Best shampoo for Shih Tzu – Buyer’s Guide

It’s difficult to know which grooming products to look for… especially when you see a whole range of products you go.. OMG so how am I ever going to find the best shampoo for Shih Tzu?

Well, It turns out, that you can find the most suitable products by knowing just 5 things to look for….

Today, I am going to show you what those 5 things are and how you too can use this information to uncover some of the best shampoos and conditioners in the market.

Best Quality Dog Shampoos for Shih Tzu 2021

Shampoo Name	Our Rating	CHECK PRICE on Amazon	What is this Shampoo Good for
4-Legger Organic Dog Shampoo Editor’s TOP Choice	(4.9 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	4-Legger USDA Certified Organic Dog Shampoo - All Natural and Hypoallergenic with Aloe and Lemongrass, Soothing for Normal, Dry, Itchy or Allergy Sensitive Skin - Biodegradable - Made in USA - 16 oz
SynergyLabs Editor’s Choice	(4.9 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Best Medicated Shampoo for Dogs to buy in 2021 (Editor’s Choice)
Sofee & Co	(4.9 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Sofee & Co
Gerrard Larriett	(4.7 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Good smelling, super soft, Gentle, Good for allergies Great for Sensitive Skin, Good Price Great as a Puppy shampoo too!
Burt's Bees	(4.7 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	2nd Best Budget Shampoo
Earthbath	(4.6 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Best overall Ingredients
Pro Pet	(4.6 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Completely Organic Material
Fresh 'n Clean	(4.6 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Best Budget Shampoo of 2021
Cloud Star	(4.5 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Best Natural Ingredients
OxGord/Paws & Pals	(4.4 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Great for coat softness
Douxo	(4.2 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Good for Allergies, But Contain Some Chemicals
Wahl Natural	(2.7 / 5)	Check Price on Amazon	Cheapest Shampoo, but is Full of bad Chemicals!

What to Look for When Buying Dog Shampoo?

You are here, because You love your dog, and you want your beloved companion to have a healthy, shiny, silky smooth and a neat coat….

Free from chemicals

• • body oils accumulate all day long, right from the moment of the bath up to the next time. They are inevitable and unavoidable because it is the body’s natural way of keeping both its coat and skin moisturized by getting secreted from the shih tzu’s skin pores.
  • They would have nowhere to go once these secreted oils have built up
  • You can imagine what would naturally happen next. Shih Tzu’s hair would become greasy and smelly if you do not have the right shampoo to wash it away. Everyone understands that oil and water are not a good mix.
  • This is exactly what cheap shampoos would do. they do not have the proper cleaning agents and contain way too much quantity of water. Such a combination would never be able to properly wash off all that oil and dirt.
  • Assuming you can recall your Shih Tzu having a funny smell or that its coat did not have a nice shine after a bath, then you would now know what must have happened. You probably made use of a terrible shampoo for cleaning up.

The right pH balance

• • • in selecting the best shampoos, one has to consider their effect on its coat and skin. Shampoos that are inferior and some that are used by us humans are pH balanced to be acidic.
    • While a 4.5 – 5.5 level of acidity is required for human shampoo, dogs need to have a great deal more alkalinity level, which means one that is close to neutral acidity.
    • Several negative effects would be caused if the chemical constituents of a shampoo either lacks alkaline or happens to be too acidic.
    • Some of these negative effects which you would easily notice would be yeast infections, which result from the upper layers of shih tzu’s skin being stripped away chemically; irritation which would be noticed from its continuous and sometimes excessive itching; and dry skin.
    • Also, the Shih Tzu’s colouring could be affected when you select the wrong type of shampoo. The colouring of its coat would dull and if it used to shine and glitter, all of that could be removed from using a wrong shampoo.

1 Sofee & Co. White Pear Natural Dog Shampoo

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: Between pH5 and pH7

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur soft to touch

Washes out easily: Yes

Performance

Sofee & Co.’s White Pear Natural Dog Shampoo is a perfect fit for your pup!
The retailer advertises this product as completely free of harmful chemicals and unnatural coloring. This organic shampoo will not strip your dog’s fur and instead will leave it soft to the touch. It is gentle enough for weekly use and safe to use with topical flea/tick medications.

