Choosing the right shampoo for your dog’s coat can be tricky. We recommend the perfect dog shampoos for a variety of conditions and situations in our comprehensive guide.
If you wash or bathe your dog at home, you know that you need to use specially formulated dog products dedicated to the task – your Head and Shoulders is simply not going to do to the job and could even be dangerous.
With so many dogs, so many different types of coat, so many skin and coat issues, and so many different shampoos available, how do you know which one is right for your dog?
We’ve rounded up the best dog shampoos, designed to handle many of the day-to-day issues you might come up against in relation to keeping your dog’s coat in tip-top condition.
You can be confident next time you wash your dog, everyone will think they just stepped out of a salon!
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Best Dog Flea Shampoo - Cooper & Gracie
For many of our furry-friends, fleas and ticks can be a serious and uncomfortable issue.
Even when treated, the odd creepy little critter will hitch a ride inside your house on your dog, taking a little time to die off. Not before they’ve bitten your dog and infested your home.
A great way to combat this and keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy and flea-free, is a specialist Dog Flea Treatment Shampoo, and this one by Cooper & Gracie ticks all our boxes as the best flea shampoo for dogs.
A brand born out of the founder’s passion for his own dog’s health, Cooper & Gracie stands for cruelty free, environmentally friendly, and ethical products designed with your dog’s health in mind.
Made from the best quality natural ingredients, essential oils, and loaded with healing vitamin E, this shampoo is cruelty free and vegan, so you can be sure it’s safe for you and your dog.
Easy to use and effortlessly absorbed into the coat, this gentle formula gets rid of any fleas, or other biting insects in your dog’s coat, whilst restoring sore and bitten skin. Kind enough to use as a puppy shampoo.
Cooper & Gracie are so confident you’ll love it, they even offer a one-year warranty and 30 day money back guarantee if you don’t.
An overall Amazon rating of 4.4 from 5 stars, with nearly 3,000 online reviews, means this is a product you can trust, and we are proud to recommend it as our best shampoo for dogs with fleas.
Best Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin - Purplebone Oatmeal
If your dog suffers with allergies or skin issues of any kind, you know how distressing it can be to see them scratch and scratch, sometimes causing themselves some serious damage in the process.
An oatmeal infused shampoo could be just what you need to reduce the itching and help soothe their skin. This Purplebone Oatmeal shampoo is our pick of the best around.
Delivered as a concentrate which you can dilute – 1 part shampoo to 15 parts water, this 500ml bottle makes 7.5L of shampoo and goes a really long way. It’s gentle enough to use weekly if you need to.
The oatmeal forms a defensive layer on the skin to ease and stop the itching, whilst soothing inflammation.
Coconut oil prevents sun damage, more common than you realize in dogs with skin issues, and the Purplebone conditioning treatment leaves your dog’s coat silky smooth and smelling great.
Once diluted, this cruelty-free, paraben-free and tear-free shampoo will last for 24 months in an airtight bottle.
With an Amazon rating of 4.7 out 5, this is one of the highest rated dog grooming products on Amazon, and we are proud to recommend it as our best dog shampoo for itchy skin.
Best Dog Shampoo for Smelly Dogs - Groom Professional
If your dog is stinking up the place, you need a powerful and nice smelling dog shampoo to really get to the source of the problem.
This Groom Professional Shampoo for smelly dogs has a delightful baby powder scent and will sort out your dog’s odor in no time, keeping them clean and fresh.
With calming Aloe Vera to soothe and protect skin, this professional grade product comes in a range of sizes and can be diluted up to ten times to maximize usage.
Suitable for all breeds, all coats, and even puppies, natural hair conditioners encourage healthy hair growth and act as an anti dandruff dog shampoo.
Online reviewers report the shampoo completely eliminates any doggy smell and is great for muddy or dirty dogs after they’ve been walking or swimming.
Sometimes dogs smell bad, and if you’ve eliminated any medical problems which could be causing bad odor, the next thing to try is a great odor-busting shampoo, and this one comes highly recommended for even the smelliest pooch.
Recommended: Don’t miss our guide to 15 top interactive dog toys for easily bored dogs.
Best Dry Dog Shampoo - Pet Head
Created by the same brand who brought us Bed Head products for humans, this unique range of products brings human hair care standards to doggy coat care.
We particularly love these Pet Head Dry Clean shampoos, which combine the distinctive scents this brand has become famous for with the convenience of a dry shampoo. What’s not to love?
Perfect for keeping in the car to deal with on-the-spot smelly emergencies whilst out walking, or simply as a great smelling refresh between wet washes, simply spray this ph balanced, human grade dry shampoo powder into your dog’s coat, being careful not to get any in their eyes or ears, and you’re good to go.
Packed with natural ingredients like wheat, safflower, vitamin C, and Aloe Vera, this powerfully cleansing deodorizing spray can be used on puppies and adult dogs, and is our top pick for ease of use, convenience, and its delicious smell – you won’t be able to resist it.
Best Sensitive Dog Shampoo - Pro Pooch
Just like us, some dogs have sensitive skin and hair which need special products designed to deal with the problems that presents.
This hydrating, oatmeal and aloe Pro Pooch shampoo combines key soothing and hydrating hypo-allergenic ingredients to gently cleanse and condition your dog’s coat, also getting rid of dandruff, without irritating sensitive skin.
