Bathing your dog regularly is important for many reasons, especially with dry shampoo for dogs. It removes residues that can build up and become uncomfortable in their coats. It helps protect them against fleas and other parasites and, vitally, stops muddy paw prints from being tracked through your home.
However, getting and keeping your canine companion in the tub can be difficult. Jokes about the enormous task of bathing a reluctant dog abound, and it can sometimes be a two or even three-person job! On top of this, some dogs are frightened of water and find bathtime extremely stressful.
Luckily for those of us with pups who are hydrophobic – or just plain naughty – pet grooming companies have come to the rescue by creating dry shampoos, which we can use to clean the coats of our furry friends. These formulas are applied directly to your dog’s coat and don’t require rinsing, making them a convenient but effective alternative to a traditional bath. These shampoos are also a great option to use between baths, reducing the number of baths your pet has to undergo and keeping their coat fresher for longer.
There are plenty of canine dry shampoos to choose from, so we’ve compiled a list of the ten products we think are the best. Hopefully, our reviews will help you track down the perfect bathing alternative for your dog. We’ve also addressed some common questions about what your options are, how to use these dog shampoos, and how they work.
8 Best Dry Shampoos for Dogs
1 Wahl Waterless No Rinse Shampoo – Oatmeal & Coconut Lime Verbena
- Foam formula
- Uses natural ingredients
- Kind to skin and hair; avoids drying them out
- Perfect for use between baths
- Rub in, brush out – no need for water
- Choice of two great scents
Wahl’s no-rinse shampoo is available in two scents; lavender and chamomile, and oatmeal & coconut lime verbena. Both options will leave your dog’s coat smelling fabulously fresh while the carefully crafted formula gets to work.
The shampoo is perfect for use between regular baths and effectively cleanses dogs’ coats with natural, plant-derived ingredients. The formula also contains guar conditioner, which works to lock in moisture in your dog’s skin and hair. In addition, Whal’s formula is a foam, which you can easily rub into your pet’s coat and brush out – totally water-free.
This shampoo is the perfect option for owners who want to give their dog quick spruce up without resorting to harsh chemicals. Customers say the gentle scent is also a winner, covering up the vast majority of less than pleasant doggy smells!
2 Paw Choice Naturals Foaming Mousse Dry Dog Shampoo – Mango & Pomegranate
- Foaming formula – rub in and brush out
- Suitable for senior dogs, dogs who dislike water, and between washes
- Cleanses, deodorizes, and conditions your dog’s skin and coat
- Kills odor-causing bacteria rather than just masking the scent
- Natural ingredients make it suitable for dogs and owners with sensitive skin
- Completely water-free
- Manufactured in the USA
- Comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee
This doggie dry shampoo refresh, deodorize, and condition your best friend’s coat without a single drop of water. Paw Choice’s formula, derived naturally from coconuts, is mild enough to be used on sensitive skin. Since it’s free from sodium laureth sulfate, it won’t irritate the sensitive skin of owners either.
Paw Choice recommend using their dry foaming shampoo on seniors, dogs who don’t like water, or between washes to keep those more pungent pets smelling fresh. The formula kills odor-causing bacteria rather than just masking smells and replaces these odors with an easier on-the-nose blend of mango and pomegranate.
All of Paw Choice’s products are formulated and manufactured in the USA and come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
3 Pawstruck No-Rinse Pet Shampoo
- Suitable for use on both cats and dogs
- Suitable for all types of fur, hair, and skin – including sensitive skin
- Vegetarian and vegan-friendly blend
- Helps reduce skin inflammation
- Kills odor causing bacteria
- Made in the USA and comes with a 30 day quality guarantee
- Naturally derived ingredients
- Spray bottle
With their pun name and effective, natural product, Pawstruck have earned themselves a spot on our list with their brand of spray-on dry shampoo. The formula can be used on cats and dogs and caters to every skin type, hair, and fur. This gentle shampoo not only cleanses your pet’s hair and skin but also helps reduce any inflammation on their body to promote better healing.
It smells great, too – a light citrus scent will accompany your furry friend wherever they go after a few spritzes of Pawstruck. This blend is also vegetarian and vegan friendly, which is an excellent sign for animal lovers of all dietary persuasions. It also naturally kills off the bacteria responsible for foul odors, leaving your pet smelling fresher for longer.
Formulated and made in the USA, Pawstruck offer a high-quality dry shampoo that’s gentle on the skin and can be used on any pet.
