Organic care products are all the rage these days. People want products that are free of harmful chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and alcohol. The same thing applies to our four-legged friends.
If you peruse pet forums, you’ll find that discussions about organic pet products are common. We want to know the products we use to clean our furbabies are natural and healthy for them.
So let’s talk about organic shampoos for dogs – why they’re beneficial, and how you know they’re the real thing. Then, I’ll share a list of products I researched that are currently on the market to help you find the best organic dog shampoo for your pooch:
At a Glance: Our Top 7 All-Natural Organic Dog Shampoos
Why Look for Certified Organic Dog Shampoo?
Does it really matter if a shampoo is certified organic? Yes, and here’s why:
There are a variety of products on the market that claim to be natural or organic on the label. However, without the USDA Organic logo, you could be dealing with a cheap imitation. It costs money to become properly certified. However, that doesn’t stop producers from putting natural or organic on their label when the ingredients include nasty chemicals. So, always read the ingredient list and look for the USDA certified stamp to be sure that you’re getting the real deal.
When it comes to natural, agriculturally-based products, the USDA has strict requirements for product labeling. If a shampoo claims that it’s “Made With Organic Ingredients” that means it must have at least 70% organic ingredients for USDA approval, and to earn USDA Organic certification, a product must contain at least 95% organic ingredients.
Certified Organic Dog Shampoo
These products are 100% natural with ingredients that come from organic-certified sources. They’re designed to be biodegradable and safe for your pooch.
This product is USDA certified as organic and 100% non-toxic. With a blend of certified oils and essential oils, it’s designed to be safe and hypoallergenic to protect your pup. It includes aloe vera which conditions and protects the skin. The shampoo is detergent-free and fully biodegradable. A small amount of this shampoo concentrate goes a long way, so the 16 oz bottle is cost-effective. There’s also a risk-free, money-back guarantee.
- Some owners say it’s soothing on their dog’s itchy skin
- It has a fresh scent that lasts
- It lathers and cleans well
- The shampoo rinses out easily
- Some customers report that the hair feels sticky after using the shampoo
- It causes an allergic reaction in some dogs
Many organic shampoos include saponified oils for cleaning and essential oils for scent and other positive benefits. The oils may cling to your hands or your pet’s fur, so take extra time to rinse your pup and wash your hands to remove any residue.
Moosh is pH balanced and made with natural ingredients to be safe for your dog. With bentonite clay to soothe itchy skin and argan oil and aloe vera for conditioning, this product is gentle on the system. A Blend of 100% safe essential oils help to clean the coat and leave a fresh scent. This concentrate is made in small batches in the USA to ensure quality.
- It smells fresh and clean
- It helps prevent fleas
- It helps to reduce itching and hot spots
- It cleans and rinses nicely
- Some customers say it smells awful
- It leaves a clay residue on some dogs if you don’t rinse well
Fluppets Certified Organic Pet Shampoo
- It’s easy to lather up
- The shampoo is thin and spreads easily on thick coats
- It’s easy to rinse out
- It smells like lemon verbena
- It’s very irritating if it gets in the eyes
- It can leave a residue behind
- It’s soothing for irritated skin
- It lathers easily without being too sudsy
- It has a light, clean scent
- It cleans well and rinses easily
- Some customers complained that it left the coat feeling greasy
- The honey ingredient can attract flies if you use the product outside
The oils in most organic shampoos can still irritate the eyes. If some of the soap or lather gets in your pooch’s eyes, immediately flush the area with water to remove any residue.
Organic Puppy Shampoo
Puppy coats can be extra-sensitive. These products offer natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin and eyes for your new furbaby.
