Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles (for Coat Care + More): Ultimate List

As a Doodle owner, you know how important baths are for maintaining that beautiful coat. Now, there are thousands of pet shampoos on the market, but which coat care products are best for your pup? In this article, we’re going to provide an ultimate list of best dog shampoo for Doodles based on online ratings and reviews. The list will cover shampoos for a variety of uses, as well as a variety of skin/health conditions. Ready? Let’s go.

Table of Contents

• Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: Coat Care
  • Best Dog Detangling Shampoo
  • Best Dog Whitening Shampoo
  • Best Dog Shampoo and Conditioner in One
• Best Dog Conditioner for Doodles
  • Best Dog Detangling Conditioner
  • Best Leave-In Dog Conditioner
• Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: Special Purposes
  • Best Flea Shampoo for Dogs (Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs)
  • Best Smelling Dog Shampoo
  • Best Puppy Shampoo
  • Best Dry and Waterless Dog Shampoo
  • Best Natural Dog Shampoo
  • Best Dog Shampoo for Odor
• Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: Skin Conditions
  • Best Medicated Dog Shampoo
  • Best Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin
  • Best Oatmeal Dog Shampoo
  • Best Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo and Shampoo for Sensitive Skin
  • Best Dog Shampoo for Allergies (in Humans)
  • Best Dog Shampoo for Shedding
• Best Human Shampoo for Dogs…?
• Homemade Dog Shampoo
  • Basic 3-Ingredient Homemade Dog Shampoo Recipe
• Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: FAQs
  • What Can I Use to Wash My Dog if I Don’t Have Dog Shampoo?
  • Can I Wash My Dog with Human Shampoo?
  • Can You Use Human Conditioner on Dogs?
  • Can I Use Body Wash on My Dog?
  • Can I Use Baby Shampoo on My Dog?
  • Can I Use Dove Soap on My Dog?
  • Can You Use Dish Soap to Wash a Dog?
  • Can I Sprinkle Baking Soda on My Dog?
  • Can I Put Febreze on My Dog?

Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: Coat Care

Best Dog Detangling Shampoo

We all know how prone to matting Doodles are! These dog detangling shampoo products entail deep conditioning ingredients to deliver a tangle-free, soft, silky coat. They are perfect for curly and long coats, like the ones Doodles have. In addition to detangling sprays, use dog detangling shampoo to get a leg up on coat maintenance. Some highly-rated dog detangling shampoo include:

Best Dog Whitening Shampoo

Dog whitening shampoos are specially formulated to safely whiten and brighten white or light-colored fur. They optically enhance to make dull fur appear whiter and more vibrant. These shampoos are also useful in adding highlights to darker-colored fur. Some highly-rated dog whitening shampoo include:

Best Dog Shampoo and Conditioner in One

The ingredients that make up these products work together to make things convenient for you. Dog shampoo and conditioner-in-one products cleanse and condition. The shampoos leave your dog’s coat feeling and looking silky smooth, while the conditioners leave his skin moisturized. A few highly-rated best dog shampoo and conditioner in one products include:

Best Dog Conditioner for Doodles

Best Dog Detangling Conditioner

Curly-coated Doodle owners, this one’s for you! Did you know that using conditioner on your pup’s curls is a total game-changer? Conditioner is the secret ingredient to keeping those adorable spirals soft, manageable, and tangle-free. It works wonders in hydrating the coat, making brushing a much smoother experience for both you and your furry friend. Don’t skip the conditioner – it’s the key to unlocking the most luscious, bouncy curls that everyone will envy!

Best Leave-In Dog Conditioner

Rather than using a conditioner during bathing, these leave-in dog conditioners are applied to the coat after a bath and left in. They can either be sprays or products with an oil-like consistency. Now since you’re a Doodle owner, detangling leave-in dog conditioners are going to kill two birds with one stone. We all know how prone to matting Doodles are! A few highly-rated best leave-in dog conditioner products include:

Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: Special Purposes

Best Flea Shampoo for Dogs (Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs)

The most searched category of pet shampoos is flea shampoo for dogs. If your pup just can’t seem to keep those little buggers off himself, consider one of the following best dog shampoo for flea control. These shampoos effectively kill fleas and ticks, as well as flea eggs, flea larvae, lice, and mosquitos. Some highly-rated flea shampoo for dogs include:

Best Smelling Dog Shampoo

No one likes wet dog smell, espically after a bath. And if you’re not using the best dog shampoo for smelly dogs, your clean pup will be left smelling less than amazing. Luckily there are some wonderful smelling dog shampoos available on the market. A few highly-rated best smelling dog shampoo include:

