7 Best Dry Dog Shampoos for Stinky Dogs

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For many dogs and their owners, bath time is a stressful ordeal. That’s why dry dog shampoos are a great tool to have in your pet care arsenal. They can be used to deodorize your dog in-between grooming sessions or as a bathing alternative for pets who are extremely anxious or fearful of water.

Whether in a powder, spray or foaming mousse formula, the best dry dog shampoos promise to leave dogs looking and smelling fresh without requiring any rinsing with water. Take a look below at our picks for some of the best dry dog shampoos.

1. Burt’s Bees Waterless Shampoo Spray

Stock up on with this two-pack of Burt’s Bees waterless shampoo spray for dogs. It’s made with 97% natural ingredients like eucalyptus and honey that will leave your pet shiny and nicely scented.

What we like about it:

PH balanced to help moisturize a dog’s skin
Cruelty-free and formulated without parabens, phthalates, or petroleum
Made in the U.S.

Helpful Review: “For a dog that isn’t a fan of baths, this is wonderful. It smells good and leaves her fur clean and soft. She doesn’t mind it being sprayed and enjoys being clean afterwards.”

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2. Wahl No Rinse Dog Shampoo

This foaming Wahl dog shampoo has a calming lavender and chamomile scent. To use it, you pump the foam into your hands and massage into it the dog’s coat, rather than spray it directly on your pet like with some other shampoos.

What we like about it:

Moisturizes and cleans pet hair without harsh chemicals
Does not contain parabens, alcohol, or PEG-80
Some reviewers have noted that it even removed skunk spray

Helpful Review: “I have a Golden Retriever and it’s a huge pain to give him a bath…I add a few pumps to warm water in a dishpan and wipe him down really well with a washcloth. Then I just brush him out. His coat has never been so soft and beautiful as it is since I’ve started using this product.”

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3. Fresh Dog Dry Shampoo Powder

If shampoo sprays are still too much for your dog to handle, this gentle dry shampoo powder from Fresh Dog is the perfect solution. It only requires sprinkling it on your pet and then brushing out the powder with a dog brush.

What we like about it:

100% natural ingredients like baking soda, corn starch, and pet-safe essential oils
Has a lovely lavender rosemary scent
Can also be used to deodorize pet bedding or carpet

Helpful Review: “Our giant of a dog hates getting a bath, so she doesn’t get one. She keeps herself groomed nicely but sometimes gets a little stinky. This has worked perfectly for her. Our medium sized dog gets a bath but somehow manages to reek all the time! I think she rolls in something. Anyway, this fixes her problem. We also use it on the dogs’ couch.”

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4. Paw Choice Dry Dog Shampoo

Your dog will smell good enough to eat with the mango and pomegranate scent thanks to this foaming mousse from Paw Choice. Plus, this product promises to remove odor and not just mask it.

What we like about it:

Mild enough to use on sensitive pet skin
Formulated without parabens, sulfates, and alcohol
Easy to use; simply apply it to your hands before working it into the dog’s coat

Helpful Review: “I bought this originally because one of my dogs had surgery and couldn’t be bathed for several months. It worked beautifully for him, but also, for my other little dog who loves to roll in the grass and forever is coming in the house stinking of something bad.”

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5. Bodhi Dog Waterless Shampoo

Available in three different scents (lavender, oatmeal, or lemongrass), this Bodhi Dog waterless shampoo is hypoallergenic and formulated for dogs with sensitive skin.

What we like about it:

Works within minutes to deodorize your pet
Completely free of detergents, alcohol, parabens, sulfates, and SLS
Safe to use on puppies and pregnant dogs

Helpful Review: “This is the best waterless shampoo we have tried…This really helps with the ‘dirty dog’ smell that clings to our dog after the dog park and/or doggie daycare. The scent is not overwhelming but it does a great job of removing the bad smells leaving our dog smelling fresh until he goes and gets all dirty again in a few days.”

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6. Vet’s Best Waterless Dog Bath

For dogs 12 weeks and older, this Vet’s Best foaming dog shampoo is a great choice that’s formulated with natural but effective ingredients like aloe vera, micronized oatmeal, and neem oil.

What we like about it:

Cleans, moistures, and soothes itchy pet skin
Very lightly scented, which is ideal for the perfume-adverse
Formulated without harsh chemicals

Helpful Review: “My dog is terrified of baths, so I try to limit how often I put her through that stress. This product works so well, and she actually seems to enjoy it. The smell is nice, but not overpowering. The ‘doggy smell’ seems to actually go away and not just be masked by the product. Highly recommend.”

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7. Vet Recommended Waterless Dog Shampoo

With this Vet Recommended waterless dog shampoo a light spray and wipe is all that’s needed to clean and deodorize your dog. The shampoo has a fresh apple scent and won’t strip your dog’s coat of its natural oils.

What we like about it:

Hypoallergenic with a mild scent derived from apple extract
Formulated without artificial dyes, parabens, SLS, or alcohol
The manufacturer offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied

Helpful Review: “Seems to work well – my dog is injured and can’t get wet for a while. So far I’ve liked the product – no perfume-y smells which is good. It also left her coat feeling soft which I liked as well.”

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Need Dog Grooming?

Does your dog need a fresh trim? A groomer can now come to your house! Rover offers dog grooming in Seattle, Austin, and Denver. To learn more, please check out our page here.