4 Bodhi Dog Waterless Shampoo – Lemongrass
- Suitable for all coat and skin types, including sensitive skin
- Natural ingredients
- Kills odor-causing bacteria
- Spray on, leave-in formula
- Refreshing lavender or lemongrass scent
- Hypoallergenic and alcohol-free
- Vegetarian and vegan friendly
This waterless dog shampoo is easy to use and can be sprayed in and left in your pet’s hair. It’s ideal for use in between baths to help keep your pet’s coat healthy and shiny. Bodhi Dog’s formula is 100% non-toxic and suitable for all skin types. The shampoo also has the advantage of being hypoallergenic and alcohol-free, so there is no need to worry if your pet accidentally ingests some. In addition, each ingredient is vegan-friendly and ethically sourced, while the packaging is fully recyclable.
Like many of the products on our list, it naturally but effectively kills off odor-causing bacteria, keeping bad smells at bay rather than covering them up. Available in both lavender and lemongrass scents, Bodhi Dog’s gentle formula also leaves a refreshingly natural scent in its wake.
5 Vet Recommended Waterless Dog Shampoo
- Suitable for use on dogs, cats, rabbits, and ferrets
- Spray in formula
- Mild blend won’t strip your pet’s coat
- Leaves hair silky soft and pleasantly scented
- Free from alcohol
- Hypoallergenic
- Kills odor causing bacteria
- Won’t interfere with topical flea treatments
- Made in the USA
- Comes with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee
As its name suggests, Vet Recommended is recommended by many US vets! Their dry shampoo is easy to use; spray, wipe down, and allow it to dry. Its hypoallergenic formula is suitable for use on other pets, too, including cats, rabbits, and even ferrets. Since it doesn’t contain any alcohol, the mild blend will not strip your furry friend’s coat. Instead, it leaves pets’ hair silky soft, imbued with the fresh scent of apple extract. Odor-causing bacteria are also wiped out, allowing the pleasant scent to last.
Another advantage of this shampoo is that it’s specifically tailored so as not to interfere with topical flea treatments. This makes it the perfect option for the summer months when fleas and ticks are at their most active. Besides, vet Recommended offer their customers a lifetime satisfaction guarantee, which shows how much they believe in their product.
6 Lillian Ruff Waterless Dog Shampoo
- Spray in, leave in formula – no need to rub or brush out
- Ideal for refreshing your dog’s skin and coat between baths
- Contains lavender extract to naturally repel fleas and ticks
- Coconut and aloe sooth and condition your dog’s skin and coat
- Gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin
- Vegetarian and vegan friendly
- Made in the USA
Lillian Ruff’s dry shampoo for dogs offers your canine companion an easy way to get refreshed between baths. Their formula can be sprayed on and left in without needing any brushing or rubbing. This means it’s probably the easiest-to-use shampoo on our list!
The shampoo contains lavender and coconut oils, which naturally help keep skin in tip-top condition. On top of this, lavender is a proven flea and tick repellent – keeping the little pests away from the natural way. Lillian Ruff’s blend also includes soothing aloe extract, which is great for moisturizing your dog’s skin and coat. Because of its gentle, naturally sourced ingredients, you can also use this shampoo on sensitive skin. Lillian Ruff’s vegetarian and vegan-friendly products are made with quality ingredients in the USA.
7 Miracle Coat Spray on Waterless Dog Shampoo
- Spray-on formula, which blossoms into a silky lather
- Natural ingredients
- Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin
- Improves condition and appearance of dogs’ coats
- Noiseless spray mechanism helps nervous dogs feel relaxed during use
- Meadow fresh scent
Miracle Coat offer great value for money with their easy-to-use and effective dry bath for dogs. This spray-on formula contains all-natural ingredients and can be used by simply spraying it onto your dog’s coat and waiting before giving them a quick towel dry and brush.
Herbal extracts help improve the condition and appearance of your dog’s coat without irritating sensitive skin. The bottle is also designed to make the bathing experience as stress-free as possible. The spraying mechanism is noiseless, allowing flighty dogs to be bathed much more easily.
Furthermore, the fresh meadow scent leaves your furry friend smelling fresh and clean between washes and can help cut back on scratching since it acts to soothe dogs’ skin.
8 Particular Paws Dry Shampoo Foaming Mousse – Mango & Pomegranate
- Foaming formula – rub in, and brush out
- Coconut extract works to absorb excess oil and grease
- Leaves your pet’s coat soft, shiny, and pleasantly scented
- Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin
- Works in conjunction with topical flea and tick products
- Kills odor-causing bacteria
- Made in the USA with high-quality natural ingredients
- Easy and convenient to use
This foaming formula contains coconut extract, which quickly removes unwanted residue from your furry friend’s coat, leaving a light, fresh scent. It works quickly to absorb excess oil and grease, and its coconut extract also destroys odor-causing bacteria, keeping your dog’s hair fresher for longer.
Made in the USA with the highest quality natural ingredients, Particular Paws’ dry shampoo is suitable for dogs of all skin types – even sensitive skin. It can also be used with topical flea and tick products and won’t interfere with their effectiveness.