Best Puppy Shampoo

Puppy shampoo cleans, soothes, softens, and conditions your puppy’s delicate skin and coat. These are typically very mild, extra gentle shampoos that are pH balanced especially for puppies. They are also typically free of fragrances, sulfates, colorants, and harsh chemicals. Many of them are also tearless dog shampoo, which further makes them the best dog shampoo for puppies. Some highly-rated puppy shampoo include:

Best Dry and Waterless Dog Shampoo

No running water? No problem! Waterless dog shampoo is an alternative to regular dog shampoo. They are easy-to-use no-rinse formulas that allow for worry-free cleanup after playing at the dog park, camp outs, and more. These waterless, dry dog shampoo products provide a mild cleanse that leaves your dog’s coat smelling fresh between baths. A few highly-rated best dry and waterless dog shampoo include:

Best Natural Dog Shampoo

Some of us prefer products that are all natural and/or organic. There aren’t a ton of these on the market, but there are some all natural or organic dog shampoo products that contain only high-quality natural ingredients and no synthetic ingredients whatsoever. If this is what you want, look no further than the following selection of highly-rated best natural dog shampoo:

Best Dog Shampoo for Odor

No matter what you do, does your dog just perpetually stink? If you’re asking “what is the best dog shampoo for odor?” Then you’re in the right section. The best dog shampoo for odor and smell are products that are formulated with odor neutralizers and deodorizers for tough pet coat odors. Keep that stinky pup smelling fresh and clean until his next bath. Some highly-rated best dog shampoo for odor include:

Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: Skin Conditions

Best Medicated Dog Shampoo

Medicated dog shampoo is meant for dogs who need some extra help to treat skin conditions. These medicated dog shampoos promote healing by treating scaling caused by seborrhea, relieving mange, and treating fungal, bacterial, and other parasitic infections. The overarching medicated dog shampoo category includes anti-fungal shampoo for dogs, antibacterial shampoo for dogs, and anti yeast shampoo for dogs. Some highly-rated medicated dog shampoo include:

Best Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin

Got a scratchy pup? Give him relief from his itchy skin with anti itch shampoo for dogs. These itch relief shampoos commonly contain oatmeal, aloe vera, and/or tea tree oil ingredients because of their soothing properties. A few highly-rated best dog shampoo for itchy skin include:

Best Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

Oatmeal dog shampoo is very highly searched-for product. Oatmeal specifically provide a protective layer on the skin, which makes it great for soothing relief from irritated skin. Some highly-rated best oatmeal dog shampoo for itchy skin include:

Best Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo and Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

When we’re talking about sensitive skin, it’s important to use products that won’t further irritate your pup. Hypoallergenic dog shampoo for sensitive skin is specifically developed to ease pain and discomfort that many dogs experience. It is designed to alleviate irritants, gently cleanse, and re-moisturize dry skin.

Now if your dog has ever had a skin reaction such as hives to regular dog shampoos, a hypoallergenic dog shampoo is going to be the best dog shampoo for allergies of the skin. These shampoos are very mild, cleanse gently, and are free of harsh chemicals and fragrances. A few highly-rated best hypoallergenic dog shampoo include:

Best Dog Shampoo for Allergies (in Humans)

Despite Doodles being touted as “hypoallergenic”, if you have allergy issues from your dog’s dander/dandruff, these shampoos are going to be the ones for you. These dog shampoo for allergies target pet dander, and are otherwise known as anti-dandruff shampoo for dogs, dog dander shampoo, and anti-dander shampoo for dogs. They work to remove or neutralize dust mite allergens and allergens in pet dander. A few highly-rated best dog shampoo for allergies include:

Best Dog Shampoo for Shedding

Doodles are promoted as being “non-shedding”, but if you’re looking at dog shampoo for shedding, sounds like you got the short end of the stick. Not to worry! There are plenty of products to help you deal with the shedding, including anti-shedding shampoo for dogs. Dog shampoo for shedding works to remove unwanted loose undercoat with less mess. Some highly-rated best dog shampoo for shedding include:

Best Human Shampoo for Dogs…?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there really are no suitable human shampoos that should be used on dogs. This is because human shampoos are more acidic than dog shampoos. What this means is human shampoo, including baby shampoo, will upset the pH balance of your Doodle’s coat and skin, which causes irritation and dryness. (Source) Prolonged use of human shampoo on a dog will lead to skin problems. In other words, there are no best human shampoo for dogs.

The exception? Baby shampoo.

In terms of pH levels (acidity), dog shampoos should be in the neutral range, around 7. Many human shampoo brands include the pH level on their labels, but dog shampoo brands typically will state that their product is pH-balanced for dogs.

Additionally, shampoos that have no artificial fragrances, colors, or harsh chemicals are your best bet.

