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Grooming your dog at home has its advantages, and giving your dog a home bath is no exception. More often than not, though, our human-designed bathtubs and showers aren’t exactly suited to our furry friends. The result is often a wet bathroom, an unhappy pet parent, and a dog who may or may not be fully rinsed.
Not getting all the shampoo out of your pup’s hair is especially concerning, says Julia Benning, Grooming Advisory Board Leader for Well Groomed Pets.
“If you don’t fully rinse all the product from your dog’s coat, it can cause skin irritation and exacerbate matting and tangling,” she explains. “It can also lead to skin infections because if your dog feels irritation from the leftover product on the skin and coat, they may scratch and itch. This can tear their skin and cause it to be vulnerable to bacteria.”
One solution is a dog shower head that attaches to your existing plumbing or hose. “A shower head will be a huge asset when bathing your dogs at home,” explains Benning.
“The shower head rinses the pores much more thoroughly than a hose because the water particles are dispersed into smaller streams that can rinse out dirt from pores more than the stream of a hose. The streams on a shower head also work similarly to a brush, helping to remove debris and dead coat from the skin.”
We asked Benning about her favorite dog shower head options for a range of bathing options, from bath to sink and back yard. Read on for our picks.
Best Overall Dog Shower Head: Waterpik PPR-252 Pet Wand Pro for Dogs
Come bath time, this dual-pressure device is Benning’s top pick: “I love the Waterpik shower head attachment for dogs. It is gentle for the dogs and works like a brush to remove loose fur while washing.”
The Waterpik installs by attaching to your bathroom shower or outside garden hose. Its curved wand handle offers multiple spray settings and a suction cup hook so you can hang it up when you need both hands free. These features make this dog shower head attachment one of the best on the market.
The one drawback, Benning notes, is that the water pressure of the Waterpik may not be quite enough for dogs with super dense or double coats.
What to know:
- Works for indoor or outdoor use, with an 8-foot hose that attaches to your shower or outdoor spigot
- The curved wand allows for better, more direct spraying around your dog’s body and belly
- Comes with multiple spray options, including a pause button to temporarily stop the spray
- The water pressure from this option may not be enough to get through dense hair
Best for Thick Coats: Pup Jet Dog Wash
For dogs with thick, dense fur or double coats, Benning recommends a soap-dispensing sprayer nozzle like this one. “These have a canister you can fill with shampoo that mixes with water so you can spray shampoo directly onto your pup,” Benning says. For extra hairy pups, she explains that the different spray settings (especially the higher powered options) can help penetrate a thick coat and make deshedding easier.
Attaching to a standard garden or shower hose, this sprayer features eight spray options ranging from a light mist to a jet—everything most dogs need. Plus, it comes with a few handy accessories to aid in bath time, like a grooming comb and a bath brush. The sprayer can be used indoors or out, though indoor installation requires a bit more effort.
What to know:
- Eight spray options to help cut through thick coats and help with deshedding
- Works both indoors and outside, attaching to a garden or shower hose
- Holds 3.5 oz of soap in the attached canister
- Comes in two colors and with a variety of accessories
Best Ergonomic: Aquapaw Grooming Tool (Verified Review)
The Aquapaw is a convenient shower head and bath brush all in one. The rubber-bristled sprayer straps onto your palm so you can massage pet-safe shampoo deep into (and out of) your pup’s fur with its soft silicon nubs. Plus, gently scrubbing with the brush helps to release loose fur for great deshedding action.
A button on the edge of the sprayer allows you to easily click the water flow on or off, also choosing between two flow pressures. Best of all, it’s adaptable for the tub or the yard. Our test pups definitely thought the Aquapaw was an upgrade to bath time, and our human tester appreciated the ease of use and the confidence of getting pups fully soap-free.
What to know:
- Combined curry brush and shower head for easier bath time
- Works inside or out, installed on an existing shower head or with a hose
- Features two water speeds and a convenient on/off button
- Integrated hand strap allows for secure fit
- The brush is fairly big, and may be best suited for medium- to large-size pups
Best Water Pressure: Wondurdog Deluxe Dog Wash Kit
This top-rated dog shower head is made with a stainless steel hose, making it a durable choice for bath time. Rubber teeth scrub fur clean, while built-in valves on the Deluxe version’s connectors control water the spray. Many reviewers praise the Wondurdog for its water pressure, noting that it made a big difference in their pup’s bath time. Plus, the splash shield helps keep the water where it belongs—on your dog, not the floor.
This particular version of the Wondurdog Wash Kit is only set up for indoor use, attaching to an existing shower head. However, there are several other variations of the kit, including a shower head for sinks and smaller dogs, plus garden hose attachments for outdoor use.
