Everybody knows that puppies have sensitive skin. But when it comes time to give them a bath, you should never use your own shampoo to try to clean their coat.
This is because dogs have a careful blend of naturally occurring oils on their coat and skin. If you were to use a shampoo that has been designed for humans, this won’t take the pH balance of their skin into account, and could harm their skin in the long run.
So when it comes to choosing the best puppy shampoo for your pet, it will always be best to opt for a product that has been designed with your pet’s needs in mind.
This will mean opting for a puppy shampoo that has been designed for puppies, so that it won’t upset the natural oils on their skin. It can be a very confusing experience when trying to find the best puppy shampoo for your puppy’s needs.
But that’s where we come in! We’ve done all the hard work so that you don’t have to. We’ve researched and reviewed the best puppy shampoos that the market has to offer so that you can find the best product for your puppy’s needs.
We made use of a list of strict criteria to narrow down the options to select the best of the best. So let’s take a look at the best puppy shampoos on the market today!
Table of Contents:
TropiClean Dog Shampoo
Out of all the puppy shampoos that we tested, the TropiClean Dog Shampoo easily came out on top. This particular puppy shampoo came with a range of excellent positives that simply made us have to choose it as our top pick.
This gives you the practicality that you need for bathing your puppy without any negatives such as irritating their skin.
What we really loved about this puppy shampoo when we tested it was that it offered your puppy gentle cleansing. It has been designed to be hypoallergenic to soothe and cleanse your puppy’s coat and skin without irritating it.
It has been designed with sensitive skin in mind, so you won’t have to worry about your puppy suffering from dry skin after bath time.
Another fantastic feature of this puppy shampoo is that it comes with a balanced pH. So you won’t have to worry about it upsetting the careful blend of pH on your dog’s skin.
This will be ideal if you don’t want to worry about your puppy suffering from dry skin after you’ve finished giving them a bath.
You won’t have to worry about any nasty chemicals in this product. It has been manufactured using only natural ingredients, which have been either adapted from naturally occurring mineral or plant based raw materials, or which are naturally occurring raw materials.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic – gives your puppy the gentle cleansing they need without irritating their skin
- Balanced pH – won’t irritate the pH of your dog’s skin
- Natural ingredients – you won’t have to worry about any nasty chemicals
Cons
- Amount of shampoo – you may need to use a fair amount of shampoo to bathe your puppy depending on their size
- GENTLE CLEANSING – TropiClean hypoallergenic shampoo for dogs is gentle enough for puppies and kittens with a moisturizing cleanse and a subtle, long-lasting coconut scent.
- SEASONAL ITCH RELIEF – Our soothing coconut dog shampoo provides gentle relief to sensitive skin against seasonal allergies and irritations.
- FEEL-GOOD INGREDIENTS – The sensitive dog shampoo is derived from natural ingredients such as mild aloe and vitamin E that will leave the coat feeling silky soft.
- PET PARENT APPROVED – A gentle dog wash that's paraben, dye, soap and cruelty free and suitable for use on dogs and cats 12 weeks or older.
- TROPICLEAN – For a tropical experience, pair this with our convenient Hypoallergenic Pet Wipes and Waterless Shampoo for those in-a-pinch moments.
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Burt’s Bees Dog Shampoo For Puppies
If you’re looking for an excellent value for money product, then you should choose Burt’s Bees Dog Shampoo for Puppies.
This particular puppy shampoo combines both a shampoo and conditioner all into one bottle. So you will only need to use the one application during bath time to get great results!
Another fantastic feature of this puppy shampoo that we loved when we tested it was that it makes a heavy emphasis on natural ingredients.
Burt’s Bees only makes use of the finest quality natural ingredients to give your puppy the best possible results. Some of these natural ingredients include buttermilk and linseed oil.
What’s really great about this puppy shampoo is that it works to clean, soothe, soften, and condition your dog’s coat and skin.
So you will get the super soft results that you’re after, without having to sacrifice on either one of these factors. It also features a balanced pH so that you can use it with both puppies and adult dogs.
