The 10 Best Dog Shampoos

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7 min read
7 min read

Updated - Nov 10th, 2021

Dogs will be dogs, and that means rolling in the grass on a hot summer afternoon and splashing in mud puddles after a rainstorm. A dog’s ability to get messy and smelly without a care in the world is part of their charm, and it’s our job to clean them up and maintain their skin and coat. 

A wide variety of dog shampoos claim to have natural ingredients that help keep a dog’s coat healthy and their skin in perfect condition. It can be challenging to choose the right one, and this becomes even more challenging when dogs have specific grooming needs or allergies.

We’ve created a list of the 10 best dog shampoos available on Amazon. These shampoos are ideal for keeping your pooch clean from snout to paw! 

We ranked shampoos starting with the best one we could find. We ranked them based on the following criteria:

Good ingredients: Just as we search for hair products for ourselves that are free of parabens, sulfates, and other harmful ingredients, we look for dog grooming products with natural ingredients. The more natural the ingredients, the better the product is for your dog’s skin and fur, and the less likely they are to have a bad reaction to the product. We like shampoos that use the most basic and natural ingredients to achieve things like itch relief, keeping coats shiny, detangling, strengthening, and improving odor. Plus, products that contain those additives are often more difficult to rinse out, leaving residue and causing buildup which isn’t good for your pup’s hair. Natural ingredients are easier to wash out and reduce the potential for harmful buildup. 

Scent factor: While dog owners want to stray away from artificial scents, some natural ingredients can give dogs a nice smell or help get rid of foul odors. Baking soda is one common deodorizer used in dog products, but ingredients like vanilla, lavender, and cucumber also leave your pooch smelling fresh without artificial ingredients. 

Extra perks: Since many dogs require extra care when it comes to skin problems, we tried to look at everything each product has to offer. It’s important to look for shampoos that moisturize and strengthen a dog’s coat – and if they’re long-haired, perhaps one that detangles. For dogs with allergies or skin irritations, a gentle shampoo that promises itch relief is essential. There’s a lot to consider when choosing a shampoo, so we searched for products that cover the most bases. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no additional cost to you. We may earn commissions from Amazon or other vendors through these links. As an Amazon Associate, Pumpkin earns commissions from qualifying purchases.

1. Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief 

Price: $6.99

This dog shampoo is made with an oatmeal formula that’s pH balanced, alcohol-, PEG-80-, and paraben-free, and highly moisturizing. Its coconut lime verbena scent is refreshing and its formula keeps coats shiny and skin well-nourished – while providing itch relief, too! Wahl has a higher concentration of a coconut-derived sodding agent, which means owners don’t have to use a ton of this product to get the job done. Its thick lather rinses off clean and leaves zero residue. Lastly, this formula was designed for a Goldendoodle named Cooper who has severe allergies, but was relieved after bathing with this shampoo. If your pup struggles with allergies too, he could find solace just like Cooper! 

2. Wahl 4-in-1 Calming Pet Shampoo 

Price: $6.99

This lavender and chamomile tearless formula is intended to clean, detangle, condition, and moisturize a dog’s coat. It’s pH balanced, alcohol-, paraben-, and PEG-80-free, and rinses off easily. It uses the same sodding agent as Wahl’s skin and itch relief shampoo, allowing you to use less product to get your doggy squeaky clean. Instead of itch relief, this shampoo boasts a calming, gentle formula that prevents dryness and promotes healthy coats. It’s good for any coat and skin type.

3. Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo 

Price: $13.34

Burt’s Bees is known for using natural ingredients that are good for consumers and the environment. Their dog grooming products are no exception – this natural pet shampoo is a groomer’s favorite because its high quality formula cleans, soothes, conditions, and softens coats. Colloidal oatmeal, honey, and beeswax are the primary ingredients in this shampoo, which is free of fragrances, sulfates, colorants, and other harsh chemicals. 

Pet Pro Tip: When shopping for products for your dog, make sure to also help protect your pooch with best-in-class dog insurance or puppy insurance plans for accidents & illnesses.