What to know:
- The integrated two-way brush flips down to minimize overspray and up for scrubbing
- Adjustable spray options offer the ability to control water pressure
- 8-foot long stainless steel hose attaches to an indoor shower head
- Kit includes a converter to allow easy switching between your Wondurdog and regular shower head
Best for Hose Length: Hibbent Dog Shower Sprayer Attachment
This stainless steel sprayer head is great if you want a dog shower head that doesn’t exactly look like a dog shower head. But even better than its sleek style is the 119-inch hose. That’s nearly 10 feet, offering optimal flexibility and reach in the bath tub.
This sprayer installs indoors with a three-way diverter to allow you to easily switch between your own shower head and your pup’s. It also can be used outdoors, attaching to a garden hose. Three modes allow you to find just the right spray for your pup. It also has a stop button and an adjustable holder for when you need your hands free.
What to know:
- Extra-long, 119-inch stainless steel hose
- Sleek, all-silver design to blend in with your existing shower head and faucets
- Three spray modes: rainfall, jetting, and massage
- Can be used inside and out
Best Portable Dog Shower Head: Ivation Handheld Portable Shower Head
You can take your dog’s bath on the road with this portable shower head kit. There’s a built-in water filter and pump at the end of the hose. Just put it in a tub of water (or any water source) and bathe your dog for up to 60 minutes. A suction-cup hook is included for convenience, and the rechargeable battery connects to a power source via USB for handy charging.
While this shower head is designed for outdoor use, you could just as easily drop it into a full bathtub for indoor use. Plus, it’s handy for both dogs and humans alike. The simple design does, however, only allow for one spray setting.
What to know:
- Requires a standing water source, as it works by pumping water through the hose
- Simple design with an on/off switch and one spray setting
- 6.5-foot flexible hose
- Comes with a suction and hook to aid in hanging the shower head as needed
Best for Easy Installation: Rinseroo Slip-On Bathtub Faucet Sprayer Attachment
While the installation for most of the shower heads on this list isn’t difficult, you often need an included adaptor (or two) and even a couple of tools. This faucet sprayer attachment bypasses all of that to install with nothing but the hose itself, making it an extremely flexible option to consider. It’s especially great if you’re in an place without an outdoor water supply, such as an apartment, or if you don’t have the ability to permanently attach a hose to your shower head.
The 5-foot hose includes a stretchy connector that works with any faucet up to 3-inches wide. That means you can attach it to a bathtub or sink faucet, or even use it outside with a hose. The sprayer works with standard water pressure and gravity, which means that it may not be quite enough for large or super hairy dogs, but it’s a good option for smaller animals.
What to know:
- Works with gravity and natural faucet pressure
- 5-foot flexible hose connects to indoor and outdoor faucets up to 3-inches wide
- Easy to install—no tools required
Getting Your Pup Used to a Shower Head
As you get ready to bathe your pup at home, Benning has a few tips.
First and foremost, check the water pressure: “Make sure the water pressure isn’t too much for your pup,” says Benning. “Try different shower head settings to see which setting your pup is most comfortable with.”
Many sprayers are not meant for use on puppies under 12 weeks or for pregnant or nursing dogs, so it’s always worthwhile to check with your vet if you have questions. Benning also recommends caution when working around your pup’s face and head. You’ll want to avoid getting water into their eyes, ears, and nose.
If hard water is an issue where you live, you might consider a shower head with a built-in filter. “Hard water makes it more difficult for shampoos and conditioners to do their job, and can leave pets feeling itchy and uncomfortable,” Benning explains.
Finally, there’s what happens after bath time: “Don’t discount the importance of making sure your pup is dried and brushed after their bath,” says Benning.
Dog hair dryers can be especially helpful in drying your pup faster and preventing trapped moisture, which can lead to skin irritation. With the combination of a dog shower head and a dog blow dryer, your pup will be clean, dry, and happy after every bath.
How We Chose
The dog shower heads featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and conversations with fear-free grooming experts, including Julia Benning of Well Groomed Pets. We particularly prioritized the effectiveness of each product, balanced with consideration for a wide range of needs and situations. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pups.
Further Reading
- How To Groom Your Dog: What Different Hair Types Need and Where To Start
- The Best Dog Shampoos in Every Category, from Waterless to Medicated
- The Best Dog Towels for Bath Time, Wet Walks, and Muddy Paws
- The Best Dog Conditioners for Smooth, Shiny Coats
- The Best Professional Pet Grooming Supplies You Can Use at Home
- Best Dog Brushes for Everyday Grooming
