The 8 Best Puppy Shampoos for a Worry-Free Bathtime

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Your puppy’s first baths can be a special bonding time between you two. For the first few months of your puppy’s life, you don’t need anything more than a soft cloth and some warm water to clean your new friend. But as your dog grows up, finding a good puppy shampoo with a calming scent and soothing feel helps to teach puppies that baths can be enjoyable—a lesson you’ll really appreciate as they become more prone to bathtub escapes.

How to Give a Puppy A Bath

According to the American Kennel Club, puppies should be bathed once a month—or as needed, based on what kind of adorable trouble your curious puppy gets into.

At eight weeks, it may be best to wipe your puppy down with just a washcloth and warm water. This will clean away any dirt and grime, but it’ll also introduce the idea of bath time. Make sure that your time in the tub involves lots of cuddles and treats and play—assuming you don’t mind a splash or two.

Shampoo can often be introduced to a puppy’s bathtime around three months of age. Puppy shampoo is specially formulated for young dogs’ soft fur and delicate skin. Certain breeds may need a particular formula intended for their unique coat, so it’s always good to talk to your vet for recommendations.

Never use human shampoo for your dogs of any age. The natural pH balance of dogs is very different than humans, and swapping formulas can upset that balance, leaving your puppy with dry, irritated skin.

As you lather your pup, use gentle movements in the direction of their hair growth. You’ll want to avoid the eyes and ears. Water in the ears can be especially uncomfortable, as it often becomes trapped and leads to an ear infection. Use a conditioner after you shampoo to keep your pup’s coat shiny and soft, and finish off with a gentle blow dry or cuddly towel session.

The Best Puppy Shampoos

To find the best puppy shampoos, we focused on formulas with all-natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals. Many are tear-free for less chance of irritation too. Only the best for your pup, right?

1. Earthbath Ultra-Mild Wild Cherry Puppy Shampoo

The scent is just the cherry on top of this natural, gentle cleanser. It’s pH balanced and designed just for sensitive puppy fur and skin.

What we like:

• Gentle, soap-free formula isn’t drying
• Soothing aloe vera helps to relieve itchiness
• Tear-free and pH balanced

2. Tropiclean Hypo-Allergenic Gentle Coconut Puppy Shampoo

Coconut is the ultimate skin-friendly ingredient—and it smells great too. Tropiclean’s gentle, hypo-allergenic shampoo keeps puppies itch-free and smelling like summer.

What we like:

• Quality certified organic ingredients
• Rich lather to make washing a breeze
• Soap-free, pH balanced formula
• Gentle and tear-free

3. Burt’s Bees for Puppies Tearless Shampoo and Conditioner

This convenient two-in-one formula comes from Burt’s Bees, a trusted skincare and beauty brand for pet parents. It’s gentle and made from 97% natural ingredients.

What we like:

• Made with nourishing buttermilk, linseed oil, and honey
• Tear-less and pH balanced for puppies
• No parabens, phthalates, SLS, petroleum, or synthetic fragrances

4. Pet Pleasant Lavender Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs and Puppies

The relaxing, lavender-scented cleansing shampoo works well for both puppies and adult dogs—and can’t hurt for humans trying to bathe a squirmy puppy, too.

What we like:

• Calming lavender essential oil makes bathtime a more pleasant experience
• Tear-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and sulfate-free
• Vet-recommended clinical formula
• Soothing jojoba and colloidal oatmeal helps with itchy-skin

5. Veterinary Formula Solutions Puppy Love Shampoo

Extra gentle, this Veterinary Formula Solutions shampoo is made in the U.S.A. It’s pH balanced, tear-free, and has a pleasant long-lasting scent.

What we like:

• Long-lasting fresh baby powder fragrance
• Contains no DEA, parabens, or sulfates
• Extra gentle, tear-free formula

6. BioSilk for Dogs Puppy Tearless Shampoo

Jazz up bathtime with this high-quality jasmine-scented puppy shampoo from the people behind the BioSilk hair products for humans.

What we like:

• Only 11 ingredients
• Tear-free and pH balanced for puppies
• Safe for use with topical flea treatments

7. Rocco & Roxie Dog Shampoo Hypoallergenic for Sensitive Skin

A calming shampoo made with a puppy’s sensitive skin in mind, this Rocco & Roxie shampoo easily rinses out to make bathtime a breeze.

What we like:

• Made with natural aloe, rosemary, and chamomile
• Tear-free
• No artificial colors, dyes, or harsh chemicals
• Light, pleasant herbal scent

8. Seamus Sugar Cookie Tearless Puppy Shampoo

Have your little sugar cookie smell just like one! This is extra-gentle, because it’s made from tearless baby shampoo that’s formulated for pets.

What we like:

• Soap-free, tear-free, hypo-allergenic
• No harsh chemicals
• Pharmasome technology keeps skin and coat hydrated long after the bath is over
• Made in the U.S.A.

Further Reading

• Your Puppy’s Emotional Development Month by Month
• The Essential New Puppy Checklist
• The First 5 Things to Teach Your New Puppy (and When to Start)