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6 Best Puppy Shampoos 2024 Update

Welcoming a puppy into your home is an exciting time, but it’s also a serious undertaking. Like human babies, puppies require extensive care and attention to be safe and healthy.

One element of puppy caretaking that owners typically don’t think of right away is bathing. Regularly cleaning your dog is essential to preventing skin infections and matted fur. While you may already be familiar with bathing an adult dog, washing a puppy is a bit more involved.

best puppy shampoo
6 Best Puppy Shampoos Update

To help, we’ve put together a guide on the best puppy shampoos for 2023. These shampoos cover a broad price range and feature ingredients that keep your puppy’s fur soft and shiny and their skin clean and healthy. Read on to learn more about the best puppy shampoo options.

Best Puppy Shampoos for 2023

Washing a puppy requires extra care, but many great dog shampoos work well for puppies. The following dog shampoos have natural ingredients that are gentle and effective at cleaning, making them some of the best puppy shampoos for 2023.

1. Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs—Oatmeal Formula with Coconut Lime Verbena

Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs with the Oatmeal Formula is one of the best puppy shampoos currently available. Like several of the shampoos on this list, this Wahl shampoo utilizes oatmeal as a key ingredient.

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09/09/2024 02:23 am GMT

So, why is oatmeal a good ingredient in puppy shampoos? Oatmeal has natural anti-inflammatory properties, which can help alleviate your puppy’s irritated or itchy skin. Oatmeal can also help moisturize your puppy’s fur and can potentially help with fleas and ticks.

Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Pet Shampoo earned a spot in this list mainly by having a higher concentration of cleansing ingredients than other competitors, meaning you can use a smaller amount of shampoo and get the same cleansing results. The higher concentration makes a bottle of Wahl shampoo a fantastic price performer. The company estimates that you can make a bottle of their shampoo last 70% longer than other brands.

Pros

  • Alcohol-free.
  • Paraben-free.
  • Larger bottles with greater ingredient concentration than most brands.

Cons

  • Not as moisturizing as other brands.
  • Has a scent and some FDA-approved color dyes, which may irritate a dog with allergies.
Poodle taking a bath
A Poodle puppy having a bath!

2. Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs

Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs is a great puppy shampoo if you have a smelly pup. This shampoo neutralizes odors and has a subtle but pleasant oatmeal and aloe scent.

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09/30/2024 12:30 pm GMT

This shampoo is an oatmeal shampoo that contains colloidal oatmeal, which signifies that the oatmeal in the shampoo has all of the active ingredients that help soothe skin irritation. Nature’s Miracle Shampoo also has aloe vera, a fantastic natural moisturizer that will keep your puppy’s fur soft and shiny.

Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo is particularly gentle, making it ideal for young puppies trying out shampoo for the first time. The shampoo formula only uses mild surfactants, plant-based ingredients, and other safe additives. This shampoo has no dyes or drying alcohols.

Pros

  • Neutralizes odors without using a strong or irritating scent.
  • Large containers make products last longer.
  • Contains colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B5 for healthy skin and fur.

Cons

  • Gentle soap may not be effective for fleas or other serious skin infections.
  • The minimal scent may not fully eliminate odors for puppies with a significantly strong stink.
Golden Retriever puppies outside
Five Golden Retriever puppies bathed in a large basin.

3. Burt’s Bees for Dogs Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

You may already love Burt’s Bees products for humans, but did you know they also make fantastic dog shampoo? Burt’s Bees for Dogs Oatmeal Shampoo is a cruelty-free dog shampoo that uses only the safest and healthiest ingredients.

This natural dog shampoo is one of the best puppy shampoos because it has no concerning ingredients that could potentially cause irritation or allergic reactions. Burt’s Bees for Dogs Oatmeal Shampoo is free of sulfates, fragrances, and dyes and features naturally moisturizing and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as oatmeal and honey.

Burt’s Bees is an excellent brand for dog shampoo if you are taking care of a young puppy with soft, newborn skin. Sulfates can be very harsh on sensitive skin, and it’s fairly rare to find a dog shampoo that doesn’t use them. Furthermore, the plant-based ingredients in the shampoo will help nourish your puppy’s skin and fur as they develop.

Pros

  • Sulfate-free, fragrance-free, colorant-free, and cruelty-free.
  • Natural ingredients such as green tea extract and honey will support your puppy’s health. 
  • Comes in many sizes, including a 128-ounce container. 

Cons

  • Can’t effectively rinse out topical treatments, such as tick treatments.
  • Unscented shampoo won’t cover up any wet dog smells.
Havanese in external bathtub
Havanese will take a bath in an external bathtub.

4. Honest Paws 5-in-1 Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

Honest Paws 5-in-1 Dog Shampoo and Conditioner is another plant-based shampoo that deserves a spot on the list of best puppy shampoos. This dog shampoo is made almost entirely with plant-based ingredients and serves five hygiene functions: cleansing, conditioning, moisturizing, detangling, and deodorizing.