Creating cruelty-free products remains essential for Sofee & Co. Their shampoo is created with care without artificial ingredients to ensure that it is both safe and effective for your animal. The long-lasting pear scent of the shampoo will make your pooch smell heavenly and enable relaxation.

For a completely organic product, this shampoo is reasonably priced. However, for the savvy consumer, it has been noted that there is a prominent and positive difference if one simply forgoes the conditioner and just uses the shampoo.

Interestingly enough, this shampoo shares the same consistency as shampoo for humans and operates at the ideal PH balance for shampoo between 5 and 7, ensuring that it is a good fit for your dog that needs hypoallergenic care.

Conclusion

2 Gerrard Larriett Lavender and Chamomile - Good smelling, super soft, Gentle, Good for allergies Great for Sensitive Skin, Good Price

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: Between pH5 and pH7

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat:Fur feel Soft and supple

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

Lavender oil
Chamomile oil
Aloe Vera
Vitamin E oil
Oat Extract

Performance

First in line is a shampoo and conditioner blend by Gerrard Larriett. Gerrard Larriet produces a line of all-natural pet care products that includes sunscreens, breath fresheners, chew deterrents, and even pet candles! All their products are marketed as 100% bio-degradable and earth friendly, and this shampoo in particular has been formulated for sensitive skin. On top of all that, it’s also paraben-free and dye-free. That means right off the bat it’s hitting a lot of the main points about what to look for in a good shampoo – its pH balanced, free from harsh chemicals, and is formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin. Of all the shampoos we’re talking about today, this is the one I was most excited about. Who doesn’t love a little aromatherapy puppy time?!

On opening the bottle, I was greeted by the soothing (but not overwhelming!) smell of lavender and chamomile, just as the label promises. I imagined that I could smell a little oat, but it’s hidden, along with the smell of aloe and vitamin E oil, but what the lacked in smell they made up for in power! The combination of ingredients was perfect for my pup’s fur, and I could tell how soft and supple it was going to be while I was still rubbing the suds into his coat. And the suds! They were copious and delicious. Although the suds were ample, they washed out easily and left my shih-tzu’s coat supple and moisturized. He loved bathtime even more than usual with this shampoo!

Conclusion

3 Burt’s Bee’s Dog Shampoo - 2nd Best Budget Shampoo

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: Information not available from the manufacturer!

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur shiny

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

Beeswax Coco Betaine, Colloidal Oatmeal, Coco Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Camelia sinensis (Green Tea) extract Honey, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Water, Xanthan Gum.

Performance

Burt’s Bees sells many different varieties of dog shampoo, offering increased customer choice. The all-natural shampoo ingredients help to ensure that the shampoo is PH-Balanced and gentle to use on dog’s skin. It is even safe to use on a dog’s face and around a dog’s ears. The mild formula does not dry out the skin or fur instead moisturizing and softening both. Some customers have been pleased with the size of the 16-ounce bottle.
This shampoo has a pleasantly mild scent that is not too overpowering. It leaves the dog smelling fresh and is easy to rinse off a dog’s fur. It cleans dogs completely of dirt or other refuse. It will not remove topical tick and flea treatments and it is safe to use with both.

Conclusion

4 Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo - Best overall Ingredients

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: pH7

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur soft to touch

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

Aloe Vera, vitamins A, B, D & E, 3% of colloidal oatmeal, lauryl glucoside, coco glucoside, glycerin, cocoamphoacetate, purified water, glyceryl cocoate, , allontoin, omega 6, vanilla & almond, and natural preservatives.

Performance

Earthbath offers dog shampoo made completely from all-natural and biodegradable materials. This company offers a variety of different scents such as Oatmeal & Aloe, Mediterranean Magic Rosemary, Mango Tango and many others. There is also a completely tearless variety available as well as a shampoo made specifically for cats.

For customers who have pets that suffer from many allergies, Earthbath offers a completely hypo-allergenic formula.The all-natural formula ensures that your animal is not exposed to anything that could harm it. This shampoo is advertised as cruelty-free and completely gentle to use on animals with sensitive skin or allergies.

