If you’re looking to save a few bucks because, let’s face it, dogs can be an expensive business; then you might be considering tackling your pet’s coat care at home. If you do, you will need to know exactly what’s in store for you and the right tools for dealing with it. One of the first things you will need to pick up is a shampoo that will work for your pet’s particular kind of coat. This is not always easy, especially for first-time pet parents. That’s when you find yourself asking, “What dog shampoo do groomers use?”

While you might be happy trying products at random until you come up with the right one, wouldn’t it just be easier if you could ask someone who already has a great deal of experience with bathing dogs? Well, we’ve done just that. So, without further ado, here are our top shampoos, recommended by groomers with years of experience, that you will love every bit as much as the experts do.

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TropiClean Luxury 2 in 1 Papaya & Coconut Pet Shampoo & Conditioner

Packing a power hydration punch even while being entirely soap-free, TropiClean’s Shampoo and Conditioner in one is great for pups with particularly long, tangle or shed-prone coats. The all-natural conditioning agents nourish the hair root to tip, even as the mild coconut cleansers are working hard to wash away dirt, dander, and loose hair leaving behind nothing but a beautiful silky smooth coat that is huggably soft and effortless to brush. Plus, just wait until you get a load of that gorgeous papaya and coconut scent!

TropiClean Luxury 2 in 1 Papaya & Coconut Pet Shampoo & Conditioner

Top Performance Fresh Pet Shampoo for Dogs & Cats, Fresh Scent

If you’re looking for a shampoo with a long-lasting smell, then you’ve found it. However, that’s not all that this fab shampoo has going for it. It also provides excellent conditioning action that can help keep tangles at bay and for an all-around softer, smoother feel. Beyond that, it’s formulated to match the natural pH level of a dog’s skin, meaning it’s even suitable for use on puppies. Top Performance’s Fresh Scent blend is much-loved among pet parents that have already been turned onto it by their groomers. Just check out the reviews.

Top Performance Fresh Pet Shampoo

Veterinary Formula Solutions Triple Strength Dirty Dog Concentrated Shampoo

If your dog adores getting mucky, this will likely be the product for you. With three times the number of cleaning agents as comparable shampoos, it’s the perfect thing for dealing with seriously dirty coats. As an added bonus, the shampoo’s unique DirtRepel formula keeps hair cleaner for longer, meaning you won’t be stuck tackling your little rascal into the tub quite as often as now. Moreover, with aloe, vitamin E, and shea butter, plus a fresh green apple and white tea scent, it conditions, deodorizes, and smells great too.

Veterinary Formula Solutions Triple Strength Dirty Dog Concentrated Shampoo

Earthbath Light Color Coat Brightening Lavender Dog Shampoo

For that supreme sparkle that previously only seemed possible with a professional groom, pick yourself up a bottle of Earthbath’s Brightening Shampoo. When it comes to adding a little bit of brilliance to your pet’s coat, it can’t be beaten. The shampoo’s coconut-based cleaners moisturize, plus they are mild, kind to the skin, and extra hydrating. Moreover, the lavender scent not only smells sumptuous but can help keep your tub-anxious fur baby stress free while you’re working on getting them super clean, gorgeously soft, and epically fresh. 

Earthbath Light Color Coat Brightening Lavender Dog Shampoo

Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Oatmeal Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

If that wet dog smell haunts you everywhere you go, and you can’t seem to shake it no matter what you try, give Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal formula a go. The soap-free shampoo’s plant-derived odor control system, including calming chamomile and oatmeal, which is super kind to sensitive skin, neutralizes a wide range of unpleasant canine smells. In fact, the company is so confident that this is the cure for your pet smell woes that they guarantee your money back if you find that it doesn’t work for you. You can’t ask for more than that! 

Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Hypoallergenic Shampoo & Conditioner

Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey for Dogs

Skin issues can be a common concern in canine children of Poodles. That’s why we’ve included this awesome shampoo on the list. Derived from 99.7% natural ingredients such as soothing oat flour and shine-enhancing honey, Burt’s Bees Shampoo is just as gentle as you need it to be. While the coco, green tea, and oatmeal are busy looking after your pet’s sore, irritated skin, the other ingredients are hard at work cleaning, conditioning, and adding extra shine to their coat. If you’ve been seeing a lot of extra shed recently, this will be a great pick for you. 

Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey for Dogs

Why The Right Shampoo Matters

Now, if you don’t have much dog experience, you might be thinking that all shampoos are the same. This is definitely not the case. Just as we have different issues with our various hair types, so do hounds. While every product you see on the shelves will likely be good for basic cleaning (albeit some better than others), they won’t all work well on other issues like tangles or that stinky dog odor, for instance. 