One of our favorite things about this puppy shampoo was that it was super easy to use. All you need to do is apply the shampoo and conditioner to your puppy’s wet coat, work it up into a soapy lather all over your dog’s coat, and then rinse it.
Make sure to avoid using it around their face to not get the product in their eyes.
Pros
- Multiple options – you can select between a range of sizes and bundles to suit you and your pet
- Gentle shampoo – designed to soothe your puppy’s skin and soften their coat
- Easy to use – all you need to do is apply the shampoo to your puppy’s wet coat, lather up the shampoo, then rinse it off
Cons
- Mild scent – some customers felt that the odor wasn’t as potent as other puppy shampoos
- DID YOU KNOW DOG SKIN DIFFERS FROM HUMAN'S - Dogs' skin is less acidic than human skin, so human shampoos destroy a dog's skin protective barrier, leaving your pet vulnerable to itchy flaking
- NO. 1 PET GROOMING BRAND IN THE USA*-See why millions of pet parents entrust their pet's health and hygiene to Burt's Bees for Pets. This natural puppy shampoo for dogs is no exception
- TEARLESS FORMULA WITH BUTTERMILK FOR PUPPIES - All natural ingredients include buttermilk, which soothes skin and softens hair and linseed oil, which deeply conditions your puppy's coat
- NO SULFATES, COLORANTS, ADDED FRAGRANCE OR HARSH CHEMICALS - This formula is free of fragrances, sulfates, colorants, and harsh chemicals. That's what makes Burt's Bees for Pets a natural dog company unlike any other
- SAFE FOR ALL DOGS AND PUPPIES - This shampoo is pH balanced for dogs and puppies of all ages, so it's perfect to add to your puppy supplies kit or dog grooming supplies
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Buddy’s Best Dog Shampoo And Conditioner
Another fantastic option for your puppy is the Buddy’s Best Dog Shampoo and Conditioner. This particular product gives you a shampoo and conditioner combined into one product.
So you won’t have to worry about buying an extra conditioner if you want to get your puppy’s coat lovely and soft afterwards.
What we really loved about this product when we tested it was that it comes in a range of fragrances. You can either opt for a fragrance free shampoo product, or choose between 4 incredible fragrances.
This allows you to find the best fit for your dog so that it stays fresher for longer.
Another stunning feature of this puppy shampoo is that it has been designed with sensitive skin in mind. So you won’t have to worry about it irritating your puppy’s skin after every bath time.
It works to moisturize your pet’s skin without drying it out or irritating it as can sometimes happen with sensitive skin.
This particular puppy shampoo works to eliminate foul odors quickly. Whereas some shampoos require multiple uses to get rid of bad smells, this product will work efficiently and quickly from one application.
It will also work to give your pet a silky smooth coat as an added bonus.
Pros
- Two in one – features a shampoo and conditioner all in one handy product
- Sensitive skin – designed to avoid irritating sensitive skin
- Removes bad smells fast – this shampoo works to remove foul odors quicker
Cons
- Odor – some customers felt that the odor of the fragrance versions didn’t last long
- No Irritation Puppy Shampoo - Keep your dogs smelling great for days with Buddy’s Best moisturizing dog shampoo, perfect for dogs with sensitive skin.
- Dog-Friendly Ingredients - This skin-friendly dog shampoo is made only from pet-loving and vegan ingredients. It's free from any ingredient that can hurt your precious pets.
- Silky Smooth Dog Coat - Receive compliments from other dog owners with our puppy shampoo and conditioner. It gives your pets silky, soft fur that lasts for days with just one lather.
- Remove Foul Odors Instantly - With other dog shampoos & conditioners, you need to wash your pets multiple times to get rid of their smell. With Buddy's Best shampoo for smelly dogs, they come out smelling fresh after the first wash.
- Buddy's Best Promise - We're confident that you and your fur babies will love our dry skin puppy shampoo. If unsatisfied, simply return the product to us for a full refund. No questions asked.