This shampoo is most effective with animals that do not have a grain allergy. It works well to soothe skin irritated by allergens or pests. It uses food-grade vanilla and almond extracts in its composition. It has a pleasant smell that is not too overpowering and leaves fur completely clean as well as soft for days after washing.

Conclusion

5 Pro Pet Works Hypoallergenic Shampoo - Completely Organic Material

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: Information not available from the manufacturer!

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur soft to touch

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

The ingredients as listed on the product are below:
Aloe Vera, Vitamin A, Almond Oil, Vitamin B and Vitamin C.

Performance

Pro Pet Works sells a pet shampoo made in the U.S.A and contains completely organic materials. As such, it is gentle to use on animals and is particularly effective on animals with sensitive skin. In addition to dogs, this shampoo can also be used on cats, rabbits, horses and ferrets. It is safe to use with topical tick and flea treatments.
This shampoo leaves the animal’s fur with a lustrous sheen. Customers have noticed a difference in the softness of the fur after the very first use. The all-natural ingredients give it a long-lasting and pleasant scent of almond; it works great. It will also moisturize skin and help to repel fleas. This shampoo is the same quality that professional pet groomers use.

Conclusion

6 Fresh ‘N Clean Shampoo, Classic Fresh Scent - Best Budget Shampoo of 2021

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: Between pH5 and pH7

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Clean and soft

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

Disodium oleamido mea, sulfosuccinate, cocomide dietanolamne, aloe vera gel, cocomidopropyl betaine, Sodium laureth sufate

Performance

I'm pleased with such an appropriately named product. Fresh N Clean Scented Shampoo seemed simple and to the point. Meaning, the price is right and the description fits the product. No surprises of pungent dog shampoos I used in the past. Or, lingering bad odors causing guests to make faces while entering my home. If anything, the leftover scent seemed like a deodorizer, or a plug in. I didn’t mind having the shampoo on my skin or have the feeling that I need gloves and a mask to wash my dog.

He didn’t seem to mind being washed with the Fresh N Clean shampoo. He rarely does mind, but there was no squirming or difficulty once we started. The bubbles never came across as toys for him or anything weird like that. The shampoo worked well with his medium lengthed coat.

There was no leftover soap like I had experienced with inferior products. Other products can come across oily. This wasn’t the case with the Fresh N Clean. There wasn’t any need for extensive rinsing. His coat was as soft as it has been with any comparable shampoo. There seemed to be an extended pleasant scent in the house about a week after his bath. Not once did the “wet dog” smell get into the air.

Conclusion

7 Cloud Star Corporation Buddy Wash - Best Natural Ingredients

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: Information not available from the manufacturer!

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur shiny and soft

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

Aloe vera gel, chamomile extract, coconut shampoo base, mint extract, nettle extract, rosemary extract, tea tree oil, vitamins C & E.

Performance

This product is advertised as using natural essential oils and herbs in its composition. The mint and lavender scent is not too overpowering and promotes relaxation. The scent is pleasant and long-lasting. It makes the fur soft and gives it a shiny sheen. It is a combination of shampoo and condition will help save money as you will only need to buy one bottle of product. It is made in the United States.
The shampoo has a thick consistency and a dense lather which washes out easily to ensure cleanliness. It works effectively on both small and large dogs. It does not dry out the skin or fur, instead working to moisturize both. Pet parents have reported that it does not take a large amount of product to get their dogs clean, ensuring that the product will last.

Conclusion

8 OxGord/ Paws & Pals Dog Shampoo - Great product for coat softness

Free from Harsh chemicals: Yes

pH balanced: Information not available from the manufacturer!

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur soft to touch

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

Below are the ingredients that the manufacturer lists in their product. All ingredients are non-toxic:
Oatmeal, jojoba and coconut oils, shea butter, rosemary, aloe, chamomile, sodium lauryl sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Cocamide-MEA, and Laureth-10

Performance

OxGord offers an all-natural dog shampoo with a pleasant scent of cherry-almond. It is advertised as helpful for soothing a dog’s irritated skin irrespective of the cause: it will work to treat skin afflicted with allergies, irritation or pests.