So, if you do attempt to bathe your dog with just any off-the-shelf product, you may find that they come out of the tub smelling just as bad as before they went in – maybe even worse, as we all know how bad wet dogs can be. Or with a dry, tangly coat or, even worse, red, irritated skin. In this case, you may be left wondering what sorcery groomers work when they return your pup smelling so fresh, looking so clean with a silky soft coat.

Well, the thing about groomers is, in their time, they’ve dealt with just about every kind of dog coat out there. This means they’ve had a lot of time to work with different products and have come to know exactly which ingredients work best for different coat and skin issues. They will have done battle with tangles and fleas and ticks and soothed red, inflamed skin, so they will know exactly what kinds of shampoo to come armed with in every situation. They will have dealt with each of the following on many an occasion: 

How To Choose A Grooming Shampoo For Your Dog

Dog Grooming Shampoo To Tackle Knots And Tangles

Knots, tangles, and matting are common problems for Doodles, particularly ones that inherit that glorious Poodle coat. Sure, you could deal with them simply by spending hours every day grooming your pup’s hair, but nowadays, you really don’t need to. There are a ton of great products on the market that can not only aid you in removing tangles with ease but even prevent them from occurring in the first place – amazing! 

Opt for a deep conditioning shampoo or even a shampoo plus conditioner. Basically, you want something that will be super hydrating for your pet’s coat. Locking moisture back into the individual hair strands will leave them much smoother, reducing their tangle potential. Plus, keeping the coat healthy makes it last longer, lessening the amount of shed. As loose hairs are prone to get tangled up in the coat, this, too, is a win-win.

Groomer Shampoo For Dogs That Get Smelly

Active pups always on the go are bound to get dirty. Whether they are spending their time dashing in and out of the ocean or lakes or running through bushes and rolling in things you really don’t want to think too much about. And a dirty dog is inevitably a smelly one – especially with water involved. Then they come and rub that nastiness all over your lovely clean house. It’s enough to make you want to cry – or at least banish your baby outside. 

Before you set about constructing that outdoor dog house, try investing in a product with odor-eliminating properties. While most shampoos will claim to replace bad smells with good ones, it really is best to opt for something specifically designed for this task. You also want to make sure the item in question really works to neutralize foul smells rather than simply masking them, as so many do with overpowering floral or citrus scents. 

What Dog Shampoo Do Groomers Use To Wash Scaredy Pups?

Another common canine problem. No matter how much your Doodle may adore splashing around in the surf, playing with the hose pipe, or trying to coax their way into any body of water, when it comes to bath time, it’s a whole other story. The truth is there really is just something about the tub that has the ability to reduce your otherwise fearless four-legged friend into a gibbering wreck, making wash time that much harder. 

Chances are the first reason your pooch isn’t happy is that they can’t get a decent grip on the bottom of the bath. If you don’t have a suitable bath mat, try lining the tub with an old towel – one problem solved. Then seek out a shampoo that is not only mild with a very subtle smell (don’t forget how much more sensitive a dog’s nose is) but that also contains soothing essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or mint that can help your pet feel less anxious. 

What Dog Shampoo Do Groomers Use: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I wash my dog like the groomers? 

Once you have the proper products, bathing your pal should be a breeze. Check whether you need to dilute the shampoo, as this is easier done in advance. Coax your pup into the tub (treats can REALLY help here), wash them thoroughly, making sure the formula penetrates the hairs right down to the root, then rinse until the water runs clean – it’s as easy as that. 

What causes a dog to smell even after a bath?

Your pet may retain that wet dog smell right washing, no matter how often you clean them. However, it should dissipate just as soon as they’re dry. If it doesn’t, then either the shampoo you are using simply isn’t strong enough to conquer odors, or there is something else going on. Give the odor control option on our list a whirl, but you may need to speak to your vet if the problem persists.

How can I make my pet smell good all the time? 

If you pick a good shampoo, this will seriously help your pup stay clean-smelling for longer. However, steer away from washing them more than once or twice a month. This can seriously dry out their coat and skin, leading to issues such as excessive shedding. There are other options for helping your pooch remain fresh such as waterless shampoos that you simply rub into their coat. 

If you’re looking to get that professionally-clean coat that you’ve previously only seen when your pup gets back from the groomers, then you are going to want to invest in the right products to do this. Top of the list should be a top-quality dog shampoo. However, there are so many options these days, with so many different functions, so it can be a pretty head-spinning experience shopping for the right product. That’s why we have cut to the chase and asked the professionals for their recommendations on pet salon-quality products at reasonable prices. We are confident that you will find something that works for your Doodle on this list of excellent dog shampoos. Happy shopping 🙂

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