Best Dog Shampoos UK | Puppy Shampoo | Smart Bark (2023)

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A great dog shampoo is your secret weapon for keeping your four-legged friend looking and smelling their best.

Choosing the right shampoo for your dog is essential as it will not only keep their coat in tip top condition, but help deal with underlying dry and itchy skin conditions, dandruff and even fleas.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Buying Advice for Dog Shampoo

How to Choose the Best Shampoo for your Dog

Our Picks of the Best Dog Shampoo for 2022

Top Tips for Bathing your Pooch

Frequently Asked Questions

Buying Advice for Dog Shampoo

Dog shampoos are big business. With 33 per cent of UK households owning a dog post- pandemic, grooming product sales have exploded and the upmarket beauty brands have sat up and taken notice.

So how do you know that you are buying a good quality shampoo for your four-legged friend?

The first thing to say is that this isn't a 'one size fits all' answer. There's no single shampoo which is best for all dogs or all situations. Dogs shampoos are as different as the dogs themselves.

Ideally you should look out for a shampoo with ingredients known to be sensitive to skin and reduce any unwanted irritation. All of the shampoos featured in our Top 10 are kind to dogs.

Ultimately, it's down to you to buy a shampoo suitable for your dog’s coat and colour whilst dealing with any problems they may suffer from. So before you decide to buy a shampoo consider your dog's individual needs.

We've compiled this buying guide to help you choose the shampoo features which are most important to you and your four-legged friend. We also offer a selection of shampoos which will fit the bill.

How to Choose the Best Shampoo for your Dog

If you're struggling to choose a shampoo for your pampered pooch, here are a few points to consider :

Problem Skin

If your dog suffers with dry or itchy skin, they're sensitive or prone to allergies, take a look at the natural dog shampoos which avoid adding harsh chemicals and ensure their shampoos are pH balanced for dogs.

Type of Coat

A labrador coat is very different from a poodle's coat and they need to be treated as such. Some shampoos have been specifically formulated with coat types in mind.

Colour of Coat

Very pale or white coats can always benefit from a specifically formulated whitening shampoo. These shampoos are great at removing tear stains and can keep that pale fur shining bright.

Foam

Everyone loves lots of foam as it makes us feel our dogs are super clean. However, the more foam created, the more time it takes to rinse.

Reduced foam shampoos are aimed at making the whole process quicker which might be perfect if your dog hates bathing.

To keep your pampered pooch happy, clean and smelling gorgeous, here are the best dog and puppy shampoos in the UK for 2022.

Our Picks of the Best Dog Shampoo for 2022

1. Best Overall Dog Shampoo

Groom Professional Baby Fresh Shampoo

We rate Groom Professional Baby Fresh the best dog shampoo for most dogs. In testing we found that it is the best smelling with a totally gorgeous baby powder scent which lasts for several days. It also lathers gentle on the skin and deep cleans.

Groom Professional shampoo is ideal if your dog loves to roll around in the mud or splash in stinky puddles.

A firm favourite with dog groomers everywhere and Freddie our cockapoo, we found when testing that it deep cleans, leaving a soft felling and fresh smelling coat.

Made in the UK, it's crafted with moisturising aloe vera so is gentle enough for you to use once a week to cater for seriously muddy dog walks.

The truth is that this is a great all-round shampoo if your dog doesn't have any specific needs or allergies. It works particularly well on double coats and smelly dogs.

We found that it does take some work to get the shampoo to lather, but don't be tricked into adding more, a little really does go a long way.

Available in three different sizes so you can try it out without investing too much with the smallest 250ml bottle or save money by bulk buying a 4lt bottle. Dog conditioners are also available.

Specifications

Coat Type - All

Scent - Long Lasting

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Amazing smell

+ Great general shampoo

+ Range of bottle sizes

+ Great value

Reasons to Avoid

- Doesn't cater for specific skin issues

- Needs work to lather

Buying Options

2. Best Shampoo for Poodles

Choca-Doodle 2-1 Shampoo by Groomers

In a recent survey dog groomers stated that 47% of the dogs they groom are poodles or doodles.

