The Best Dog Shampoo Bars of 2024

Grooming isn’t just an extra! It’s essential to the health and well-being of our pooches. Whether you take your dog to a professional groomer or do the grooming yourself, your dog will need to be brushed and shampooed.

If you’re looking for dog shampoo, you’ve probably come across dog shampoo bars. Some dog owners prefer shampoo in this format because it’s better for the environment. While liquid shampoo comes in a plastic bottle and therefore creates waste, a shampoo bar doesn’t need that kind of bulky and wasteful packaging. 

I’ve used shampoo bars on my dog, and I can tell you that as long as you choose a quality bar, it’ll probably work well on your pet. Here I’ll reveal the best dog shampoo bars of 2023, so you can choose the best dog shampoo bar for your canine companion. 

What Are Dog Shampoo Bars?

A shampoo bar is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a shampoo made in the form of a bar, like a bar of soap. I can already hear all my skeptics out there wondering if shampoo bars are really just soap.

No need to worry. Dog shampoo bars are a form of shampoo that is formulated with a dog’s coat in mind. 

Let’s explore the pros and cons of using dog shampoo bars instead of liquid shampoo. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dog Shampoo Bars

Dog shampoo bars have advantages and disadvantages like any other type of grooming product. 

Advantages 

• No bulky plastic bottles.
• Smaller footprint.
• It may come in cardboard packaging.
• Easy to use.
• Often contain natural ingredients.
• Artisan-inspired.

Disadvantages   

• Can be messy.
• More difficult to store after use.
• It may not stay fresh as long.
• You may need to buy a reusable plastic container to store the bar.

No matter what shampoo you choose, ensure that it won’t irritate your dog’s skin before you use it all over his body. You can do this by doing a patch test to ensure it won’t cause skin irritation. 

Best Dog Shampoo Bars This Year

Now that you understand dog shampoo bars and their advantages and disadvantages, it’s time to reveal the best shampoo bars of 2023. 

1. J.R. Liggett’s Shampoo Bar

J.R. Liggett has formulated this dog shampoo bar to soothe itchiness and irritation from sensitive skin. It’s also great for dry skin, so if your dog has that condition, give this shampoo bar a try. 

This shampoo bar is handmade in the United States. It creates a fragrant experience, with rosemary and lavender essential oils. All of the ingredients in this shampoo bar are safe for your dog’s skin.

Two skin-soothing ingredients are colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera. 

Pros

• Gentle and great for sensitive skin.
• Will help with itchy skin.
• Affordable. 
• 100% biodegradable. 
• All natural ingredients.
• Softens the coat. 

Cons

• Small if you have a larger dog.
• Essential oils may cause irritation in some dogs. 

2. KELEBS Natural Calming Oatmeal & Lavender Dog Shampoo Bar with Essential Oils 

With soothing ingredients like oatmeal and lavender, KELEBS is another excellent dog shampoo bar. The oatmeal in this shampoo bar particularly helps to soothe irritated skin. The product also contains coconut oil, which is an intensely moisturizing ingredient.

As a result, this KELEBS shampoo bar is perfect if your pup has dry skin. 

Other moisturizing ingredients in this shampoo include jojoba oil, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and cacao seed butter. When it comes to moisturizing, it’s hard to beat this selection from KELEBS. 

Pros

• Intensely moisturizing. 
• Lavender essential oil adds a light fragrance.
• Contains soothing oatmeal.
• Sulfate-free.
• Vegan.
• Paraben-free.

Cons

• May be too gentle for extreme dirt. 
• May not lather as well as other options. 

3. Honey Sweetie Acres Premium Pet Shampoo Goats Milk Essential Oil Bar

Goat milk has famous skin benefits, and this Honey Sweetie Acres dog shampoo bar has that ingredient in spades. The company founders are dog owners who have had a pet with a skin condition. Their trouble with finding gentle products for their dog with sensitive skin is what motivated them to create this product.

If your pup has skin challenges, you should give this shampoo bar a try. Honey Sweetie Goat Milk Essential Oil dog shampoo bar contains farm-fresh ingredients (from the owners’ farm), and it is made with artisan techniques.

Pros

• It comes in a pack of two bars.
• Artisan made.
• Farm-fresh ingredients, including fresh goat milk. 
• Soothes the skin.
• Good for skin conditions. 

Cons

• Essential oils may irritate some dogs. 

4. Ethique Eco-Friendly Dog Shampoo for Sensitive Dogs

If you’re looking for a vegan dog shampoo bar, this Ethique dog shampoo bar may be a good choice. This shampoo bar comes in cardboard boxes instead of plastic wrap, which is more eco-friendly. 

This Ethique Eco-Friendly shampoo bar for sensitive skin is made with the correct pH balance. It is an excellent choice for dogs with sensitive skin and skin conditions. 

Pros

• 100 soap-free. 
• Cardboard packaging.
• Palm oil-free.
• It gives your dog a shiny and soft coat. 

Cons

• You may not like the scent. 
• It may not be moisturizing enough. 

5. WashBar Natural Dog Soap Bar – Natural Dog Shampoo Bar

This citrus-scented dog shampoo bar comes in eco-friendly cardboard packaging. You can order a single bar or a two pack for better value. This dog shampoo bar is specifically formulated with anti-itch ingredients to suit dogs with sensitive and itchy skin.  

Another advantage of this WashBar Natural dog shampoo bar is that it comes with a money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the product, contact the company within 30 days.

Pros

• Natural ingredients.
• Sulfate-free.
• Good for itching. 
• Comes in cardboard packaging. 

Cons

• It may irritate extremely sensitive skin. 
• It may be too harsh for thin coats. 

Final Thoughts

Not all dog grooming products are gentle on the skin. After all, not all dogs have the same type of skin. So when you buy shampoo for your dog, you must think about your dog’s specific coat needs and possible skin conditions. 

Luckily, dog shampoo bars like the ones on this list are typically made with natural ingredients, so they are easier on the skin. As an added benefit, dog shampoo bars aren’t packaged in plastic bottles, they create less environmental waste than liquid shampoo.