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Pet Care Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo And Conditioner
Next up is the Pet Care Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner. This particular product is an excellent choice if you’re looking for excellent value for money.
It combines both a shampoo and conditioner into one product, so you can achieve the same great results from a single application.
You won’t have to worry about any nasty chemicals with this particular puppy shampoo. It has been manufactured using a naturally derived formula.
This features coconut oil as one of the main ingredients, which has exceptional properties for moisturizing your pet’s skin. As a result it will be gentle on your pet’s skin and deliver on the splendid results that you’re after.
What we really loved about this puppy shampoo is that it was super easy to use. All you need to do is ensure that your puppy’s coat was wet beforehand, then apply a small amount of the shampoo.
Lather up your dog to ensure that they are lovely and clean, and then you can rinse the shampoo off when you’re done.
Another excellent feature of this particular shampoo is that you can purchase as much or as little as you need.
There are multiple sizes to choose from, including an 8 fluid ounce bottle, a 16 fluid ounce bottle, a 24 fluid ounce bottle, and a 1 gallon bottle. This can help you to get even better value for your money.
Pros
- Multiple sizes – you can choose the right sized product for you and your pet
- Natural ingredients – makes use of a naturally derived formula to be gentle on your puppy’s skin
- Easy to use – simply wet your puppy’s coat, lather it up with the shampoo product, then rinse
Cons
- Odor – some customers felt that the odor didn’t last for as long as other puppy shampoos
- Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner - PET CARE Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo is one of many puppy supplies you will need to deal with your furry friend. Helping leave your puppy smelling great whilst maintaining good coat and skin condition.
- Best Puppy Shampoo - Highest quality professional grade formula. Natural Oat helps soothe and nourish delicate skin. Coconut is used to hydrate your pets coat. Packed with natural Aloe to freshen the skin and coat without stripping natural oils.
- Sensitive Skin Dog Shampoo - Gentle dog shampoo is not just for puppies. If your dog suffers with sensitive itchy skin. Our tearless dog shampoo helps soothe and protect skin in between washes whilst supporting a soft clean coat.
- Easy to Use - Simply wet your dogs coat, apply product and work into a rich lather. Then simply rinse through with water. Perfect for dogs over the age of 12 weeks. Available in 8 fl oz, 16 fl oz and 1 gallon bottles.
- PET CARE Sciences - We know that your pet's health and happiness is incredibly important to you, and rightly so. PET CARE Sciences is here to help safely maintain the health of your precious pets. Made in the USA from naturally sourced ingredients to best support mans best friend.
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Earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo and Oatmeal & Aloe Conditioner Grooming Bundle
Last but not least is the fantastic Earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo and Oatmeal & Aloe Conditioner Grooming Bundle.
This particular bundle gives you a high quality puppy shampoo to use for cleansing your pet, as well as a conditioner. This helps you to achieve the super soft results that you’re after without having to harm your puppy’s coat and skin.
There’s no need to worry about any nasty chemical ingredients in this puppy shampoo. It has been manufactured using only a careful blend of natural ingredients.
These include aloe vera, oatmeal, coconut based cleansers, as well as cucumber extract. These natural ingredients will be much kinder on your pet’s skin than harsh chemicals.
Another factor that we really loved about this product was that it has been designed to have a balanced pH.
So you won’t have to worry about it ruining the careful balance of naturally occurring oils on your dog’s skin. It will be safe for use on puppies that are over 6 weeks in age.
What we really loved about this shampoo and conditioner bundle is that it is cruelty-free. This includes both the ingredients used to create the products, and the production methods.
So you won’t have to worry about this shampoo supporting any harmful practices.
