Best Dog Shampoos in India - Reviews and Comparison 2022

Yes, there are types available when it comes to dog shampoo. The brand offers a ‘ product line&rsquo, which means they do not manufacture just a kind of dog shampoo but provide a puppy shampoo, a moisturising shampoo, a shampoo for dry or sensitive skin, anti fleas and ticks, a 2-in-1 shampoo, to name a few!

Some of the most famous types include:

• Cleansing Dog Shampoo: This is the regular dog shampoo that you should buy if your dog doesn’t have any skin condition and you merely wants to clean the dirt and excess oil from its fur. If your four-leg friend has a long coat, don’t forget to use the conditioner to make the task of detangling easier.

• Colour Enhancing dog Shampoo: As the name suggests, this type of shampoo are colour enhancers, whiteners, or brighteners. However, we wouldn’t recommend this unless your dog has healthy skin and a coat. These shampoos could be stronger than ordinary shampoos, therefore, pay more attention to ingredients. And do not forget to use a good conditioner afterwards.

• Deshedding Dog Shampoo: These shampoos claim to make it easier for your dog’s coat to loosen itself than be removed by shedding tools.

• Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo: Such shampoos help your dog’s itchy, red, irritated skin heal and ultimately feel better. These shampoos shouldn’t cause your dog any more skin irritation because of their ingredients.

• Flea and Tick Dog Shampoo: A flea and tick shampoo is a great way to free your dog from annoying pests and mosquitoes.

• 2-in-1 Dog Shampoo: Pet owners with either puppy or adult dogs use 2-in-one shampoo. It consists of shampoo + conditioner. Since puppies and adult dogs are not keen to take a bath, 2-in-1 shampoo ensures there is just one application and one rinse.

• Waterless Dog Shampoo: As the name suggests, it is dry shampoo. This comes in a spray form, and usually, owners of puppies or adult dogs use it due to the same reason, they choose 2-in-1 dog shampoo. It is a great way to clean your dog at the end of the day without having to give it a full bath. You can use it if your fur friend has little diarrhoea or it is recovering from any illness. You can also use it if your pet has run through mud and you wish to rinse off paws at the back door.

• Puppy Shampoo: Usually, not all shampoos are suitable for puppies. A puppy has sensitive skin. Also, you need to ensure that if the shampoo enters their eyes by mistake, it is not going to hurt them. In other words, the puppy shampoo is tearless.

• Deodorizing and Neutralizing Dog Shampoo: Some dogs like rolling on the garbage and get stinky and smelly. If your pooch is one of them, get good deodorising and neutralising shampoos.

• Hot Spot Dog Shampoo: Hot spot is a perplexing dog skin condition. Dogs with this skin condition will appear beautiful when woke up in the morning due to healthy skin and coat. However, by evening, it may have chewed all the fur off from its accessible body parts, leaving a raw, oozing sore. Moisture and bacteria are two common cause behind this. Therefore, dogs living in hot and humid weather are more at risk of developing hot spots. Moreover, there is more chance of this happening if the dog has a heavy coat. A hot spot dog shampoo will bring your loyal friend relief in this case.

This is a crucial feature to consider while buying a dog shampoo or any pet grooming product, for that matter. To know what all ingredients the shampoo has, check the label of the product. Manufacturer's must-have mentioned not only the ingredients but also their quantity.

You will also find on the label if the shampoo is free from any artificial fragrance, harmful chemicals like alcohol, sulphate, paraben, etc.

All in all, you have to make sure that there are no harmful ingredients in the shampoo formula, especially while choosing the  best dog shampoo for allergies or particular skin condition. If you are bothered that your dog is sensitive to smell, then avoid buying shampoos with fragrances.

Are you sure that your dog needs the only shampoo? Or if it requires only one type of shampoo?

Pet owners usually need the  best dog shampoo for their pooch’s itchy skin  and a deodorising dog shampoo simultaneously. If not that, you might need a shampoo and conditioner in one.

If your chosen dog shampoo is versatile, it will save you both money and time.

When it comes to dog shampoo, one size doesn’t fit all. Some shampoos are only made for puppies, while some are suitable for long-haired dogs or dogs with skin problems. Therefore, know your dog’s skin, coat, needs and characteristics before buying a dog shampoo.

Dogs with sensitive skin need gentle shampoos with natural ingredients, whereas, if they have dry skin, get them a moisturising shampoo. Similarly, long-haired dogs need something strong enough to get to their skin and require the  best dog conditioner to compliment the dog shampoo. 