So if you have a cockapoo, labradoodle, cavapoo or poochon, the Choca-Doodle dog bathing range has been designed for you.

These shampoos and conditioners from Groomers have been developed specifically for poodle-crosses which have super fluffy and dense coats.

We recommend their shampoo as it's designed for dog hair that stands proud from the skin and it rinses really easily.

Anyone with a doodle will know how time-consuming rinsing can be. During testing we found that Coca-Doodle rinsed really easily, speeding up the whole bathing process and left a gorgeous sweet chocolate orange fragrance.

It's worth mentioning that although the bottle seems small, the shampoo should be diluted before use, so this small bottle lasts a long time.

The Choca-Doodle range also includes a Conditioner and Comb Thru Spray which you can use in combination with the shampoo or use the spray between grooms.

Specifications

Coat Type - Poodle type

Scent - Long Lasting

Dilute - Yes

Reasons to Buy

+ Ideal for dense coats

+ Easy to rinse

+ Gorgeous scent

Reasons to Avoid

- Dogs with double coats

Buying Options

3. Best Luxury Shampoo for Dogs

Ouai Fur Bébé’ Pet Shampoo

If you’re prepared to fork out a little more on a dog shampoo then take a look at Ouai. Ouai are a french company renowned for their human range of beautifully chic hair products. Co-founded by hairstylist Jen Atkin, who has tended to the tresses of stars including supermodel Gigi Hadid and pop star Gwen Stefani.

Earlier this year they brought our their Fur Bébé shampoo so your dog can look effortlessly chic too!

The vegan formulation is full of gentle but super powerful ingredients to hydrate and moisturise your pooch's coat and skin.

Free from nasties, it smells of their Mercer St signature fragrance - with Italian lemon, iris, white musk, lily, jasmine sambac and Turkish rose for some super sweet cuddles.

It even contains panthenol to soften and increase coat shine. Sounds good enough to use myself ...

Although it's on the pricey side, it's a big bottle holding nearly 1/2 litre of shampoo and the specially designed lid stops you wasting any shampoo too.

Available from Cult Beauty so you can add it to your own beauty product order or (at the time of writing) available at John Lewis

Specifications

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Long Lasting

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Luxurious scent

+ Moisturising

+ Luxury option

Reasons to Avoid

- A bit pricey

Buying Options

4. Best Shampoo for Puppies

WildWash Natural Puppy Shampoo

If you've recently welcomed a puppy to your family and are searching for a suitable shampoo, we recommend WildWash Pro Dog as it's been specifically formulated with your little fluff-ball in mind.

We love that WildWash have formulated their puppy shampoo to give a light lather and rinse easily. This is essential for a puppy shampoo as keeping the little wrigglers in one place can be tricky.

Puppies have delicate and often more sensitive skin than adult dogs, so they need a much milder shampoo.

This simple shampoo is also fragrance free and pH balanced to avoid any adverse reactions.

We love that all the WildWash products are natural and their puppy shampoo has a low-irritant formula enriched with aloe vera and evening primrose oils for their mild cleansing properties.

The shampoo is concentrated so you'll need to dilute it before use. Simple add a couple of pumps to a jug of warm water and mix well before use. If you're interested, WildWash also offer a 1 Litre mixing bottle to make their shampoo even easier to use.

WildWash suggest leaving the shampoo on your puppy's coat for 5 minutes to help the essential oils work their wonders.

Available in 300ml bottles from an extensive range of products including Pro Detangle spray for matted fur.

Specifications

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Subtle

Dilute - Yes

Reasons to Buy

+ Mild for puppy coats

+ Easy to rinse

+ All natural

Reasons to Avoid

- Needs diluting before use

- Unscented

Buying Options

5. Best Dog Shampoo for Dandruff

The Healthy Dog Co. All Natural Shampoo

If your dog's coat is prone to matting or they suffer with dandruff then this is definitely the shampoo for you.

These shampoos from the Healthy Dog Company aim to work at softening the coat make it easier to brush through.

Ideal for breeds with curly hair that are prone to matting and tangle all too easily.