Pros
- Multipack bundle – you’ll get a puppy shampoo and puppy conditioner included as standard
- Natural ingredients – you won’t have to worry about any harsh chemicals
- Cruelty-free – designed to be cruelty-free, from ingredients to the production processes
Cons
- Different scents – the shampoo and conditioner are two different scents instead of the same smell
- THE BEST SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER FOR PUPPIES - This bundle includes one 16 oz Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo, Wild Cherry, and one 16 oz Oatmeal & Aloe Conditioner, Vanilla & Almond. The Puppy Shampoo is tearless and pH-balanced especially for puppies' sensitive skin. The conditioner with colloidal oatmeal detangles coats while re-moisturizing and soothing itchy, dry skin. This bundle will leave your puppy's coat soft and plush while bringing out its natural luster and brilliance
- NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Blended with the finest ingredients, such as renewable plant-derived and coconut-based cleansers, colloidal oatmeal, organic aloe vera, and cucumber extract. NO ALCOHOL, NO PARABENS, NO DYES, NO SOAP, NO SULFATES, NO PHTHALATES
- SAFE & EFFECTIVE: Our products are designed with the health of your beloved, furry friend in mind. We believe the ingredients that touch your pet's coat and skin should be as naturally effective, non-toxic, and gentle as possible. This product is PH-BALANCED FOR PETS and safe for puppies over 6 weeks old
- CRUELTY FREE - We at earthbath have a genuine love for pets and concern for the environment. Since 1995, these passions have been at the heart of everything we do, from the ingredients we put into our products, to how and where we make our products, and the support we show to animals in need
- HAPPINESS GUARANTEE - We are so sure you will love this product that we will refund your money if you are not satisfied for any reason
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Buyer’s Guide
Searching for the best puppy shampoo for your pet is no easy task. There are so many factors that you will need to bear in mind so that you can keep them squeaky clean without upsetting their delicate skin.
If you’ve never bought shampoo for your puppy before, it can be confusing knowing what to look out for.
That’s why we’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide. We’ve collated all the essential factors that you will need to bear in mind when it comes to choosing the best puppy shampoo for your needs.
We’ve used the below factors to help us select the best puppy shampoos that we have reviewed in more detail up above.
So as long as you consider these below features when it comes to selecting your next puppy shampoo, you can rest assured that you have found the best product for your pet.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about puppy shampoo down below, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.
Amount Of Shampoo
One factor to consider is how much shampoo you are getting in a bottle. The more shampoo you purchase, the longer the bottle will last you.
If you opt for a smaller, cheaper bottle of puppy shampoo, you will only have to spend twice as much to use the same amount as in a larger bottle.
You may think that you are saving money by opting for a smaller bottle. But you will end up having to spend twice this amount than if you were to opt for the larger bottle that gives you more value for your money.
If your chosen puppy shampoo is available in multiple sizes, it will be best to opt for the larger size on the market.
It will also be worth thinking about how much shampoo you use in one go. The more shampoo you use per bath, the sooner you will have to replace the bottle.
It will be best to only squirt a small amount of shampoo onto your pet’s wet coat, then lather this up. This should give you more than enough soapy goodness to clean your pet sufficiently.
Hypoallergenic
One factor to consider is opting for a puppy shampoo that is hypoallergenic. This will be the perfect fit for pets that suffer from sensitive skin. If you opt for a shampoo that doesn’t promise to be hypoallergenic, this could cause your pet to suffer from sore or dry skin.
By opting for a hypoallergenic puppy shampoo, you can ensure that the product that you use will be gentle on your pet’s skin. This will be a particularly good fit for puppy’s that suffer from sensitive skin.
Using a hypoallergenic shampoo can reduce the likelihood of your pet’s skin becoming irritated during the bathing process.
Another thing to think about is what kind of ingredients have been included, which we will cover in more detail down below. This is because some ingredients can be more harmful to your puppy’s skin than others.
Balanced pH
One of the most important things to bear in mind when choosing a shampoo for your puppy to use at bath time is to choose a product that has a balanced pH.
This is because your dog has a careful blend of naturally occurring oils on their skin and coat. So because giving your puppy a bath too often can irritate this balance, you will need to ensure that you opt for a balanced pH shampoo.
If you were to use a human shampoo, this would be far too acidic for your pup. This will upset the pH balance of these naturally occurring oils, and leave your dog with dry and irritated skin.
