Dog Cleansing Shampoo

As both a dog trainer and licensed cosmetologist, choosing shampoo sends me into frenzies for my family and dogs. Dog grooming products are expanding rapidly and developing products depending on specific hair and coat needs. Yes, there are even color-care lines. 🙂

With all the choices out there, which one works best for your dog’s skin? To help narrow your choices down, let’s discuss shampoo categories, product usage and recommendations!

Cleansing Shampoo

One of the most popular shampoos is a basic cleansing dog shampoo. This category is designed to gently cleanse skin and coat, restore skin’s natural balance, provide a protective skin barrier and can be used weekly, or daily, if needed. While shampoo categories are designed for specific jobs, cleansing shampoos can be used in conjunction with medicated, degreaser and color care shampoos.

When looking for a cleansing shampoo, choose soothing and gentle ingredients. Check the label for colloidal oatmeal, oat protein, aloe and vitamin E. Most cleansing shampoos are lightly scented, which I find dissipates within a day or two, as some strong scents can dry skin.

If your dog is super sensitive to scented products, choose a hypoallergenic shampoo option. Not only are hypoallergenic shampoos scent free, most are free of detergents and other harsh ingredients for sensitive skin.

My Recommendations

My favorite cleansing shampoos are Nature’s Specialties Plum Silky, Chris Christensen Day to Day Moisturizing Shampoo and Espree Aloe Oatbath Shampoo. The first two are richly scented so they may not be an option if you’re sensitive to perfumes. If you’re searching for natural ingredients and a light scent, check out Espree’s Aloe Oatbath shampoo–it works wonderfully!