Completely toxin-free, this natural dog shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal, pro vitamin B5, and aloe to provide professional cleansing, conditioning, and coat care for all breeds of dog from the comfort of your home.
With a host of great reviews online, and an overall Amazon rating of 4.5 out of 5, this shampoo has brought relief to so many itchy and sensitive dogs.
If your dog is suffering, it is well worth trying this highly rated and recommended best shampoo for itchy dogs.
Best Natural Dog Shampoo - Oatmeal Shampoo
Another great Pet Head entry in our list. This time for their Oatmeal Shampoo for dogs with sensitive skin.
Made with a comforting combination of aloe, oatmeal, vitamins C and E, and luxurious jojoba oil, this shampoo offers a wonderful double dose of healing and protection for your dog’s sensitive skin, and a pampering conditioning treat for their coat.
As you would expect from this brand, the oatmeal shampoo is packed with completely natural plant-based ingredients, is totally cruelty-free, contained in 100% recyclable bottles, and smells almost good enough to eat.
Sufficiently gentle to use on all breeds and all ages, even as a puppy shampoo.
This shampoo comes highly recommended and is definitely worth a try if you’re looking for a luxurious, salon quality, oatmeal shampoo.
Recommended: We cover indestructible dog toys for problem chewers next!
Best Smelling Dog Shampoo - Bugalugs
If you’re looking for a shampoo which will leave your dog super soft and smelling great, despite their protests, this Bugalugs Baby Fresh Dog Shampoo could be just the thing.
Made in the UK and inspired by the creator’s own dog, Max, also known as ‘Bugalugs’, this shampoo is designed to keep your dog smelling, feeling and looking great.
Delivered in a 500ml bottle, ready for diluting up to 20 times, this shampoo really delivers on the long-lasting Baby Powder scent and will last you ages.
Suitable for all dogs over 8 weeks old, this pH balanced, vegan shampoo is deep cleansing yet gentle, promising to leave your pup clean, conditioned, and shiny – and of course smelling fresh as a baby.
It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon for ‘scent’ and scored 4.6 overall.
So, if you need something to keep your pooch smelling great, we highly recommend this Bugalugs shampoo for its long-lasting, fresh, baby powder scent.
Recommended: Don't miss our our guide to portable dog showers to keep them clean on the go.
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo - Vet’s Best
For dogs with allergies washing in standard shampoos can be a real pain – literally.
For dogs like these Hypoallergenic Shampoos and treatments are a must, and our favorite is this one from veterinarian recommended brand, Vet’s Best.
Packed with the best quality non-irritating natural ingredients such as vitamin E and aloe to soothe and moisturize skin, it also contains Allantoin to stimulate healthy skin cell regeneration.
This tear-free soap-free formula won’t affect flea and tick treatments, so you don’t need to worry about washing your dog after applying them.
There are a range of complementary products you can use in concert with this hypoallergenic shampoo to ensure your sensitive dog’s skin and coat always stay in tip-top shape.
Dogs with skin issues may find relief from bathing and washing, so this shampoo is safe to use up to twice in any 24-hour period, as required to keep your dog happy and comfortable.
One reviewer commented that their senior dog’s coat was beginning to show its age, but after using this shampoo it was “more lustrous and easier to comb, especially her long tail.”
This vet recommended brand is our pick of the best for Hypoallergenic shampoo for dogs.
Recommended: Don't miss our guide to dog grooming tables next.
Best Dog Shampoo and Conditioner - The Healthy Dog Co
The idea of a ‘wash and go’ solution to cut down the time you spend washing and conditioning your own hair, has been transferred to the world of doggy hair care with this impressive, 6 in 1, combined shampoo, conditioner, and treatment.
This all-natural lemongrass, rosemary, and tea tree infused shampoo and conditioner does the job of many different products as it cleans, grooms, detangles, conditions, moisturizes, deodorizes, alleviates itching, and destroys germs – that’s a hard working product.
This tear-free, soap-free formula is great for puppies or adults, is free from potentially harmful parabens, fragrances, and sulfates, and is backed by a 100% moneyback guarantee.
Many online dog shampoo reviews report it is easy to use and the smell lasts well between washes, and even helped to detangle the most matted poodle.
Overall, this hardworking shampoo really delivers on its promise and is well worth getting if you want a shampoo to tick lots of boxes for your dog’s coat.
Best Whitening Shampoo For Dogs - Wahl Diamond White
If you are the fur-parent of a white dog, you will understand the challenges that accompany getting, and keeping them lovely and white.
It can be a particular challenge in stubborn areas like around the eyes, mouth, and paws, but this Wahl Diamond White shampoo really lives up to its name.
As you would expect, this shampoo is a great all-round shampoo, doing all the things it should – cleaning your dog’s skin and coat, conditioning their coat, and removing doggy smells – but with the added benefit of whitening, brightening, and enhancing your pet’s beautiful white coat.
Its purple color is just the thing to neutralize any warm or yellow tones in your pet’s fur and is gentle enough to use, carefully, on those tough spots around the eyes and mouth.
In fact, this shampoo is so versatile you can use it on any of your white coated pets, from dogs to horses and llamas to ferrets.
If your white pet has lost their shine, this Diamond White shampoo will return their natural silky brightness in no time.
We loved hunting down these perfect dog shampoos for you and we really hope you find the perfect one for your dog in the list. Let us know which one you use or if there's one you recommend that's not on here!
