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There are times when a bath for your dog just isn’t in the cards. Maybe your pup isn’t a fan, and you’re not ready to spend twenty minutes fending off wet escape attempts. Maybe you don’t want to smell wet dog for hours. Or maybe you’re on the go, short on time, or otherwise ill-equipped for the undertaking. That’s where dry shampoo for dogs comes in.
Dry shampoos for dogs are a popular solution for pup parents everywhere. They come in foams, sprays, and powders, and they don’t require water to lather or rinse. Some can provide a solid clean as good as a bath, while others are more about a quick “freshen up” in between washes and groomings. Spot cleaning? Can do. Delaying a water bath for another week or two? Check.
We’ve tested the best dry shampoos for dogs to help you keep your pup as clean and fresh as a daisy.
How Often Can I Use Dry Dog Shampoo?
Most dry dog shampoos are safe for frequent use, and how often you use them is entirely up to you and your dog’s needs. Some are even designed to help with sensitive or itchy skin and can provide relief from seasonal allergies—so you don’t need to worry about drying out your pup’s coat.
For dogs who have anxiety about water or can’t sit still for a bath, dry shampoo can take the place of a bath in all but the grimiest situations. It’s also a great fit for dogs who are just out of surgery, since dry shampooing non-sensitive areas can help them freshen up or spot clean without using water.
Dry dog shampoos do leave some residue and scent, so it’s a good idea to make sure your dog (and you!) can tolerate that before you make waterless baths a regular activity. It’s also important to buy dog-specific products, since dry shampoos for humans aren’t formulated with your pet in mind and shouldn’t be considered an option for your dog.
Intrigued? Check out the results from our recent product tests.
Meet Our Dry Shampoo Testers
Sabine
Sabine is a goofy Bernedoodle who sports that coveted no-shed “oodle” hair. While she is ridiculously cute and soft after a trip to the groomers, that natural poodle perm fades fast once she’s romping around in the yard and rolling in you-know-what. Sabine’s penchant for the not-so-lovely smells of spring makes her a great candidate for dry shampoo.
Sabine, dry shampoo tester extraordinaire
Ruby
Ruby is a Bernese Mountain Dog with a beautiful and shiny (and very thick) coat. Her fur stays lovely long after a bath, but she too loves a good morning roll. Ruby is an attention hound so will lean into a long relaxing brush, which makes her an easy target for product testing dry shampoos, many of which require a good brush after use.
Ruby, born to product test
Hershey
Hershey is a lab/hound mix with that short and sleek hound fur (complete with undercoat). The short coat stays pretty clean and is easy to keep, but we thought he would be a good candidate for some of the dry shampoo sprays that are a little less intense than the foaming dry shampoos. Plus, he likes to hang out with the girls and was up for a Saturday spa date to test out some of the products.
Hershey, will bathe for treats
The Results: Foaming Dry Shampoos for Dogs
Best for Heavy-Duty Cleaning: Mighty Mutt No-Rinse Waterless Foam Shampoo
Sabine was our target for the Mighty Mutt dry dog shampoo. Advertised as “perfect for a quick and easy deep clean,” this was our go-to choice after an impromptu evening roll in deer poop. Sabine was quite proud of her new aroma, but we certainly weren’t letting her back in the house without giving Might Mutt a go. For this job, we lathered with abandon for a deep spot clean. The foam was very effective at cleaning the spot in question and left her with a fresh scent that she may not have enjoyed but we found much-improved.
Mighty Mutt made quick work of a dirty mess, and Sabine was cleared for the house in short order. Perhaps best of all, Mighty Mutt contains no sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or dyes, and is advertised as anti-itch. Given that Sabine has skin sensitivities, this was a good choice for her predicament.
Pros:
- Handled a messy coat with no need for a real bath
- All-natural ingredients
- Pleasant scent
Cons: None!
Find on AmazonBest for Deep Shine: Vet’s Best Waterless Dog Bath
Vet’s Best is another great option for pets with sensitive skin. It’s made with aloe vera, oatmeal, and Neem oil to prevent itching, and it can be used after applying flea and tick preventative, as long as you wait 24 hours. We tested this product on Ruby and found that of all the dry shampoos we tested, this one gave her the shiniest, glossiest coat. She looked like she just came out of an actual bath!
As with the other foams, I lathered the dry shampoo in my hands to make sure I was applying the right amount, then gave Ruby a quick brush. I didn’t need to towel dry her because the foam was light and did not leave moisture on her fur.