Best Dry Shampoo for Dogs: Buying Guide & FAQs
And there you have it – the best dry shampoos for dogs on the market right now. Since the pet grooming market has taken off in recent years, knowing which product is right for your pet can be challenging. This is especially true regarding dry shampoo since so many have quite similar features!
That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide, which we hope will answer some of your questions about dry dog shampoos and help you decide if this relatively new product is right for your pet.
Things to Consider When Buying a Dry Dog Shampoo
To help you choose the right option for you, we’ve outlined a few key things you might want to bear in mind when choosing a dry shampoo for your canine companion.
Topical flea and tick medication
If you’re currently using a topical flea and tick treatment – such as a spot on gel, collar, or shampoo – make sure you choose a formula that doesn’t interfere with it. Most manufacturers will advertise this, including many on our list. Some shampoos contain lavender extract, a natural flea, and tick repellant.
Skin sensitivity
All of the shampoos on our list use natural ingredients wherever possible, but not all brands do. If your dog has sensitive skin or is prone to itching and redness, choose a brand suitable for their skin type. These often contain a soothing ingredient such as aloe to help keep skin calm.
The scent of the shampoo
Although it might seem superficial, it’s important that you and your dog like the smell of a product you’ll be regularly using. Since the products on this list use a diverse variety of scents, it should be easy to find one that you like.
Dogs Who May Benefit from Dry Shampoos
Dry shampoo can be a handy product to have around, but not all dogs will necessarily benefit from it. Below are some key examples of dogs who could benefit from a dry shampoo, making it a sound investment.
Dogs who are afraid of or don’t like water
Ideally, dry shampoos should not replace regular baths altogether. However, they can still be a great option for adverse water dogs since using a dry shampoo in between wet washes will reduce the frequency you need to bathe your dog. For dogs with sensitive skin, using a gentle formula that utilizes natural ingredients is the best idea. You might also consider combining this with the occasional oatmeal shampoo for dogs. Oatmeal calms the skin and helps prevent itching.
Smelly dogs
As much as we love them, no owner can deny that some dogs can quickly become rather pungent! Dry shampoo can naturally deodorize your dog in a fast and convenient way.
Senior dogs
Being hoisted into a bath can be too much for older dogs, especially if they’re tired or have arthritis. Using a dry shampoo can reduce the times they need to be bathed, saving stress and energy.
Dogs on the go
Dry shampoos can be the perfect solution for when your dog gets muddy or rolls in something when they’re off on a walk. Before you let them back into your house and car, you can quickly remove the residue (and the smell) with dry shampoo.
You might also be interested in the following guides: Dog Shampoos, Dog Whitening Shampoos, Medicated Dog Shampoos.
Powders, Sprays, Gels, and Foams
While dry shampoos for humans tend to only be available in powdered form, our canine counterparts have four options to choose from! Choosing a powder, spray, foam, or gel will mostly depend on personal preference. Spray shampoos are probably the easiest to distribute easily through your pet’s coat, foam shampoos tend to achieve the best lather, and powder shampoos are versatile enough to be used on your pet’s bedding and carpets too. Gels land between the foam and spray options and are usually best for pets who are more comfortable touching since many contacts will be needed to distribute it over their body.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Most dry shampoos work by absorbing the excess oils and grease which accumulate on a dog’s coat. Powder dry shampoos use starches or clay to soak up these chemicals. Foams, gels, and sprays, on the other hand, make use of gentle surfactants – the same type of chemical used in face washes and other cleansers – to break down these oils so they can be rubbed or brushed away. The gels, foams, and sprays also’ rinse’ residues such as mud and leaves. Some dry shampoos also contain plant extracts that kill odor-causing bacteria, leaving your dog smelling fresh.
As long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and don’t use dry shampoos as a complete replacement for traditional baths, then yes, dry shampoos for dogs are safe. Always check the ingredients list for any components your dog is sensitive to, and do not over-use the product. Removing too much oil from your dog’s coat can make them more susceptible to flaky skin, and even illness, since this naturally occurring oil is their first line of defense against pathogens.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions! Generally speaking, dry shampoos for dogs are used in the following way:
- Dispense some of the product onto your dog’s coat
- Rub it in
- Leave to work for a moment
- Towel off your dog
- Brush their coat to remove any excess product
How often you wash your dog, by any method, depends very much on their breed and lifestyle. Active outdoor dogs need to be cleaned more than those who usually hang out at home. Dogs with normal skin should generally be bathed about once a month. Using a dry shampoo to supplement this routine, you might be able to bathe them every month and a half and use the dry shampoo every week or so. Dogs with dry skin should be bathed less often – around every two or three months. If you doubt your dog’s bathing routine, speak to a veterinary professional.