Their natural dog shampoo has some amazing reviews from customers with dogs prone to dandruff and dry skin.

It's worth noting though that because it is natural, it is quite a watery consistency and doesn't produce a lot of lather easily.

Don't be tempted to add more and more shampoo, it's designed to give a light lather and rinses really easily so great for dogs that want you to keep that bathing routine super quick. It smelt fresh with coconut oil, jojoba oil and lemongrass oil.

Specifications

Coat Type - Matting prone

Scent - Subtle

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ All natural

+ Great for dandruff

+ Easy to rinse

Reasons to Avoid

- Temptation to add more

6. Best Shampoo for White Dogs

Wahl Diamond White

There are lots of shampoos available on the market that are enhanced with ingredients to make your white or pale pooch’s coat gleam.

These purple shampoos work in a similar way to our human purple shampoos for blonde highlights!

If you are looking for a whitening shampoo we recommend Diamond White by Wahl.

Crafted by a globally known company, it's designed to enhance lighter coats and remove any staining from mud or tears.

Featuring white enhancers which aim to revitalise and boost the natural pigmentation of your dog's coat.

Plus, it helps to moisturises and leaves fur soft to touch. The smell is not unpleasant just very subtle.

If you're interested Wahl Diamond White can be used on dogs with multi-coloured coats as it won't lighten black or brown fur.

Specifications

Coat Type - White coats

Scent - Subtle

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Ideal for white coats

+ Ideal for tear-stains

+ Great value

Reasons to Avoid

- Light scent

Buying Options

7. Best Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin

Pro Pooch Hydrating Shampoo

If your dog suffers with allergies or is sensitive to any ingredients, consider a natural dog shampoo, which excludes any chemical ingredients that could potentially worsen sensitive skin.

The main ingredients that can cause irritation in dogs are parabens, artificial fragrances and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

We love Pro Pooch's Hydrating formula because it's free from alcohol, perfumes and enzymes so definitely fits the bill if your dog has sensitive skin.

Whilst it's mild and hypo-allergenic it combines oatmeal, pro-vitamin B5 and aloe, some proven powerful natural ingredients to clean your dogs coat whilst offering itchy skin some much needed relief. It should sooth with every lather.

Like many of the other shampoos featured, dilute before use and to achieve the most from the anti-itch properties, leave on your dogs coat for a few minutes before rinsing.

Amazing reviews from some very happy dog parents and their dogs.

Specifications

Coat Type - All types inc. itchy skin

Scent - Subtle

Dilute - Yes

Reasons to Buy

+ Ideal for sensitive skin

+ Easy to lather and rinse

+ No 'nasties'

Reasons to Avoid

- Needs diluting before use

8. Best Dog Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

Vet's Best Dog Shampoo

If your dog suffers with sensitive and dry skin then this is the pick for you. Vet's Best Hypoallergenic aloe vera shampoo is great at rebalancing their skin's moisture levels gently.

We recommend Vet's Best because they've been creating products to comfort and protect your dog for over 20 years.

They have an unquestionable expertise when it comes to dog shampoos!

Their vet formulated shampoo has been crafted to be pH balanced, gentle and completely soap free so can be used as often as you need to remove allergens from your dog's coat.

As with the other shampoos featured in our top 10, massage the shampoo for 3 - 5 minutes to achieve the best results.

This shampoo can be used alongside some of their other treatments aimed at sensitive skin such as the Moisture Mist or their Best Ear relief Wash & Dry.

Specifications

Coat Type - Sensitive

Scent - No

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Vet formulated

+ Use as often as you need

+ Free from 'nasties'

Reasons to Buy

- No lasting scent

Buying Options

9. Best Dog Flea Shampoo

Cooper & Gracie

Whilst you’ll find a wide range of flea treatment medicines for dogs on the market such as Frontline or Nexgard, you could opt to use a natural flea shampoo in addition to one of your topical or tablet anti-flea treatment.

Copper & Gracie's organic flea shampoo is a best-selling natural flea and tick shampoo.