Dog shampoos manufacturer offers various packaging for their product. It comes in bottles with a pump or as a spray. Spray shampoos are faster than bottled ones and they are easy to apply. However, some dogs are afraid of it.

You must know the purpose or the reason behind buying that shampoo for your fur friend. Are you looking for it for eliminating the odour? Or you just need one for simple coat and skin cleaning of your dog and keeping its fur soft enough?

However, there are dogs with sensitive or dry skin. In such a case, you should look for the best-medicated dog shampoo. These particular shampoos moisturise their skin and reduce irritation, bringing them immediate relief.

The dog's skin and hair have a neutral pH level. So, to prevent their fur and skin from any kind of damage, ensure that the shampoo and conditioner you are buying has balanced pH. Get shampoos that have a pH level of 7 (neutral) or around them. While lower quality dog shampoos have a pH around 4.5 to 5.5 (acidic range), supreme quality dog shampoos have a pH around 6 to 7, which is more basic to neutral.

Some pet owners like to apply colognes to their dogs as they might be unaware that dogs don’t usually like the artificial scent. And anyway, most bath products already have some smell in them. If you think that your dog still needs a good scent, then there are some light-scented sprays and spritzes that your dog probably won’t mind when used on it. Don’t forget that anything you put on your dog’s coat can be ingested when it licks his fur. So, be careful.

There are several dog shampoos available from various buyers, and as if that wasn't enough, there is variety in quantity & packaging as well due to which the price varies. However, in the end, what matters is you getting value for a reasonable price.

There are various ways to save your money. For example, suppose you are an existing user of the product. In that case, you can buy the shampoo sold in a big container because usually, a product coming in a big container proves to cheaper than the same product coming in a small container.

You must also check how long the product lasts because shampoos are concentrated, you don’t need it much while using. The longer you can use it, the more value you get for the price you pay.

Reviews are the perfect source for obtaining unbiased information about the product. So do not leave out customers’ opinions and experience on your list of favourite dog shampoos. Check why buyers are satisfied with that shampoo or what do they like the most about the product.

Brand matters because brand primarily offers quality. Brands can be relied upon because they publicly display the quality of their product and ingredients. In fact, they might explain why certain components have been included in their dog shampoo.

Yes, some brands hide the truth of their formula behind flashy advertising campaigns. However, most of them use high-quality or organic ingredients and make safe dog shampoos.

There could be possibly two reasons behind this. First, the shampoo quality might not be good enough and it doesn’t remove the odour properly. Another reason could be that your dog has a skin condition that needs medical attention. In such a case, contact your veterinarian.

You can refer to our list of the top seven dog shampoos as it consists of a high-quality dog shampoo brand. We have thoroughly checked them and if you also want to read in detail about them, check our ‘ Our Picks’ chapter.

Some of the typical coat types that dogs have are corded, curly, hairless, oily, dry, silky, smooth, wire, wooly, single and double.

While choosing a dog conditioner, you should look for similar characteristics as a dog shampoo:

• Neutral pH balance.

• All-natural ingredients.

• Fragrance-free or only lightly fragranced.

Dogs absorb allergens via their skin. Therefore, you have to be extra cautious that the following ingredients are not there in a dog shampoo or conditioner.

• Artificial dye or colour

• Perfumes

• Isopropyl alcohol

• Parabens

• Sodium laureth sulfate

• Dangerous foaming agents

Parents of small dogs have a benefit as a sink, or laundry tub would be sufficient in their case. Otherwise, dog owners will have to use the bathtub or a shower with a detachable nozzle. A portable doggy tub is also a good option which is usually made of heavy plastic, or they are collapsible and can easily be used outside or in the laundry room.

Start with a small amount of shampoo because the lathering effect allows it to expand and eventually covers a dog completely. If you use more shampoo than required, it will become challenging to rinse thoroughly. Exactly how much shampoo you should use depends on the dog's size and the thickness of the coat. Start with a small amount of shampoo and add more when required.

Get your dog into the bath, wet them, lather, rinse and repeat is just one quick way. However, if you wish to give your pooch a proper bath, follow the steps given below:

• Brush your dog before the bath in order to remove the tangles and debris caught in their hair.

• Make room for bath time by assembling ready to use products and laying down towels.

• Use lukewarm water. Dog skin is different from human skin, and hot water can burn their skin easily. Ensure that the bathing water is not hotter than what you’d use for a human baby. Keep the water cool for large-breed dogs who can easily overheat.