The manufacturer produces these products in the United States. They will ship the bottle of shampoo in a plastic bag as a safeguard to protect against leakage during delivery. The bottle does not leak and it is very easy to stretch out the shampoo. It does not take a gratuitous amount to clean your dog.

This shampoo will also enhance the softness of your dog’s fur, adding volume and shine. It rinses out easily and will leave your dog’s fur clean.

Conclusion

9 Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo - Good for Allergies, But Contain Some Chemicals

Free from Harsh chemicals: No

pH balanced: Information not available from the manufacturer!

Gentle on skin: Yes

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur shiny but dry

Washes out easily: Yes

Active ingredients:

Climbazole used to treat fungal infections, 3% of chlorhexidine used as a bactericidal and a fungicidal, Phytosphingosine-salicyloyl used as bactiostatic and
Lipacide C8G used as a moisturizing agent.

Performance

Douxo shampoo has been shown to be effective on dogs with skin conditions caused by allergies. It is effective on many conditions ranging from mild to severe. It works as an antiseptic to prevent infection from forming in wounds caused by scratching. It contains an anti-seborrheic specifically to treat allergic skin disorders.
When used according to the directions on the bottle, one bottle can last two months or more. It leaves the dog smelling clean and fresh. During the bath, the shampoo will create a thick lather that is easy to rinse off. It works to moisturize the dog’s skin and will leave the fur shiny. It is especially effective in treating skin conditions that cause fur loss and customers have reported that their dog will grow fur back quickly. Customers have also reported that repeated use of the shampoo will help decrease vet visits and save money while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the dog.

Conclusion

10 Wahl Natural Pet Shampoo - Cheapest Shampoo, has Aloe vera but is Full of bad Chemicals! 🙁

Free from Harsh chemicals: No

pH balanced: Information not available from the manufacturer!

Gentle on skin: No

Does not strip out the coat: Leaves fur shiny

Washes out easily: No

Active ingredients:

Aloe, Coconut cleansers and fatty acids, soy and sugar cleanser, unspecified vegetable cleanser, Oatmeal Extract, Water.

Performance

This shampoo is advertised as using all natural ingredients. It helps to get rid of foul smells that may cling to your pet. It is PEG-80 free. Customers have reported that there is a nice lather and it suds up nicely. It makes fur shiny and is sold at a reasonable price.
It functions well as a shampoo. For the price, the customer will get a large amount of product. Wahl’s offers a variety of scents which allows for customer choice.
Below are the ingredients listed by the manufacturer

Conclusion

11 Lambert Kay Fresh and Clean Scented Dog and Cat Shampoo Longest Lasting Scent!

The MUST Know, True Facts about Lambert Kay Fresh and Clean Scented Dog and Cat Shampoo

Fresh and Clean does not contain any parabens, phosphates or phthalate ingredients. These ingredients are harmful to dogs because they don’t rinse out of the dog’s coat well and they can cause upset stomachs if the dog licks the residue left on the dog.

It is safe for dogs with sensitive skin. It will not strip their coat or leave their skin dry or itchy. It is pH balanced and used plant-based ingredients.

Crucial Tips

1. If you notice that the smell is beginning to fade, you can rub a moist towel along your dog’s coat to refresh the scent.

Conclusion

11 SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Best Medicated Shampoo for Dogs

SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Medicated Shampoo can work wonders for dogs with itchy skin, dry skin, unhealthy odors, or thin, balding fur. It is important that you check with your veterinarian before using medicated products because they might be too strong for your dog’s condition.

The MUST Know, True Facts about SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic

This medicated shampoo includes ingredients such as Coal Tar, Salicylic Acid, and Micronized Sulfur. These are some of the same ingredients that are used in facial products for humans. They are safe and effective for removing dead skin cells, defeating bacteria, and supporting skin growth at a cellular level.

Crucial Tips

1. It is not likely that any shampoo will completely treat a serious skin condition on the first try. You will need to use this product a few times each week until the infection subsides. It is a good idea to use the shampoo again once a month or so to prevent recurrences.
2. It is important that you rinse your dog well after using the shampoo. If the shampoo leaves residue on your dog’s skin, your dog may lick it and could become sick.
3. Avoid contact with your dog’s eyes and your eyes during and after use.

