What Is the Best Shampoo for Puppies?
Because nothing is cuter than a puppy bath.

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In This Article:
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Safe Dog Shampoo Best Puppy Shampoo Options Types of Dog Shampoos Why Different Dogs Need Different Shampoos How to Give a Puppy a Bath Frequently Asked Questions
There’s an entire social media video genre devoted to pet parents begging, pleading, chasing, and carrying pups into the bath. No matter how much your puppy might otherwise enjoy the water, bath time carries a lot of dread for the vast majority of dogs. Not that we really blame them — sometimes, we really don’t want to drag ourselves into the shower either after an exhausted and sweaty workout class.
But hey, sometimes they roll in goose poop, and you don’t want that in your bed, on your couches, and any other soft surface they enjoy, A great way to get your puppy conditioned to baths is to get them started when they’re young. Note: There is no guarantee that your puppy will ever love to get wet and covered in shampoo, but you can at least try.
Now that you’ve decided to give your puppies baths at home, you might be wondering what you should clean them with. That’s what we’re here to help with, because we can’t help you physically try to keep your wet, slippery puppy inside the tub. We’ll explain what you should look for in puppy shampoos and which ones are the best.
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Factors to consider when selecting a puppy shampoo
Puppies are new to the world and haven’t developed all of the defenses that adult dogs have yet. They require shampoos tailored to their specific needs. Below, we’ve listed some shampoo attributes you should look for when you’re shopping.
Gentle formula
Puppies have more sensitive skin and fur, so pet parents should look for shampoos that have non-irritating and gentle ingredients, such as aloe and oat. Both of which are soothing. You should also look out for shampoos that claim to be hydrating for the skin.
pH balanced
Your puppy’s skin and fur is already balanced by the oil their skin produces. Harsh shampoos can strip their skin and fur of this natural oil, leaving it dry or even damaged. When you’re reading the product description or ingredients’ list on the back of a shampoo bottle, look for the phrase “pH balanced.” That means your dog’s skin oils likely won’t be affected by the shampoo.
Safe ingredients
Dogs, but especially puppies, can’t use bathing products meant for humans. These can contain essential oils, which can be harmful to dogs, especially puppies who are smaller and more sensitive to these unsafe ingredients. Always pick a shampoo for your puppy that contains safe ingredients.
Best puppy shampoo options
Best overall puppy shampoo
Best soothing puppy shampoo for sensitive skin
Best deodorizing puppy shampoo
Best conditioning puppy shampoo
Best budget-friendly puppy shampoo
Types of dog shampoos
We included soothing, deodorizing, and conditioning shampoos in our round-up. Some puppies have extra sensitive skin right out of the gate and need formulas that will soothe any irritation. Or, maybe you have a puppy who insists on rolling around or getting into the grossest messes that leave them smelling, er, pungent. If that’s the case, you’ll need a deodorizing shampoo in your bathroom. Other puppies might have rough coats that need a little extra TLC, which is why they are better suited to conditioning shampoos.
Why different dogs need different shampoos
Just like you and your best friend need different shampoos for your hair types, this is also the case with puppies. Each pup is going to have different needs — some puppies have skin allergies while others require a deeper scrub because they like to get dirty. You should examine your puppy’s skin and fur to determine what shampoo they might need. For example, if they have dandruff, you’re better suited with a soothing shampoo that’ll help moisturize their skin.
How to give a puppy a bath
1. Prepare the bathing area.
Unless you want to see every item on your bathtub shelf get knocked into the water, we recommend clearing every bottle, brush, and bar of soap out of the tub. Clear out anything in the bathroom that you don’t want them running into and knocking over — e.g., your toilet paper holder. Getting a puppy into and out of a bath is going to be a workoutm and you don’t want any collateral damage.
2. Use water temperature and pressure.
Make sure that you fill up the tub with lukewarm water, and use low pressure if you’re rinsing them off with the showerhead. You want the bath to be as calming of an experience as possible. When in doubt, the water should be cooler rather than warmer. You don’t want to cause your puppy pain or irritate their skin barrier. Ensure that your pup can stand comfortably in the water. As cute as swimming is, it’ll be very stressful for them.
3. Apply shampoo and rinse.
Dog shampoo, even puppy shampoo, is super concentrated and should be diluted. This is true even if your shampoo bottle doesn’t say that it’s concentrated. “If you don’t dilute the shampoo, you’ll never get it completely rinsed out. The industry-average dilution rate is 16 to one, but you can just eyeball it,” professional groomer Robyn Michaels told us in 2020. “You want just enough suds to tell you when you’ve covered the whole dog. If you want to really get the dog clean, brush the shampoo through their coat. This covers every hair, gets out some of the smaller tangles you might have missed, and removes the loose stuff.”
When you’re done shampooing, make sure to thoroughly rinse all of the suds. Otherwise, they could irritate your puppy’s skin.
4. Dry and get ready for post-bath grooming
Like with bathing, the earlier you introduce your puppy to the concept of the blow-dryer, the better. Make sure that you use a low-heat and low-power setting. Make sure to tell your pup how amazing they’re doing and give them treats during the process. If you’re choosing not to blow-dry your pup, take extra care to make sure their ears, armpits, and other areas that’ll retain water are towel-dried thoroughly.
Common puppy-bathing mistakes to avoid
It’s really important to make sure the water is shallow and that the tub isn’t slippery. If you have a silicone tub mat, we recommend making sure it’s in. Your pup will be trying their hardest to get out. Ensure that you keep all human products out of their reach — it would be best if they were completely out of the tub — so they don’t ingest anything. Make sure to reward your puppy with treats and praise for doing a great job to acclimate them to the bathtime experience.
FAQs
How often do you bathe a puppy?
It depends! If your pup is prone to mats or has oily skin, they should get a bath every four to six weeks. Dogs who have less oily skin (and don’t get into any muddy messes) can go six to 12 weeks before needing a bath. Check out our grooming guide for more info.
What is the best dog shampoo?
Our best overall dog shampoo is Burt’s Bees Tear-Free Puppy Shampooopens in new tab.
What are safe dog shampoos?
Dog-safe shampoos are shampoos that are formulated specifically for puppies and dogs. You should never use a shampoo meant for humans on dogs — it contains fragrances and lot of ingredients that are not safe for dogs.

Rebecca Caplan
Rebecca Caplan is a writer based in Brooklyn whose work has been featured in The New Yorker, Reductress, and Vulture. She lives in Brooklyn with her perfect, toothless dog Moose.

Alicia Kort
Alicia Kort is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Esquire, InStyle, Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, Parade Home & Garden, Newsweek, Interview, Brooklyn magazine, and more. In her free time, she runs, reads, and spends time with her dog-nieces, Maya and Lady, and her cat-niece, Pepper. In her work, she focuses on pet behavior, pet-friendly spaces, and the lifestyle commerce space.
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