What is the Best Dog Shampoo?

Puppy skin can be quite delicate as their bodies are still developing. At a young age, many puppies are still exploring the world and can inevitably get messy and dirty along the way. They require a shampoo formulation that gently cleanses and nourishes their sensitive skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

The Melanie Newman Salon Essentials Puppy Shampoo is formulated with high quality natural ingredients like coconut oil, liquorice root, and essential oils of rose, chamomile, and calendula to gently cleanse your puppy's delicate skin, assist in removing dandruff, and keep your pup's coat soft, shiny, and smelling fresh. It lathers well and a little goes a long way which is especially helpful for larger pups.

What our customers say: "I have been using this product on my cavoodle now for the past 3 months. Every time we bath him he smells amazing and after drying off with the blow dryer his coat is so soft and smells fresh! He also does not have any allergy skin reaction to it like some products out there do. Highly recommend this product for any puppy."

It's always a good idea to have a no-nonsense everyday shampoo handy for your adult dog. For regular bathing, you're going to want a shampoo that's effective at keeping your dog clean and fresh but still safe enough for more frequent use, especially for spring and summer when skin allergies kick in.

Aloveen is an oatmeal-based shampoo that gently cleanses your dog's skin and coat while still keeping it soft and moisturised. It's suitable for dry, sensitive skin and leaves your dog smelling amazing.

For dry and sensitive skin, there is also a matching conditioner for some extra TLC! You may gently rinse it off after shampooing or use it as a leave-on conditioner.

What our customers say: "Our vet recommended us to use this shampoo on our dog as she got itchy paws from pollens. It's delicate enough for her sensitive skin and we love it."

What our vets say: "I recommend and use Aloveen as the best shampoo for regular bathing of dogs. It's soap-free, so it's gentle on the skin and won't harshly strip the coat of natural oils, making it a good choice for regular bathing and for dogs with sensitive skin. It also contains colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera to moisturise the skin, and also comes in a leave in conditioner formulation. But best of all, it leaves your dog smelling divine! Doggy bath time in our house is always followed by an abundance of doggy cuddles, as everyone just loves the smell!" - Dr. Gill

PAW Blackmore's Sensitive Shampoo and Conditioner are a fantastic choice for sensitive canine skin. This dynamic duo of non-irritating natural formulas are free of sulphates and artificial fragrances, ingredients that can commonly cause skin irritation.

The shampoo gently cleanses the skin while the panthenol and jojoba oil help preserve the skin's natural oils. The conditioner contains a rich combination of ingredients to moisturise the skin and detangle the coat, making it soft, smooth, and silky.

This duo also keeps your dog smelling amazing with a special blend of botanical essential oils; the shampoo has rosemary and sandalwood oils while the conditioner contains rose, patchouli, and sandalwood oils.

What our customers say: "Lovely gentle shampoo and conditioner. The product really is great for sensitive skin."

What our vets say: "The PAW Sensitive Skin Shampoo and Conditioner duo is a great pick for any dog with sensitive skin. They contain moisturising ingredients such as jojoba oil to help support the skin barrier and have a pleasant, mild scent. I love how soft my dog's coat was after bathing, plus the conditioner is great for detangling if your dog's coat is prone to matting." - Dr. Kes

When a dog has sensitive and itchy skin, the integrity of the skin barrier is compromised, leaving them susceptible to infections and an overgrowth in the otherwise normal populations of the skin's healthy microflora. Dogs struggling with topical skin infections like bacterial or yeast dermatitis may benefit from a medicated shampoo.

Malaseb is a medicated shampoo that contains miconazole, which targets fungi and yeast, and chlorhexidine gluconate, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that works against a variety of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Apart from targeting these microorganisms, it also helps to remove scale and degrease the skin but its gentle formula is also suitable for sensitive skin, making it a great shampoo to have on hand especially for skin allergy flare ups.

As many vets and pet parents may tell you, one skin condition to be particularly wary of is ringworm, which is unfortunately transmissible between dogs and humans. Alongside medication, washing your dog with Malaseb helps to resolve cases of ringworm. If you suspect your dog may have ringworm, please see your veterinarian to discuss treatment options.

What our customers say: "My dog suffers from environmental allergies. This product is a life saver for my dog as we have tried so many products and nothing worked. He would beso uncomfortable and scratching all the time. After using this product my dog's skin started improving and he wasn't scratching as much. The more I use it the better it got."

What our vets say: "The Malaseb Medicated Shampoo is my top recommendation for a medicated shampoo. It is versatile in its uses for both dogs and cats, with well researched, effective active ingredients to provide antibacterial, antifungal and antipruritic (anti-itch) properties. Despite this, it is still a gentle product suitable to be used on sensitive, delicate skin. It's perfect for pets with skin infections, allergies and dermatitis. It's an easy to use product and I recommend it to my clients all the time!" - Dr. Brittany

For dogs with a heavy flea infestation, Fido's Fre-Itch Concentrate is formulated for a quick knockdown of live fleas in your dog's coat. This is a rinse concentrate that contains a natural insecticide against fleas, as well as ticks, and lice, and it also helps to prevent tick attachment for up to 3 days.

Simply dilute the product before use as per the label instructions and for best results, allow it to dry naturally.

HOWEVER, please keep in mind that flea shampoos and rinses are only a temporary fix; while these products may exhibit some degree of effectiveness against external parasites, these do not prevent them from returning.
This is especially important to remember when dealing with a flea burden as fleas spend most of their life cycle in the environment. If your dog struggles with flea allergy dermatitis, check out our article on How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Dogs for more information.

What our customers say: "Great product.. smells lovely and a terrific final rinse to get rid of fleas and ticks. I have been using this for many years.. I highly recommend this product"

On top of your regular washing and brushing routine, try adding on a detangling spray to keep your dog's fur in tiptop shape! The Melanie Newman Salon Essentials Relax Dog Coat Conditioning Spray is a fantastic product for getting rid of those pesky tangles. It's formulated with a nourishing blend of plant-derived ingredients to condition the coat and keep your dog's fur smooth, shiny, and silky.

This Conditioning Spray also smells amazing, with its special blend of lavender, geranium, and bergamot essential oils that also helps make bath time a calming and soothing experience, especially for puppies or anxious pets. It is also a surprisingly lightweight formula, conditioning your dog's skin and coat without weighing it down.

What our customers say: "This smells absolutely heavenly and organic. It leaves my cavoodles coat so soft and healthy. I highly recommend this spray as a relaxing part of your dog's grooming routine."

For a quick and easy way to freshen up your dog, try out a dry shampoo. Rufus & Coco’s Water Free Wash is a handy powder formula that absorbs odours, excess oil, and helps to keep your dog clean especially if they're not the biggest fan of baths.

Simply apply this powder to various points of your dog's coat, give them a nice massage, and just brush off the excess powder. If your dog tries to have a taste, fret not, it's a non-toxic formula that's safe even when your dog tries to lick off the product.

It's made with natural ingredients and its signature fresh scent is made to be hypoallergenic, making it a fantastic choice for dogs who may be sensitive to certain fragrances in other grooming products.

What our customers say: "I like this product and so does my Staffy. Easy to use and smells nice."