“Look for natural skin moisturizers like vitamin E, aloe vera, honey, and tea tree oil. Fragrances to look for should be natural; chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus are some examples of clean, pleasant fragrances, some of which also do double duty as insect repellents. If you can find organic or natural shampoos, even better, but don’t rely on the front label alone.”

PetMD (Source)

As you can see, there are a lot of factors going against the idea of using human shampoo on a pup. However, if you’re still determined to find the best human shampoo for dogs, at least check out this Shampoo pH Levels Database page and enter “Neutral” in the field to search by pH type.

Let’s be realistic, though – your chances of having a neutral pH shampoo on hand are slim. So if you’re in a pinch and absolutely NEED to get your pup washed right this second, just use water. Give him a good rinse with water until you can get your hands on a bottle of official dog shampoo. That, or…

Homemade Dog Shampoo

If you have some basic ingredients lying around the kitchen, whip up some homemade dog shampoo!

Basic 3-Ingredient Homemade Dog Shampoo Recipe

In this simple recipe for homemade dog shampoo, you will need dish soap and white vinegar. Dish soap eliminates grease and oils that have accumulated on your dog’s coat and skin. White vinegar has antibacterial and deodorant properties, and will leave his coat shiny and clean.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of warm water
• 1/4 Cup of dish soap
• 1/2 Cup of white vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to mix. Rinse your dog with warm water and spray his coat with the homemade shampoo. Avoid his eyes. Lather the shampoo into his coat. Rinse thoroughly and repeatedly to make sure all the shampoo is rinsed out.

For more homemade dog shampoo recipes, check out this page.

Best Dog Shampoo for Doodles: FAQs

What Can I Use to Wash My Dog if I Don’t Have Dog Shampoo?

What can you wash your dog with if you don’t have dog shampoo? The absolute safest option: water. Water is gentle and pH-neutral so it won’t break down your dog’s acid mantle (source), and will get the job done until you can get your hands on a bottle of formulated shampoo for dogs.

However, washing your Doodle with just water probably won’t suffice. Since Doodles sport naturally long hair, you want to make sure that all the dirt, grime, grease, and other debris can be washed away. The best dog shampoo products will pick up all that stuff and remove it from the coat, but water won’t.

Can I Wash My Dog with Human Shampoo?

No. Human shampoo is not pH-balanced for a dog’s skin. In fact, human shampoo is more acidic, and will break down a dog’s acid mantle.

“The acid mantle protects the topmost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, from contaminants such as viruses and bacteria. It also keeps the body hydrated by absorbing water and reducing evaporation.”

AKC (source)

Can You Use Human Conditioner on Dogs?

No, for the same reason as stated above.

Can I Use Body Wash on My Dog?

No, for the same reason as stated above.

Can I Use Baby Shampoo on My Dog?

While it’s a big no-no to use human shampoo on a dog, baby shampoo is the exception. It’s the one human product that’s safe and effective for dogs. This is because baby shampoo is specifically formulated to be gentle and mild. We all know that a baby’s skin is highly susceptible to irritation, which is why most baby shampoo products contain only simple ingredients.

In other words, if you’re wondering “is baby shampoo ok for dogs”, the answer is yes. You can safely use baby shampoo on your Doodle, but actual dog shampoo is still preferred.

Can I Use Dove Soap on My Dog?

If you’re really in a pinch and can’t wait until you can grab some dog shampoo, it would probably be okay to use Dove soap on occasion to wash your Doodle. Dove soap and Ivory soap are the most gentle of bar soaps. Preferably, use the Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar, since it is an unscented, hypoallergenic soap and is extra gentle on sensitive skin. Just be sure to rinse your dog thoroughly, and don’t make a habit of using Dove soap.

Can You Use Dish Soap to Wash a Dog?

No. Dish soap is definitely too harsh on a dog’s skin. Dish soap like Dawn will strip your Doodle’s skin of its natural oils. Please don’t use dish soap regularly, and only use it if your dog got into motor oil or grease, got sprayed by a skunk, or has been infested with fleas.

Can I Sprinkle Baking Soda on My Dog?

Yes! This is actually a great little trick when you’re in a pinch and have a smelly dog following you around.

You can use baking soda as a dry shampoo as it’s safe and effective at neutralizing odors (source). Here are some steps to take to bathe your Doodle with baking soda:

1. Brush their coat to remove loose hair.
2. Sprinkle baking soda in the coat (avoid the face) and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb any odors.
3. Brush out the baking soda with a brush, use a towel in a drying motion to remove any excess.
4. Optionally, blow out any excess baking soda with a force dryer (see below for recommendations).

Can I Put Febreze on My Dog?

Please don’t do this. While claimed to be safe to use around pets, Febreze is only intended for use on fabrics. It should not be sprayed directly on any pet, and pets should be kept away from sprayed fabrics until the product dries.

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