• Talk to your dog in calming voice while introducing it to the water slowly by spraying it on the dog’s backs. Make sure that the water pressure is low to ensure your four-leg friend that you are doing nothing wrong.

• Now take some dog shampoo in your hands and work it into a gentle lather before massaging it all over your dog’s body. To protect the eyes and ears, apply a little petroleum jelly around their eyes and put cotton balls in their ears.

• Use a soft brush to clean the paw pads and also use it in the direction of hair growth for best lather and avoid any tangles.

• Rinse thoroughly. Start with the head and face before working your way down to the rest of their body. Rinse until the water runs clear.

• You can use the dog conditioner at this step if required. Follow the steps as shampooing to protect your dog’s eyes.

• Now wash out the conditioner as well.

• Get your dog out of the bath and wrap it in an absorbent towel. Don’t rub it too much as that can tangle the hair and blot the coat instead. Choose air dry, or you can use a blow dryer designed for dogs. Do not use a hairdryer intended for humans as that have high-temperature settings, not suitable for dog skin.

• It is 4-in-1 shampoo. It helps in cleaning, conditioning, detangling, and moisturising the coat.

• It is suitable for short as well as long coats.

• Primarily the scent is of lavender and chamomile.

• It has a calming and soothing formula.

• Due to being PEG-80, alcohol-free and paraben-free, this shampoo is highly safe for your fur friend.

• It’s safe for all dogs irrespective of their breed and age.

• You can use it to clean your cat as well.

• It has balanced pH.

• So, if you need a shampoo for just cleaning your dog, this is the best choice.

• As the name suggests, if you want a smell-free fur friend, this is the shampoo to go for.

• It mainly cleanses, freshen-up, and deodorises smelly coats.

• It has the fragrance of eucalyptus and spearmint.

• Its purifying formula deodorises and refreshes dirty and dull fur.

• Due to being PEG-80, alcohol-free and paraben-free, this shampoo is highly safe for your fur friend.

• It is safe for all breed and age of dogs.

• You can use it for cats as well.

• This is our best value shampoo which aims to control tick and flea.

• It has ayurvedic and medicinal properties.

• The scent is of lemon.

• It helps in curing the problem of itching as well.

• The Erina-EP helps in controlling odour.

• It is a pH-balanced shampoo.

• It is safe for all breed adult dogs.

• Captain Zack anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-dandruff shampoo are free from paraben, artificial fragrance, and other harmful ingredients.

• It has nourishing and hydrating properties.

• It has tea tree oil which soothes the coat and skin, reduces skin irritation and inflammation while repelling insects from the pet’s body.

• It also helps relieve pain associated with skin conditions like rashes, inflammation, itchiness, and fungal infections.

• Besides tea tree, vitamin E oil has also been used.

• It is safe for all breeds of dog, and age should be six weeks or above.

• Captain Zack Wassup Pup shampoo is mainly designed for puppies (six weeks and above) and aged dogs.

• A sulphate-free shampoo made keeping puppies and old dogs sensitive, delicate & dry skin in mind.

• Its moisturising properties provide balanced skin and coat to your furry friend while keeping parasites, infections, and diseases at bay.

• The shampoo is absolutely safe to use since it consists of all-natural ingredients like lavender essential oil, lemongrass and vitamin E.

• The shampoo is safe for kittens as well.

• It is free from nasty chemicals.

• There is no artificial fragrance in this shampoo.

• It is a vegan and cruelty-free product.

• This is the only waterless/dry shampoo on our list.

• It comes in spray form and it is safe to use it daily.

• Your furry friend doesn’t need a proper bathroom to use it as it can be sprayed anywhere.

• The spray includes natural actives, which make the coat shinier.

• It helps remove grime, dirt and oil from both dog’s (six weeks and above) and the cat’s body.

• Just like other Captain Zack shampoo, it is also free from nasty chemicals and artificial fragrances.

• This is an all-breed anti-tick & flea dog shampoo.

• Besides getting rid of lice, it also helps in saying bye to itching and scratching problem.

• The shampoo has natural neem and lemongrass oil extracts.

• Lemongrass is a natural repellant of insects, parasites. It helps in breaking the life cycle of ticks.

• Neem is a natural Ayurveda herb that reduces the chances of infection, itching, and dermatitis from insect bites and other skin problems.

• Due to its water-like texture, it is easy to wash it off dogs and cats, not leaving any shampoo on their fur/skin.
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