- It smells good leaves the coat soft and fluffy
- There’s no rash from using this shampoo
- It cleans and rinses well
- The scent is soft and fresh
- The bottle is small for the price
- It doesn’t create much lather
kin+kind Puppy Shampoo for Puppies and Sensitive Dogs
- It’s gentle on the eyes
- It’s truly fragrance free
- It’s helps with dry, itchy skin
- It’s easy to wash out
- It tends to make the coat feel dry not soft and fluffy
- It’s hard to lather and spread around
Organic Dog Shampoo for Sensitive Skin
4-Legger USDA Certified Organic Dog Shampoo - All Natural and Hypoallergenic
- Owners of dogs with sensitive skin report their pup’s skin improved when using this
- It’s calming and gentle on the skin
- It cleans the fur and leaves it looking soft
- It lathers well and smells nice
- Some customers think the scent is too strong
- It leaves some dog’s fur feeling sticky
Buddy's Best, Natural Dog Shampoo & Conditioner in One
- It works well on dogs with skin allergies - owners report less itching
- The shampoo has a calming effect on jittery dogs
- It lathers and cleans the fur well
- It helps reduce tangles in long-haired dogs
- The scent fades quickly and doesn’t smell as good when the fur dries
- It doesn’t work for some skin sensitivities
- It rinses off well and does not dry the skin
- It lathers and cleans the hair well
- It’s gentle and smells great
- It leaves the fur soft
- It can sting if it gets in the eyes
Vermont Soap Pet Magic Dog Shampoo
- This shampoo is effective to kill fleas
- It helps reduce itching in dogs with sensitive skin
- It lathers and rinses well which is helpful for dogs that don’t like long baths
- It leaves the coat soft and shiny
- It’s thin and may not effectively clean a thick, double coat
- It can irritate the eyes
Fluppets Certified Organic Pet Shampoo
- It doesn’t irritate the skin
- You get a rich lather with a small amount of shampoo
- It rinses out well
- It leaves the coat smelling fresh and clean
- It leaves a slightly oily feeling on the coat
- It can cause fine-haired dogs to get knots in their fur
For products that offer a therapeutic effect such as itch relief or flea and tick shampoos, massage the solution throughout the fur and let it stay on the hair for several minutes before rinsing for best effects.
Organic Flea Shampoo for Dogs
- It works! The shampoo kills fleas when you wash your pooch
- It’s soothing for the skin
- The scent lasts for days and smells nice
- It leaves the coat smelling fresh and clean
- Dog’s coats are shiny and soft
- The flea repellent effect is short-lived
- The shampoo has a very strong scent
Dead Sea Pet Spa Store -Arava Flea & Tick Control Dog & Puppy Shampoo
- It helps to remove fleas from the coat
- The scent lasts for days and works as a repellent
- It’s gentle on the skin so that you can use it weekly if needed
- It leaves the coat smooth and soft
- It doesn’t work for every dog
- The scent is very strong
Natural Care Flea and Tick Dog Shampoo
- It kills fleas that are on your dog
- It complements other tick repellants for better coverage
- It leaves the coat smelling fresh
- It makes the hair soft and clean
- The scent is overpowering to some
- It doesn’t prevent fleas and ticks from coming back
- You can see dead fleas in the water when you use this product
- You can use this to help remove imbedded ticks - the ticks dislodge themselves
- It leaves the coat soft and smooth
- It smells nice
- It doesn’t kill flea eggs or prevent them from hatching
- It’s not very effective for killing ticks
You can get more bang for your buck with a shampoo concentrate. Dilute the formula with water before applying it to your furbaby’s hair and make the bottle last twice as long.
Organic Dog Bar Soaps
Washbar Natural Organic Dog Shampoo
- It’s easy and convenient to use
- It’s soothing to itchy skin
- It leaves the coat clean and soft
- It has a light, pleasant scent
- The soap can irritate the eyes
- It may not penetrate thick coats well enough
Organic Dry Shampoo for Dogs
Bodhi Dog Store - Waterless Dog Shampoo
- It’s simple and super-convenient to use
- It leaves the coat soft and clean
- It has a pleasant scent
- There’s no residue, so it reduces itching for some dogs
- The sprayer doesn’t work well - the solution comes out is a stream not a mist
- The scent wears off too fast
Burt's Bees All Natural Waterless Shampoo Spray for Dogs
- It’s easy to apply
- It helps to neutralize odor and remove the stink
- It has a nice scent that’s not too strong
- It cleans wall
- The spray bottle is hard to use, so it’s hard to wet the dog’s fur
Paw Choice Dry Dog Shampoo, Waterless, No Rinse Foam Mousse
- It’s easy to use on dogs that hate baths
- It cleans the fur well
- The coats are shiny and soft after you brush
- It’s effective to eliminate stinky odors
- Some people find the scent to be overwhelming
- It’s hard to use on a large dog
Organic Oatmeal Dog Shampoo
All Natural & Organic Oatmeal Puppy/Pet Shampoo
- It’s effective to soothe itching
- It produces a rich lather so that a little bit goes a long way
- It rinses well, and your dog drys fast after bathing
- It smells good once you wash and dry your pup
- Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to the product
- It has a strong smell when you first dispense it from the bottle
Organic Lavender Dog Shampoo
BarkLogic 2 in 1 Natural Dog Shampoo and Conditioner with Essential Oils
- The scent is pleasant, and it helps dogs to be more relaxed
- It’s easy to apply and rinse
- It lathers and cleans well
- It makes the coat look soft and beautiful
- It doesn’t product much lather
- The scent only lasts a few days
Why Should I Use Organic Shampoos?