As you probably guessed, their organic dog shampoo uses natural ingredients (lavender, chamomile, avocado, coconut, almond and oatmeal) to wash away fleas and ticks stubbornly clinging to your dog. It can even help calm other insect bites.

But it doesn't stop there! We love this dog flea shampoo because it continues to work between shampoos to repel fleas and helps to soothe and calm any existing irritation caused by scratching.

Dog flea shampoos tend to be slightly more expensive than standard shampoos but Cooper & Gracie's is great value.

A little goes a long way, so after adding a small amount to your dog's wet coat ( no need to dilute), lather well then leave for a couple of minutes before rinsing.

Specifications

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Limited

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Designed for fleas and ticks

+ Repels fleas between washes

+ Helps calm skin irritation

Reasons to Avoid

- No lasting scent

- Pricier than non-flea shampoos

10. Best Deep Cleaning Shampoo for Dogs

Animology Fox Poo

If you have a 'roller' then you've already discovered the amazing scent of fox poo. The scent is so bad that Animology decided fox poo warranted it's very own shampoo!

Specially formulated, this shampoo is created to not only remove fox poo from your dog's coat but to remove the very persistent bad smell it leaves behind.

We love this shampoo because it does exactly what it says on the tin and the customer reviews back that up.

The scent left on your dog's coat (their signature fragrance) is mild but pleasant although it doesn't last long.

If you're wondering about using it on a dog with sensitive skin then the shampoo itself is fairly mild and can be used on puppies from 6 weeks.

So if fox poo is your dog's idea of Chanel No.5 ( or the poo of any other animals including sheep, duck, badger and cow poo) - definitely take a look at Animology.

Specifications

Coat Type - All types

Scent - Mild

Dilute - No

Reasons to Buy

+ Award winning formula

+ Great value

+ Mild for sensitive skins

Reasons to Avoid

- Scent not long lasting

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Buying Options

Top Tips for Bathing your Pooch

Here's are a few handy hints and tips on bathing your pooch :-

✅ Brush before bathing.

✅ Don't be tempted to add more shampoo. Some dog shampoos are designed for limited foam so they are easier to rinse. This allows for speedy bath times and reduces the chance of any shampoo remaining on your dog after the bath.

✅ Check if the shampoo needs diluting. If so, prepare ahead of your dog's bath with a jug or better still a water bottle (easy to shake and mix).

✅ Always leave the shampoo on your dog's coat for a few minutes before rinsing. This enables the ingredients and essential oils time to clean and moisturise your dog's coat.

✅ Don't rush the rinse. Shampoo residue can cause itching and skin irritation.

✅ If your dog really hates baths, consider investing in a LickiMat Splash.

This bowl shaped LickiMat with a suction plate to stick to your bath or tiles.

Add some Pets Purest dog friendly Peanut Butter and bingo a perfectly behaved and distracted dog whilst you shampoo!

Take a look at our review of LickiMats and how they can help - Best Lick Mats for Dogs Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use human shampoo on my dog?

Human shampoo won't necessarily harm your dog as a one-off but they're not formulated at the same pH level as human shampoos. Long term they will be too harsh for your dog's skin and can cause itching and rashes.

How often should you wash your dog?

Generally, most dogs only need to be bathed about once a month. Dogs are much better left without being washed as they have sensitive skin and cleaning them too often can dry their skin and irritate their skin. Obviously use you own judgement, if they start to smell, it's time for a bath.

How often should I bath my puppy?

Puppies are no different from adult dogs. Where possible try to bath once a month with a gentle puppy shampoo. In between monthly baths, simply wash their paws or mud off with water or hypoallergenic dog wipes.

You might also be interested in.......

Top 10 Dog Grooming Products To keep your four-legged friend in top notch condition, it’s worth spending some time and a little money on top dog grooming products which you can use at home.

How to Groom your Dog at Home Although many dog lovers especially those with fluffier breeds, use professional dog groomers on a regular basis, in between visits it’s still important to keep your dog looking and feeling their best with a grooming routine.

We hope you've found the perfect shampoo for your pampered pooch in our guide to the Best Dog Shampoos for 2022. Thanks for dropping by.