower with you!
Best for Shedding
Furminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo
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Amazon
Very moisturizing
Enriched with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
No parabens or chemical dyes
Added fragrance that may be too strong
Has to sit for 5-10 minutes
Depending on your dog’s coat and the time of year, you might feel like you live in a perpetual cloud of dog hair. If you have a heavy shedder, the secret is “brush your dog more, not bathe your dog more,” says Youngker.
But this FURminator DeShedding shampoo from a company that makes the popular deshedding tools may be able to help at bath time. It has a mix of natural ingredients to promote healthy skin, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from cranberry, sunflower, and safflower seed oils, as well as aloe vera and vitamin E.
The key is to wet your dog’s skin well, leave it on for 5 or 10 minutes, and then ideally follow up with the brand’s conditioner (view on PetSmart)。应该有丛生的头发在浴缸里,then even more when you finish up with a brush or Furminator rake (view on PetSmart)。
Best Waterless
The Spruce Waterless Pet Wash in Oatmeal
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Amazon
Cruelty-free
Plant-based with no parabens, phthalates, or dyes
Three scents from natural oils
No unscented option
Won’t help with very dirty dogs
Sometimes you don’t have time to give your dog the full spa experience or your pup just needs a little freshening up. Ourwaterless pet washmakes the whole experience so much easier on you and your pup.
Featuring a plant-based, pH-balanced formula, The Spruce Waterless Pet Wash has no parabens, phthalates, or dyes, and it’s Leaping Bunny certified. To use, shake the bottle, spray your dog’s coat well, wait for one minute, and then use a soft, clean cloth to wipe them down. It cleans, conditions, and moisturizes, while removing dirt and other debris.
It comes in three scents—lavender (with clary sage), oatmeal (with fresh mango), and fresh (neroli, apple, and orchid)—made with natural essential oils.
Best Flea Shampoo
Richard's Organics Flea & Tick Shampoo
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Petco
Paraben, dye, and soap free
Inexpensive
Has vitamin E, lecithin, and lanolin to soothe itchy skin
Strong Christmas-y smell
Flea shampoos often have harsh chemicals that can irritate your pet’s skin and trigger a reaction. Even those with safer, natural essential oils onlykill the fleasthat are on your pet. Because your house and yard still have the pests, your dog will quickly get reinfected, so it’s important to have another effective means offlea controllike monthly chewables or spot-on treatments prescribed by your vet.
That said, this is a good way to rid your pup of resident fleas. It doesn’t have parabens, dyes, or soap, and it’s gentle so it won’t wash away topical flea and tick treatments. It has vitamin E, lanolin, and other moisturizers to help soothe irritated skin. Instead of added fragrance, the scent comes from cinnamon, clove, cedar, peppermint, and rosemary oils.
Best for Puppies
Pure and Natural Pet Fragrance Free Hypoallergenic Organic Shampoo
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Amazon
USDA-certified organic
Unscented
Left coat very silky
Doesn’t lather easily
Some people prefer scent
Pure and Natural makes several USDA-certified organic pet shampoos and conditioners that have no parabens, sulfates, chemicals, formaldehyde, or other harmful chemicals. The company makes a specific puppy shampoo that is all natural, but we like this gentle hypoallergenic formula. It has no artificial fragrances or dyes, no preservatives or additives and the simple ingredients include organic aloe water, organic castile soap, and organic calendula and jojoba oils.
Because it’s pH-balanced for a dog’s coat, it won’t strip your puppy of necessary oils. It moisturizes and soothes itchiness, while leaving fur shiny and soft.
Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloeis the best overall pick. It has no parabens, phthalates, sulfates, or other additives and comes in unscented or a vanilla and almond version if you want a mild scent. Another great choice is4-Legger Aloe Vera, Lemongrass & Organic Coconut Dog Shampoo. It's USDA-certified organic, lathers well, rinses easily, and leaves fur soft and silky.
What to Consider When Shopping for Dog Shampoos
Dana Youngker groomer atPetworking & Coin Cumming, Georgia, outside of Atlanta, looks for natural ingredients in her shampoos, choosing organic when possible. When shampooing, she says get your dog nice and wet first, then start from the head and work your way down, being sure to get everywhere including paw pads and private areas, rinsing from the head down so all the dirty water doesn’t flow into clean areas.
Ingredients
It’s not enough to look for a product that is “natural.” If you want a product that is truly gentle and won’t cause health problems, look at the ingredients. “A lot of dog shampoos have parabens, mineral oils, sulfates, phthalates and those can cause skin issues and other health issues and be extremely harmful to dogs,” Youngker says.
Also, be sure to look for essential oils instead of artificial fragrances. Avoid added dyes and artificial coloring of any sort.
Breed
Your dog’s breed and coat type might influence the type of shampoo you use andhow often you wash your pet. Some dogs, likeLabrador retrievers, for example, have more naturally greasy coats to help them repel water. Groomers advise skipping shampoos with built-in conditioners for those dogs. Washing them too often can also cause them to make too much natural oil in their skin.
Brushing before a bath can be even more important than the type of shampoo you choose, says Flatley. It helps remove and loosen mats for long hair dogs or loose hair for shedding dogs. “Then for bathing, really scrub and scrub some more then rinse and when you think you're done rinse again to not leave any shampoo behind,” she suggests.
Lifestage
A lot of brands might say puppy safe or puppy gentle, but the key is to check the ingredients, says Youngker. “Always read the labels. Make sure there are no damaging ingredients. Stick to something gentle and natural.”
Most shampoos are safefor puppiesover eight weeks old and all adult dogs, although you might notice that medicated shampoos and those targeted toward fleas aren’t recommended until puppies are a little older. When in doubt, always ask your vet before using a product.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
To find the best dog shampoos, we tested a range of products on our own pets and also consulted with professional groomers about what to look for when shopping, and interviewed dog owners about their favorite products.
这篇文章在研究和写的Mary Jo DiLonardowho has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than three dozen puppies and is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products to use on them.