4. Arm & Hammer for Pets 2-in-1 Shampoo 

Price: $3.97

Arm & Hammer dog grooming products are all free of harsh chemicals, SLS, parables and phthalates. They’re also infused with baking soda that gets rid of foul odors. Its formula is gentle and made with natural ingredients that will nourish your dog’s fur and keep odors away long after bath time is over!

5. Honest Paws 5-in-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

Price: $16.99

This shampoo promises to cleanse, deodorize, condition, detangle, and moisturize your pup’s skin and coat. 98.25% of its ingredients are naturally derived, and its eco-friendly formula is completely plant-based. It’s also dye-, paraben-, MEA-, DEA-, and sulfate-free, so your dog won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals.  

6. Pro Pet Works All Natural Organic 5-in-one Oatmeal Pet Shampoo 

Price: $14.59

With a blend of aloe vera, almond oil, and oatmeal, this shampoo provides your doggo with Vitamins A, D, and E. It’s formulated for sensitive, dry or itchy skin and eliminates that classic wet dog smell. Free of parabens, sulfates, soap, and alcohol – not to mention cruelty–free – this shampoo is truly good for your pup. Groomers and vets both use this product, and it’s often recommended for dogs with itchy hot spots and dry patches. 

7. Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Pet Grooming Bundle

Price: $27.21

Made from colloidal oatmeal and organic aloe vera, this shampoo-and-conditioner set relieves skin irritation, promotes healing, and helps restore your dog’s natural skin moisture. Its vanilla and almond components give it a yummy scent and help detangle your pup’s coat. It’s also free of parabens, soap, gluten, DEA, synthetic dyes, sulfates, and phthalates. (And it’s cruelty-free!)

8. PetAg Fresh ‘n Clean Scented Dog Shampoo

Price: $17.99 

This dog shampoo is made with aloe vera and other conditioning ingredients that leave your dog’s coat soft, shiny, and free of tangles. Its long-lasting floral scent stays on your dog’s fur for up to two weeks. These PetAg shampoos come in a variety of scents with ingredients that target some dog’s specific coat needs. Check out their product page on Amazon if you’d like to learn more about their cleansers. 

9. Natural Dog Company Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo 

Price: $16.95

This natural dog shampoo is designed for dogs with sensitive skin – it uses extra gentle colloidal oatmeal to give your pup a soothing wash. The mild formula improves skin texture and adds shine to the coat without drying out skin in the process. In addition to oatmeal, it contains aloe vera, coconut oil, argan oil, mango butter, lavender oil, and vitamin E. And though it’s unscented and free of artificial fragrances, its natural ingredients make it smell good anyway!

10. TropiClean Shampoos for Pets

Price: $10.99

This shed-control shampoo is made from lime and coconut – both of which exfoliate and hydrate your dog’s coat – and its appealing scent sticks around long past bath time! It’s also dye-, paraben-, and soap-free, and made with naturally derived ingredients. TropiClean recommends using their conditioner along with this shampoo for best results. 

It’s not easy to choose the perfect shampoo for your dog. It might take some trial and error before you find the right one. And no doggy shampoo is the same, so be sure to dive into the specifics of each one before you make a decision. 

For easy access to this list, here are the links and prices for each product mentioned.

  1. Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief ($6.99)
  2. Wahl 4-in-1 Calming Pet Shampoo ($6.99)
  3. Burt’s Bees for Dogs Natural Oatmeal Shampoo ($13.34)
  4. Arm & Hammer Super Deodorizing Shampoo for Dogs ($3.97)
  5. Honest Paws 5-in-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo and Conditioner ($16.99)
  6. Pro Pet Works All Natural Organic 5-in-one Oatmeal Pet Shampoo ($14.59)
  7. Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Pet Grooming Bundle ($27.21)
  8. PetAg Fresh ‘n Clean Scented Dog Shampoo ($17.99) 
  9. Natural Dog Company Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo  ($16.95)
  10. TropiClean Shampoos for Pets ($10.99)
Katie Bashista

Katie Bashista

Katie is a copywriter and the loving owner of two perfect Boxers, Laila and Frazier.
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