Pros:
- All natural ingredients
- No residue
- Great shine
Cons: None!
Ruby, wondering why spa day isn’t every day
Longest-Lasting: Paw Choice Naturals Foaming Mousse Dry Dog Shampoo
This foaming dry shampoo has a pleasant smell and foams into a nice lather on thick coats. It’s formulated with your sensitive-skin pet in mind. For these reasons, we selected Ruby as our prime tester. Ruby started with a clean coat (no mud or obviously dirty spots), but she hadn’t had a bath recently.
For foaming shampoos, it’s tempting to try to get that nice wet shampoo lather, but this is not necessary! As we found with the Paw Choice dry shampoo, too much lather can leave the fur a little greasy.
Ruby, testing Paws Choice Foaming Dry Shampoo
With Ruby’s coat, we applied a moderate amount and then brushed her out and gave her a quick towel dry. The fragrance was fresh but not overwhelming, and it helped to bring out some of the shine in Ruby’s coat. Even with a thick coat of fur and an 85-pound dog, this 7.2-ounce bottle is good for at least five full shampoos.
Pros:
- Pleasant scent
- All-natural ingredients
- Cleans thick coats
- A little bit goes a long way
Cons:
- Leaves a light residue, even with moderate application
The Results: Spray Dry Shampoo for Dogs
Best for a Quick Freshen-Up: Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Dogs
This spray-on waterless shampoo is made with 97% natural ingredients, including eucalyptus and honey, that will leave your pet shiny and nicely scented. Like many dry shampoos for dogs, Burt’s Bees is PH-balanced to help moisturize your dog’s skin, and it’s paraben-free.
We tested this easy spray-on shampoo on Hershey. He started with a dry coat, and we did a full-body spray. Burt’s Bees has a very pleasant but not overwhelming scent. After spraying the top of Hershey’s coat, we rubbed the spray in to make sure it penetrated to his undercoat, then did a light brush. From start to finish, this took only a few minutes, and Hershey came away with a fresh scent and shiny coat. We’d definitely recommend this product for a quick freshen-up!
Pros:
- Easy and quick to use
- Light and pleasant scent
- All-natural ingredients
Cons:
- Great for a freshen-up, but may not be up to the task for a dirty coat
Hershey, testing Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo
Best Scent: Bodhi Dog Premium Lavender Waterless Shampoo
Bodhi dry dog shampoo is available in three different scents: lavender, oatmeal, or lemongrass. This waterless shampoo is hypoallergenic and formulated for dogs with sensitive skin. It’s completely free of detergents, alcohol, parabens, and sulfates, which makes it safe for puppies and pregnant dogs.
We tested this dry shampoo on Sabine because we were interested to see the differences between a spray and a foam shampoo for her poodle coat. The lavender scent of this shampoo is mild but very pleasant—definitely not overwhelming.
Sabine, digging the lavender
We gave Sabine a thorough, full-coat spray and then let her sit for a minute before towel-drying her and giving her a light brush. The brush really brought out the shine in her coat. The spray was easy to use and will probably be a go-to freshen-up in our household moving forward.
Pros:
- Light and pleasant scent
- All-natural ingredients
- Made for sensitive skin
- Noticeable shine
Cons:
- Great for a freshen-up, but may not be up to the task for a dirty coat
Best for Long-Haired Dogs: Begley’s Waterless Pet Shampoo
Begley’s Waterless Pet Shampoo is a no-rinse hypoallergenic shampoo. Like many dry shampoos, it’s all-natural and free from harsh additives. It comes in a few scents: tea tree, oatmeal mango, lavender, and citrus. It’s meant to be applied liberally to your dog’s coat, then wiped with a wet washcloth. We tested this spray shampoo on Ruby, mostly because she just loves the attention. We chose the tea tree scent, which was pleasant and did not linger on her fur or in the house.
Unlike the foaming shampoos which we tested outdoors, we spritzed Ruby right in the kitchen with no issues, which showed off the advantage of the spray shampoos: safe for indoor use and no need for a tub! Ruby already has a beautiful coat, but this spray brought out a just-bathed shine. After wiping her with a damp cloth, I brushed her fur and admired the results. I highly recommend this spray for bringing out the shine in a long-haired dog.
Pros:
- Best shine for spray-type shampoo
- Hypoallergenic
- Light and pleasant scent
- Provides most thorough clean of all spray shampoos tested
Cons: None!
Find on Amazon Find on WalmartFurther Reading
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