Conclusion

Dog Shampoo Buyer’s Guide [How to find best shampoos for Shih Tzu]

Different shampoos for Shih Tzu for different uses:

Just like there are different breeds of dogs out there, so also there are different shampoos that can be used for different purposes.

Shih Tzu Leave-in sprays and Conditioners

Anyone would want to know why sprays and conditioners are still vital:
after all you might already have a good shampoo.

Well, although you might have a good shampoo, a leave-in spray and a conditioner are still needed for ensuring retention of colour and shine, and maintaining the health of the coat. What do you think is going to protect the Shih Tzu’s hair once it has taken its bath? Of course that is the duty of the leave-in spray and conditioner. A really good conditioner will protect the hair shafts and hair cuticles by providing a good foundation, while as days go by in between washings a protection would be provided by the leave-in spray.

The roles of the leave-in spray and conditioner are numerous. They both ensure that an additional layer of protection is added to the Shih Tzu against outside elements like arid air and the sun, while also offering prevention from contact friction and split ends. Also, the dog’s hair would be kept separated by the use of a really good leave-in spray, thereby ensuring that whenever you brush their hair mats do not quickly form. Small tangles can also be worked out.

Spritzers for dogs - The Top Picks

Pick 1: one of the best recommended leave-in sprays – The Stuff. This leave-in spray is the appropriate balance to prevent split ends, protect its coat from the sun and contact friction, it does not weigh down the Shih Tzu, and maintains a healthy, bouncy, and super shiny coat.

Pick 2: a superb leave-in coat spritz. Nootie Daily Spritz. Available in five different scents of warm vanilla cookie, sweat pea and vanilla, Japanese cherry blossom, cucumber melon, and coconut lime. Nootie Daily Spritz is a leave-in coat spray of super quality which can do almost all that the other products cannot do.

Getting the Long Coat of a Shih Tzu Groomed

Any owner knows that the long, beautiful coat of their Shih Tzu makes it a fascinating, and charming little pet dog. However, we usually overhear such owners complaining of the coat grooming being a time consuming, difficult, and demanding task.

Others might want to wonder why the coats on some Shih Tzus look like a messy lamp brush while others are so long and shiny. There is no mystery when it comes to giving a long and beautiful coat.

All that is required is some knowledge and information on how to groom. Therefore, in order to provide a long beautiful coat, you would have to be prepared to engage in regular routines of grooming.

Shih Tzu Cosmetics and Grooming Equipment

It is very important that you select the right kind of grooming equipment. This does not mean you have to spend a lot of money on combs and brushes. Just a few that are of excellent quality would be enough to get the job done. A decent Brush is the most important piece of grooming equipment. Apart from being very suitable for undoing and lifting tangles those brushes are also very gentle.

In addition to the brush, you are going to require a metal comb which is straight, with two ends, one of which has fewer teeth and the other end with lots of teeth. In order to make a top-knot for shows, you are going to get a plastic comb that has sharp teeth. This plastic comb can equally be used to comb the facial hair and whiskers. For finishing the hair in the paws you are also going to have to get a pair of small trimming scissors.

Whenever you are combing it, it is recommended that you utilize Ring5 Coat Gloss or any other good grooming liquid that pet shops have available. But if that would be a bother, a conditioner, and some water could be mixed to make your own grooming liquid.

We have previously talked of the best Shih Tzu shampoo's and conditioners that are good. You should remember that when it comes to selecting conditioners, shampoos, and generally other grooming equipment, quality should be the watchword. Many Shih Tzu owners tend to not realize this.A lot of the conditioners available today tend to easily create tangles. To save yourself from avoidable tangles, why not go for top quality grade conditioners like Summerwinds Protect-a-Coat, Hair Care Balsam of KW, Jean-Pierre Herv, #1 All Systems, Biogroom, Coat Conditioner of Coat Handler, or Conditioner Concentrate of Vellus.

And if you have a Shih Tzu puppy, you might want to consider getting for them a puppy shampoo which is mild and not one which is strong. Their coats are made dry by strong shampoos. Great shampoo products for puppies are Protein/Puppy of KW, Shampoo Concentrate of Vellus, Protein-Lanolin of Biogroom, and Super White of Biogroom (great product for white paws and whiskers).