Best Puppy Shampoo: Top Picks for Sensitive Skin and More · Kinship

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What Is the Best Shampoo for Puppies?

Because nothing is cuter than a puppy bath.

by Rebecca Caplan and Alicia Kort
Updated October 2, 2025
bearded man gives his puppy a bath
Samantha Gehrmann / Stocksy

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.

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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.

Main takeaways

  • Puppies will need to be bathed if they’re dirty, otherwise it depends on the type of coat they have. 

  • Just like with human babies, there are shampoos specifically formulated for puppies. You should use a puppy shampoo instead of a regular dog shampoo until they leave the puppy stage. 

  • We break down what factors you should look for in a puppy shampoo and the best options out there.

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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

Burt's Bee's puppy shampoo
  • This 2-in-1 puppy shampoo and conditioner is an Amazon favorite and a 2-in-1 we can get behind. It is made up of 95 percent natural ingredients and includes soothing and moisturizing ingredients like buttermilk, linseed oil, and honey. This shampoo is also described by Burt’s Bees as pH balanced. Plus, it doesn’t contain any sulfates, parabens, or harsh chemicals. If you have a puppy with dry, itchy skin, this is a good choice. 

  • What we like: It’s a tear-less and low-lather formula.

  • What we don't like: Some reviewers say that you have to use a lot of shampoo to get the puppy clean. 

  • Who it’s best for: It’s for puppies. This shampoo also benefits puppies with skin issues.

Best soothing puppy shampoo for sensitive skin 

Oater Coater Fridays Dog
  • If your puppy skin seems extra sensitive or they’re battling some kind of skin allergy or aliment, this soothing oatmeal formula (with additional baking soda, camelina oil, moringa oil, marshmallow root and green tea), will help soothe any of that itchiness.

  • What we like: That reviewers say their dog’s coat seems softer after their baths and that it is gentle enough for frequent baths (this isn’t recommended for puppies, but you can’t control how often they’ll get into a mess that requires one). 

  • What we don’t like: It is a bit pricey at $23 per bottle (grab it whenever you see it’s on sale!), which makes sense because it’s tailored to sensitive skin, but it is a little steep if you’re giving your puppy baths regularly. 

  • Who it’s recommended for: It’s for puppies and for adult dogs with sensitive skin and allergies. One reviewer even said she is able to go longer between her pup’s allergy shots because she’s bathing her with this product.


Zesty Paws Dog Shampoo with Oatmeal & Aloe Vera
  • The Zesty Paws shampoo targets itchy pups of all ages who have brittle fur and a tendency to overshed. The shampoo contains gentle ingredients like oatmeal, aloe vera, and vitamin E. The formula also has vitamin C, which will help target and relieve hot spots. 

  • What we like: That this shampoo has some antioxidants, as well as skin-calming ingredients, like aloe and oatmeal, to help pups with acute moist dermatitis, aka hot spots. 

  • What we don’t like: This formula is vanilla-scented, and though this might make your dog smell better, fragrances can be irritating to dogs. We’re surprised to see a fragrance associated with a gentle formula. 

  • Who it’s best for: This is made for all types of dogs, including puppies.

Best deodorizing puppy shampoo 

Earthbath Deodorizing Dog Shampoo
  • The Earthbath Deodorizing Shampoo is a coconut-based bath product that also contains rosemary. In addition to disappearing any unpleasant odors, the Earthbath shampoo is designed to soothe itchy skin. This shampoo is also paraben- and phosphate-free. 

  • What we like: If you’ve got a stinky pup, this shampoo is specifically designed to erase that smell, though it isn’t so stripping that it’ll undo the effectiveness of any topical flea treatments, for example. 

  • What we don’t like: This shampoo is scented with rosemary, and though that is natural, we prefer when puppy shampoos are unscented. Fragrances can be irritating. 

  • Who it’s best for: Puppies and kittens over the age of six weeks old.

CHI Tearless Puppy Shampoo
  • This shampoo is perfect for those wriggly puppies who refuse to stay put for bathtime and inadvertently get shampoo in their eyes. The CHI Tearless Puppy shampoo contains silk protein, aloe vera, honey, chamomile extract, and vitamin E. It’s also free of parabens and sulfates.

  • What we like: We like that this shampoo is packed with gentle ingredients that’ll both cleanse and moisturize your pup’s coat. 

  • What we don’t like: This deodorizing shampoo does contain fragrance. 

  • Who it’s best for: This shampoo is meant for puppies eight weeks and older.

Best conditioning puppy shampoo

Rufus & Coco 2in1 Wash Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner
  • The Rufus & Coco shampoo and conditioner combo is made with coconut — not soap — along with hydrolyzed wheat proteins and starches and panthenol, which helps condition and strengthen each individual hair on your pup’s coat. It’s a pH-balanced formula that’s free from sulfates, parabens, and oxylates.

  • What we like: We appreciate that this formula is hypoallergenic and doesn’t include allergenic fragrances. 

  • What we don’t like: Some reviewers cite that the formula feels thin and their puppies don’t smell great after their baths. 

  • Who it’s best for: Puppies, especially if they suffer from allergies. 

BioSilk Therapy Tearless Puppy Shampoo
  • The BioSilk Therapy puppy shampoo might not technically be a conditioner, but reviewers rave about how soft and smooth their pup’s fur is after a bath. It contains silk protein, soy protein, milk protein, aloe vera, honey, chamomile, and Vitamin E. Plus, this pH-balanced formula will give your pup a tear-free bathing experience.

  • What we like: We like that this shampoo does not disrupt flea and tick topical treatments. 

  • What we don’t like: This shampoo does contain fragrance, so if your dog’s skin is extra sensitive, we suggest going for another option on this list. 

  • Who it’s best for: This product is made for puppies.

Best budget-friendly puppy shampoo

Arm & Hammer Coconut Water Puppy Shampoo
  • A puppy shampoo doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective and safe. The Arm & Hammer tear-free shampoo is made of water, coconut, olive leaf extract, jojoba seed oil, and oat protein extract. It’s a tearless, pH-balanced formula that’s free from sulfates and parabens. 

  • What we like: That this formula costs just $8, making it an affordable find for pet parents. 

  • What we don’t like: Folks who are looking for tear-free may also want fragrance-free for sensitive pups, and this shampoo does have a slight scent.

  • Who it’s best for: It’s for puppies and for adult dogs with sensitive skin and allergies.

Bio-Groom Fluffy Puppy Tear-Free Shampoo
  • The Bio-Groom tear-free shampoo is designed not only to clean your pup’s coat but also give them a fluffy coat. The pH-balanced shampoo has a fur-strengthening soy protein and is also composed of corn and coconut oil. It doesn’t contain any soaps and parabens.

  • What we like: That you can buy a gallon-size version of this shampoo instead of ordering many small shampoo bottles. 

  • What we don’t like: Some reviewers say that the product has spilled during the shipping process. And other pet parents say that this shampoo was drying on their puppy’s fur and skin. 

  • Who it’s best for: It’s made for both puppies and kittens.

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 Shampoo

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

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 with cat

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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