You may be wondering what the big deal is about organic products. The fact is that some of the chemicals in conventional shampoos that add extra lather or scent can be harmful to your pal’s hair or skin, especially if your furbaby has allergies. On the other hand, organic washes with natural ingredients have many benefits:
They’re safe – Using a product with natural ingredients gives you an assurance that your special pal won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals that could damage the skin or cause other harmful side effects. Organic shampoos also tend to be tear-free.
They’re environmentally friendly – Organic shampoos tend to be more biodegradable than conventional products because they start with natural ingredients. The production methods for organic certified products are also more environmentally friendly.
They’re gentle on skin and hair – Many natural products are more soothing to irritated skin than some of the chemicals found in commercial products. organic ingredients are also less likely to wash away your pup’s natural oils so that the protective skin barrier remains intact after bathing.
They maintain a proper skin pH – The natural ingredients won’t alter your dog’s natural pH the way that some harsh chemicals found in commercial products can.
They can help reduce or prevent shedding – Because natural ingredients tend to nourish and protect the skin, it’s less likely to get dry and flaky. Healthy skin supports healthy hair follicles so there’s less shedding.
They help to prevent allergic reactions – Because organic shampoos use natural, non-toxic ingredients that are hormone-free, they’re less likely to trigger allergic reactions. Many of these products also have hypo-allergenic ingredients.
Can I Use Human Organic Shampoo on My Dog?
You may be thinking, “I use organic shampoo, so why not just share it with Fido?”, but think again.
Human skin and dog skin are not alike. Both have a protective barrier called the acid mantle that helps protect us from bacterial and viral infections. When we wash our hair or skin, the soap removes the mantle. Fortunately, our soaps and shampoos usually contain conditioners that provide protection until our bodies can regenerate the acidic oil layer. The key is that these conditioners are pH balanced for human skin (around pH 5.2-6.2).
Dogs have a more neutral range (pH 5.5-7.5) depending on the breed and other factors. So, their products have a different pH balance than human products. If you use your shampoo on your dog, it will disrupt the acid mantle and leave his skin vulnerable to infections.
Can I Use Baby Shampoo to Wash My Dog?
Although you may think baby shampoo should be safe for my dog because it’s gentle enough for a baby, that’s not the case. These products are not pH balanced for a dog’s skin, and they often contain sulfates that can damage or irritate the skin.
How to Make Homemade Dog Shampoo
If you like to make your own products so that you know exactly what’s in the shampoo, make sure you find a recipe that provides healthy ingredients. Remember that you’ll need something with a pH balance that’s right for a dog. Here’s a homemade shampoo recipe from Dr. Jones that can safely clean and deodorize your pup:
- ¾ cup of water
- 1-2 Tablespoons Castile Soap liquid concentrate
- 2 Tablespoons Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
- 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Mix the ingredients together to make a dog-safe, natural shampoo.
Our Verdict on Organic Shampoos
After evaluating the above products and comparing their ingredients and results, we select 4-Legger USDA Certified Organic Dog Shampoo as our top product.
This shampoo uses all-natural ingredients from USDA certified sources. It’s hypoallergenic and hand-crafted in small batches. With organic coconut oil and aloe vera, it’s made to clean and condition the coat.
With lemongrass essential oil, this product is also effective to kill and repel fleas. It leaves a fresh, citrus scent after rinsing.
Based on the above qualities and positive customer reviews, we select 4-Legger USDA Certified Organic Dog Shampoo our choice for Best Organic Dog Shampoo.
