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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 20 minutes fending off wet escape attempts. Maybe you just want a little sprucing between grooming appointments. 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.
A popular solution for pet parents everywhere, dry shampoo for dogs is especially helpful for pups who have anxiety about water or can’t sit still for a bath. It’s also great for dogs who are injured or just out of surgery, since dry shampooing non-sensitive areas can help them freshen up or spot clean without using water.
We’ve tested the best dry shampoos for dogs to help you keep your pup as clean and fresh as a daisy. Wondering how it works? Hop down to our explainer, or read on to meet our testers and check out our top picks.
- Best for Heavy-Duty Cleaning: Mighty Mutt No-Rinse Waterless Foam Shampoo
- Best for Deep Shine: Vet’s Best Waterless Dog Bath
- Longest-Lasting: Paw Choice Naturals Foaming Mousse Dry Dog Shampoo
- Best for a Quick Freshen-Up: Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo for Dogs
- Best Scent: Bodhi Dog Premium Lavender Waterless Shampoo
- Best for Long-Haired Dogs: Begley’s Waterless Pet Shampoo
- Best Gentle Shampoo: Wild One Rinseless Dog Shampoo
Best for Heavy-Duty Cleaning: Mighty Mutt No-Rinse Waterless Foam Shampoo
Advertised as “perfect for a quick and easy deep clean,” this foaming shampoo from Mighty Mutt was our go-to choice after Sabine the Bernedoodle went for 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 area 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, which is great for pups who spend a lot of time outdoors and are inevitably bound to get into something stinky or grimy. 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:
- Some reviewers note it can be a little sticky, especially if not brushed out
Best 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 the Bernese Mountain Dog 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.
This shampoo gets high marks for conditioning, but some reviewers have reported that the smell can be overpowering, reminiscent of cologne. But if your dog is in a show or you’re just having visitors over and want everyone looking their best, this could be a solid choice for helping your pup’s natural beauty shine.
Pros:
- All natural ingredients
- No residue
- Great shine
Cons:
- Scent has been reported to be strong and a bit musky
Ruby, wondering why spa day isn’t every day
Longest-Lasting: Paw Choice Naturals Foaming Mousse Dry Dog Shampoo
This dry shampoo has a pleasant smell and foams into a nice lather on thick coats. Since it’s formulated with sensitive-skin pups in mind, we selected Ruby as our prime tester.
Ruby started with a clean coat (no mud or obvious dirty spots), but she hadn’t had a bath recently. 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.
With its long-lasting properties, this dry dog shampoo could be useful for pups who are injured, just out of surgery, or who detest bathtime. We did find, however, that too much lather can leave the fur a little greasy, so a little bit definitely goes a long way. In fact, 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.
Ruby, testing Paws Choice Foaming Dry Shampoo
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
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 we found left our pets’ coats 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 Lab-Hound mix Hershey—doing a full-body spray on his dry coat. After spraying the top of Hershey’s coat, we rubbed the spray in to make sure it penetrated 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 (pleasant but not overwhelming) and shiny coat. We’d definitely recommend this product for a quick freshen-up between groomings—but it might not be the best shampoo for really dirty coats.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Sabine, digging the lavender
Best for Long-Haired Dogs: Begley’s Waterless Pet Shampoo
Begley’s Waterless Pet Shampoo is a no-rinse hypoallergenic shampoo. It’s all-natural and free from harsh additives and comes in a few scents: tea tree, oatmeal mango, lavender, and citrus. It’s meant to be sprayed liberally over your dog’s coat, then wiped with a wet washcloth.
Opting for the tea tree scent, we tested this spray shampoo on Ruby’s long, thick coat. Unlike when we tested the other foaming shampoos outdoors, we spritzed Ruby right in the kitchen with no issues—the scent was pleasant but did not linger on her fur or in the house. It also gave her the most thorough clean of all the spray shampoos we tested, making it a great alternative for dogs who hate taking baths. Some reviewers, however, have stated that they wished the scent was a little stronger to cover their more aromatic pups.
Pros:
- Best shine for spray-type shampoo
- Hypoallergenic
- Light and pleasant scent
- Provides most thorough clean of all spray shampoos tested
Cons:
- Scent is reported to be mild and not odorizing
Best Gentle Shampoo: Wild One Rinseless Dog Shampoo
This vegan and hypoallergenic dry shampoo from Wild One offers gentle cleaning and deodorizing with a strong emphasis on hydration—making it a nice option for dry skin and winter months. It’s one of the gentler options we tested, with a light smell that lasted about twelve hours and no residue to speak of. We found it a strong option for repeated light use, though it wasn’t the heaviest-duty or longest-lasting cleanser.
Test pup Enzo didn’t mind the spray bottle (something he’s historically had objections to), and application was easy: just spray, let dry, and rub or brush through your pup’s coat.
Pros:
- Vegan, hypoallergenic, and paraben- and sulfate-free
- Gentle and hydrating
- Good for repeated use
- Light, pleasant scent
Cons:
- Great for a freshen-up, but may not be up to the task for a dirty coat
Is Dry Shampoo Safe for Dogs?
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.
Dry dog shampoo comes in foams, sprays, and powders. What type of product you choose will depend on your specific situation. For example, if you have a pup who doesn’t like to be sprayed, then you may want to opt for a powder shampoo. For mucky hikes and backpacking trips, a heavy-duty foaming mousse could be a more appropriate option.
The most important safety concern? Buying dog-specific products, since dry shampoos for humans aren’t formulated with your pet in mind and shouldn’t be considered for your dog. Some dry dog shampoos also leave behind a light residue and scent, so it’s a good idea to make sure your dog (and you!) can tolerate both before you make waterless baths a regular activity.
Meet Our Dry Shampoo Testers
Sabine
Sabine is a goofy Bernedoodle who sports that coveted no-shed “oodle” hair. While she’s 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 dog shampoo.
Sabine, dry shampoo tester extraordinaire
Ruby
Ruby is a Bernese Mountain Dog with a beautiful, 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 she’ll lean into a long relaxing brush—making 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 an undercoat). The short coat stays pretty clean and is easy to maintain, but we thought he would be a good candidate for 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
Enzo
Cattle Dog Mix Enzo has a soft, thick coat that soaks up rainwater like a sponge. He does not like bath time, and his pet parents don’t like the mess created by bath time (lots of hair). Rolling in grass and other mysterious things is his favorite, so the quest for a good dry shampoo was on! His coat is naturally silky, but who would turn down some extra shine?
Enzo, not sure how this is better than a nap
How We Chose
The dry shampoos featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized effectiveness, scent, residue, duration, and ease of use. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