By opting for a puppy shampoo that promises to have a balanced pH, you can maintain these oils without damaging your dog’s skin.
So you should always ensure that you are opting for a puppy shampoo that has been designed with dogs in mind. This will make sure that the product has a balanced pH, so you won’t have to worry about harming your dog’s skin.
Natural Ingredients
You should always opt for a puppy shampoo that makes use of natural ingredients. This will include ingredients such as oatmeal, which works to soothe your dog’s skin as well as soften their coat.
Some more commercial shampoos make use of harsh chemicals, which can damage your pet’s skin.
As we have discussed in more detail above, it will be crucial to ensure that you opt for a puppy shampoo that will take the natural pH of their skin into consideration.
So if you opt for a shampoo that doesn’t make use of natural ingredients and only uses harsh chemicals, this can leave the pH unbalanced, which will result in dry, irritable skin.
By choosing natural ingredients such as oatmeal, you can ensure that your puppy gets the care and attention that they need from their puppy shampoo.
Natural ingredients won’t irritate your puppy’s skin, and will ensure that they get clean without harming their delicate skin.
Easy To Use
Another important factor to consider when selecting the best puppy shampoo is whether it is easy to use. There’s no point in opting for a product that requires a complicated process for you to use during bath time.
You need something simple that can be used in a pinch so that you can get your pup squeaky clean in no time at all.
It will be best to opt for a puppy shampoo that simply requires your pet’s coat to be wet. Then all you will need to do is apply a small amount of the product to the wet fur, use your hands to lather this up into a soapy mixture, and then finally rinse the suds from your pet’s coat.
You can then opt to use a conditioner product that has been designed with dogs in mind if you so wish. This will leave your dog’s coat silky smooth when they’re dry again.
If you want to make things super simple, you can even opt for a two in one product that combines both shampoo and conditioner.
The only thing to bear in mind is that this might affect the price of the product that you are trying to purchase.
Versatile
Lastly, it will be worth looking for a puppy shampoo that is versatile. Can it be used for adult dogs, too? Or for any other pets you may have around the home such as cats?
This will help you to get better value for your money. You can use this puppy shampoo to keep all of your pets clean should you need to.
The best thing about opting for a puppy shampoo that you can use with your dog once they reach adulthood is that they will be used to it. You won’t have to transition your pet to using another product.
If you know that your chosen product doesn’t irritate your dog’s skin, you can then continue to use it for their lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Shampoo Is Best For Puppies?
The best puppy shampoos are:
- TropiClean Dog Shampoo
- Burt’s Bees Dog Shampoo for Puppies
- Buddy’s Best Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
- Pet Care Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner
- Earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo and Oatmeal & Aloe Conditioner Grooming Bundle
How Often Should I Bathe My Puppy?
Even though muddy pups will need a bath to make sure that they don’t get mud everywhere, it’s worth remembering that you shouldn’t give your pet too many baths.
If you do this, you can upset the natural oils on their skin, and cause them to suffer from skin irritation. However, to prevent it from becoming a traumatic experience as they age, you will need to get your puppy used to bath-time from a young age.
It will be best to give your puppy a bath at least once a month until they reach adulthood.
Then, once they have reached adulthood, you should only need to give your pet a bath around twice a year, or whenever they decide to roll in some mysteriously foul smelling substance when you take them out on a walk.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that some breeds will need more frequent bathing than others due to having an oily coat.
But the general rule of thumb is to stick with giving your pet a bath once a month unless they have gotten themselves involved in a rather muddy adventure.
How Do I Dry My Puppy After A Bath?
Even though it may be tempting to leave your pet to air dry, this isn’t recommended. This is because any excess moisture can cause fungus to grow between your pet’s paw pads, or even under their armpit areas.
So it will always be best to either towel dry your pet after their bath, or to use a hair drying appliance to dry their fur.
The only thing to bear in mind is that your pet may not like being exposed to the hair drying unit. So using a clean towel to towel dry your pet will be the best way to dry them after bath time.
Last update on 2022-01-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