The Honest Paws shampoo and conditioner is a smart option for puppy shampoo if you want a shampoo that can be efficient and effective without using harsh chemicals. This shampoo uses surfactants made from coconut and palm oil and nourishing ingredients such as aloe and oatmeal extracts. Additionally, Honest Paws dog shampoo has no sulfates or paraben, ensuring a healthy bathtime for your pup.

If your puppy has long hair, this shampoo might be your best choice. The detangling and moisturizing properties of this shampoo will make bathing easier and, therefore, less stressful for your dog. Plus, a thorough detangling while washing decreases the chance of getting matted fur between baths.

Pros

  • Cleanses and moisturizes at the same time.
  • Plant-based ingredients.
  • Sulfate-free and paraben-free.

Cons

  • Not as moisturizing as a traditional conditioner.
  • Ingredients may irritate allergy-prone puppies.
Bichon Maltese face and head wash
Bichon Maltese face and head wash during bath time!

5. Cloud Star Buddy Wash Shampoo and Conditioner

If you are looking for a dog shampoo that has simple ingredients rather than long-winded chemistry lingo, consider Cloud Star Buddy Wash Shampoo and Conditioner. Buddy Wash features plant-based ingredients exclusively that anyone would recognize and understand, such as coconut, lavender, and tea tree oil.

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09/20/2024 06:56 pm GMT

Since Buddy Wash is a combination shampoo and conditioner, it is formulated to have both cleansing and moisturizing properties. Additionally, Buddy Wash contains natural deodorizing agents.

Buddy Wash is the best puppy shampoo for you if you want to give your puppy a luxurious and soothing bathtime experience. This shampoo’s fragrances are not only pleasant for humans but also work as aromatherapy to help your dog relax. Scents such as mint, lavender, and tea tree oil will surely help a nervous puppy get through their first time using shampoo.

Pros

  • Plant-based ingredients.
  • Soothing scents that deodorize and relax your dog.

Cons

  • Some dogs can be allergic to certain plant ingredients, particularly tea tree oil.
  • Deodorizing effects may not be as long-lasting as shampoos that use harsh chemicals.
Husky puppy bath time
Siberian Husky puppy having a bath with a foamy shampoo!

6. TropiClean Lime and Coconut Shed Control Shampoo for Pets

TropiClean Lime and Coconut Shed Control Shampoo is a great dog shampoo if your puppy has irritated skin and frequently sheds fur. This shampoo formula focuses on exfoliating and nourishing the skin to encourage healthy fur growth and decrease excessive shedding.

TropiClean Lime and Coconut Shed Control Shampoo use soothing, plant-based ingredients with a fun tropical scent, including extracts from fruits such as papaya, lime, and pomegranate. This dye-free and sulfate-free shampoo will keep your puppy’s skin clean, soft, and moisturized.

Pros

  • Exfoliates and cleanses skin without using soap.
  • Fruit-based ingredients create a pleasant scent and are safe to use on puppies.

Cons

  • The scent is mild and won’t work as a long-term deodorizer.
  • Does not lather as well as soap-based shampoos.
wet Labradoodle inside the bathroom
A wet Labradoodle just finished shampoo rinse inside the bathroom.

Frequently Asked Questions About Puppy Shampoo

Before diving into which shampoos are best for your puppy, it helps to have background knowledge. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about puppy shampoo and how to clean a puppy.

shampoo bottle
Getting shampoo in an orange bottle.

Do puppies need puppy shampoo?

Yes, puppies benefit from shampoo formulated for young dogs. Puppies have softer fur and more sensitive skin than older dogs and thus need gentle shampoos that can cleanse their skin and fur without irritating them.

At what age can puppies use dog shampoo?

According to the American Kennel Club, puppies don’t need shampoo until they are three months old. Before a puppy is three months old, all they need is warm water and gentle rubbing with a towel. Avoid getting puppies younger than two months fully wet since they can’t regulate their body temperature well and can easily get cold.

How often should a puppy be bathed?

You should bathe your puppy once a month. Cleaning your dog regularly will help eliminate dirt and grease, detangle their fur, and prevent infections or skin problems.

Although bathing your dog too frequently can dry out their skin and might stress them out if they dislike getting washed, a steady routine of monthly baths should keep your pup clean and comfortable.

Can I use human shampoo on a puppy?

Never use human shampoo on a puppy or any dog, for that matter. Humans and dogs have different natural pH levels, and the two types of shampoo are formulated to match each of them respectively. Human shampoo can cause your dog to have significant skin irritation, especially if it is a young puppy with soft, sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

You may need to experiment with different products as you figure out which shampoos and conditioners work best for your young puppy. Overall, your puppy should be fine as long as you stick to shampoos with natural ingredients and no aggressive cleansing chemicals.

We hope this guide to the best puppy shampoos helps you on your journey of taking care of your new furry friend.