Choosing the right shampoo can be challenging even for the most knowledgeable professional groomer. With dozens of products available, it is often difficult to know which ones to use. The first consideration is that the shampoo should be pH balanced for dogs, not humans.

The determination of pH is an important factor in human as well as animal hair and skin care. To explain briefly, all chemicals are acid, alkali, or neutral. The degree of acidity or alkalinity in a product is measured by a pH scale which runs from 0 to 14, with 7—the mid-point—being neutral. Anything between 0 and 7 is acid; anything between 7 and 14 is alkaline.

Human hair and skin are slightly acidic. On the other hand, the pH range for the dog’s skin and hair is slightly more alkaline and not the same as that of humans. Therefore, try to avoid using your own personal shampoos to wash your dog. Dogs need an alkaline-based shampoo to keep their coat and skin at the healthiest, strongest state.

All shampoos have the same basic purpose: to clean the hair and leave it in a normal, healthy condition. While most do a good job, their various formulations can make significant differences in the coat. Within the grouping of correctly pH balanced shampoos for dogs, you can find many excellent products designed for general or special use from such top manufacturers as Ring 5, #1 All Systems, Oster, Lambert Kay, BioGroom, Tomlyn, Tropiclean, Nature’s Choice and many, many others. From this available array, you can choose an effective shampoo to suit your particular needs.

All-Purpose Shampoos

These are formulated for all coat textures and all colors. Some contain special ingredients and conditioning agents—protein, jojoba, aloe vera or other herbal extracts, mink oil, coconut oil—for example.

All-purpose shampoos clean thoroughly and condition the skin and coat, add just the right amount of body, leave the hair shiny and keep the coat in optimum condition. Those with special conditioning ingredients help to restore luster to dull hair and, depending on the added conditioner, to rebuild damaged hair.

Tearless Shampoos

These are mild formulations and are especially recommended for puppies and for adult dogs with sensitive skins. Tearless formulations are best for washing the head without irritating your dog’s eyes.

Medicated Shampoos

These shampoos, containing anti-fungal, antibacterial or antipruritic ingredients, are formulated to help relieve itching, scaling, bacterial fungus, dry skin caused by allergies and nonspecific types of dermatitis and to soothe irritated skin.

Hypo-Allergenic Shampoos

These are extremely mild formulations that contain no fragrances or dyes and are specially designed for dogs with extra-sensitive skins or skin allergies.

Color-Enhancing Shampoos

These are formulated for specific coat colors. They are not permanent dyes or color changers, but products that intensify the natural coat color through the use of optical brighteners by highlighting rather than changing. For example, shampoos for white and light-colored dogs help to remove yellow or grayish discolorations from the hair. Shampoos for black or brown dogs help to remove oxidation and make the coat a more normal color.

Texturizing Or Body-Building Shampoos

These are formulated to add body to the hair and are recommended for soft coats when more texture is desired. Such products only give temporary results, however, as nothing will permanently change the natural texture of hair.

Insecticidal Shampoos

These are formulated to safely kill fleas and ticks. Pyrethrin is the most widely used shampoo insecticide. They clean and condition the coat at the same time and, when used according to directions, are safe for puppies. Always read and follow label directions when using any flea/tick shampoo.

Concentrated Shampoos

These generally are all-purpose shampoos, available in two types: a gel or creme form (at a slightly more-than-average concentration) and a highly concentrated form, diluted at the rate of from 12 to 16 parts water to 1 part shampoo. Because of its low cost/high yield, the latter is popular for salon use.

Grooming contest and dog show concessionaires, mail-order supply catalogs for pet care professionals and most pet stores sell the shampoos described above. They also stock many other kinds of effective specialty shampoos, some of which contain oatmeal, seal kelp, citrus, cedar, Australian tea tree oil, nova pearls and a variety of herbs, florals and botanicals. The wide variety of available shampoos is overwhelming!