7 Best Shampoos For Goldendoodles: Achieve Silky Soft Fur

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The Goldendoodle is a popular breed beloved by many, but maintaining their coat can be a handful and requires a good shampoo, but what are the best shampoos for Goldendoodle dogs?

The best shampoos for Goldendoodles make sure to prevent skin irritation and maintain their beautiful coats strong and lustrous.

Naturally, you’ll also want these shampoos to be relatively affordable, depending on your budget, but, more importantly, you want them being gentle to your dog, housing relaxing properties.

It’s not just for the sake of comfort either. Well, it is, but it’s kind of a mandatory thing for most dogs as, while a pooch likes to swim around, they don’t really like getting wet involuntarily.

Then you’ll get a whole wet mess around the house, or, if you have a backyard, will get a proper chase before finally pinning the doggo down to get him the needed bath.

But, there’s also the problem of choice because the sheer amount of shampoo options is immense and can really take up a lot of your time when looking it up.

That’s why I make these articles, browsing through the various pages of internet marketplaces like Amazon and Chewy in an effort to shorten your own lookup time and, hopefully, make it easier for you to settle on the right option.

Read on to see what some of the best options are and to find out answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding shampoos for Goldendoodles and making bath time easier.

The 7 Best Shampoos For Goldendoodles

1. We Love Doodles – Dog Shampoo, Conditioner, and Detangler

This first one comes from a relatively small business in the USA trying their hardest to provide your doodle with the best dog shampoo options that they can.

Not limited to just Goldendoodles for all you doodle aficionados out there either who have other poodle mixes in their home.

The shampoo does 4 things, acting as conditioner, moisturizer and detangler on top of its main function.

It may sound far fetched for some of you, but trust me when I say that it’s very much real.

It’s a fully eco-friendly mix as well, made fully organic with no harsh chemicals present. A gentle, soothing option for your dear Goldendoodle’s fur and skin to remain in tip top condition.

The shampoo contains no phthalates, parabens, alcohol, sulfates or formaldehyde either, showing you just how much the brand prioritizes your dog’s comfort and safety over turning a massive profit.

It has no synthetic dyes either, making that organic and natural tag actually genuine.

At the helm of these organic, all-natural ingredients is the delightfully relaxing smell of chamomile and lavender which provides that soothing effect I’ve talked about earlier that will keep your pooch steady when it’s time to give him a bath.

It certainly isn’t one of the cheapest options on the market and may even feel like a bit too much for you budget-savvy dog owners, but it does come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee stapled onto it.

This means that you can freely give it a trial run and, if you don’t end up being satisfied for whatever reason or it simply doesn’t fit your dog’s fur or overall tastes, they’ll issue you a full refund.

2. Healthy Breeds Young Pup Shampoo

Healthy Breeds is a well known manufacturer of specialized dog shampoos that fit with almost any dog breed, be it something as small as a Shih Tzu or as large as a Golden Retriever or a Cane Corso.

They tailor the shampoos to best work with said dog breed, making sure they’re gentle to keep your doggo steady during baths, help prevent any pop ups of irritated skin, hot spots or loss of fur and the like.

To further prove its gentleness, this puppy shampoo also contains no detergents or soaps that could otherwise be abrasive to the skin of a puppy and is perfectly pH-balanced for use on dogs.

Healthy Breeds is also a US based company meaning buying from them supports a local small business and our own economy, for those who like supporting local.

The shampoo also carries a rather nice baby powder-esque scent about it, so it’s not too strong on the Goldendoodle puppy’s nose and helps get rid of that unpleasant wet dog smell.

It uses Aloe Vera as the base ingredient too, one of the most widely used options that has a very soothing effect to it and helps prevent itchy skin and overall skin dryness as well as keep his coat nice and shiny.

It’s further supplemented by vitamin E, A and D that help add further benefits to your canine companion.

Given its gentleness, it’s perfectly safe to use alongside any topical flea and tick control ointments, though make sure to give them some time to set in after a bath before you lather the shampoo onto your dear doggo.

It contains no allergens either and is a completely hypoallergenic shampoo in case you have a real sensitive pupper at home.

As far as price goes, it’s about average, if a bit cheaper than the standard, but it’s still a solid purchase.

However, try not to get confused and accidentally choose one for a different breed as most labels tend to be rather same-y and there are a lot of them.

That said, there are barely any differences in ingredients most of the time, appearing to be a marketing trick mostly, so it shouldn’t be an issue, but do be wary nonetheless.

3. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Shampoo

Here’s another pretty popular brand, Earthbath, with its oatmeal dog shampoo.

You may think that oatmeal is an odd choice to serve as a base, but oats work as a great relaxant, especially when made into colloidal oatmeal and paired with Aloe Vera.

It specializes in rehydrating and nourishing your Goldendoodle’s skin back up and is a top pick for any dog owner with a furry friend who has to tackle such issues for one reason or another.

It’s nice, gentle and soap-free, minimizing chances of skin irritation occurring anywhere on your doggo’s body as long as you don’t overdo it with the scrubbing.

Said shampoo also contains 0 fragrances to make it gentle on your dear doggy’s nose so as to not irritate them either.

The gentleness further expands to a lack of phosphates, phthalates, sulfates, parabens and any hazardous chemicals you may otherwise find in lower quality dog shampoos, ensuring minimal discomfort for your Goldendoodle.

The product is environmentally friendly too thanks to its biodegradable components, a trademark of any shampoo that dares call itself the best.

Though, while gentle, it’s not safe for use on any dogs younger than 6 weeks of age as it may be a bit too much for them.

It is however perfectly pH balanced and helps deodorize your dog’s hair and skin too so he doesn’t stink up the place if he’s been crawling around all sorts of places.

Finally, the shampoo is completely cruelty-free, which makes it the right shampoo option to take in my book, though that’s just my opinion.

It is a little bit on the expensive side and the label feels a bit too old-fashioned, but it has been made “Amazon’s choice” meaning there’s some merit to their quality at least, if you choose to trust Amazon on its word.

It’s worth noting that the people over at Earthbath offer a 100% money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied by the product for whatever reason and their customer support is always at the ready to assist you with any issues you may have with it.

4. 4Legger Organic Dog Shampoo

Next we have the 4legger dog shampoo, a fully organic, hypoallergenic option, much like any of the other top choices for this list.

It uses all-natural ingredients, the main ones being coconut oil and Aloe Vera, providing a buttery smooth sensation when lathered on and great relief for your canine companion, especially if he suffers from exceptionally dry skin.

The shampoo’s gentleness is further enhanced by the exclusion of any parabens, detergents, phthalates, artificial thickeners and the other harmful chemicals that you’d often find in cheaper brands that like cutting costs.

The shampoo utilizes a variety of organic oils that help promote the creation of a skin’s natural oils to keep it well protected as well as keep a dog’s coat lush and lustrous.

It contains no fragrances either, keeping it scent-free and safe for any doggo’s nose to be around as it’s often the lower quality ones that resort to strong odors to mask the inefficiency of the product.

The shampoo is extremely eco-friendly too, being made out of vegan, sustainably sourced ingredients with said gentle formula. It even won an EcoExcellence award for the best dog grooming product 3 times thus far.

It’s also USDA certified, further proving the level of its quality to its users.Naturally, as with any other good dog product, it’s also completely cruelty-free as the people over at 4-legger care about all pets and other animals alike and don’t believe in causing them harm to create a product that’ll do them some good.

It is, however, on the more expensive side of things, certainly more than some of the products on this list, though only by a few bucks.

That said, it still may be a worthy purchase depending on who your other pick ends up being.

5. HONEYDEW’s Moisturizing Lavender and Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs

 Following up after that, we have HONEYDEW’s Lavender and Oatmeal dog shampoo.

The oatmeal is one of the classic bases for any gentle and quality dog shampoo, providing a soothing texture that’ll make sure your darling doggy doesn’t end up feeling uncomfortable during bath time.

The lavender helps add to that through its natural, soothing scent that will leave both the dog and owner nice and relaxed, as if you’re taking your doodle to a doggy spa.

The oatmeal’s other benefit is that it helps provide a deodorizing component to the shampoo itself, helping rid the dog of any unwanted dirt or odors and keeps him fresh and clean at all times.

The Honeydew shampoo is one of the preferred choices for a number of dog groomers nationwide for this very reason. It’s simple, inexpensive and it does what it needs to without any fuss and muss.

Its flexibility is another reason why it earns a chance to be named the best shampoo for Goldendoodle dogs too as it can be used on small and large dog breeds alike and works on all coat types.

The shampoo is hypoallergenic and is perfectly pH balanced for dog use, staple in pet care.

The products are made without any sulfates, phthalates or parabens and are completely cruelty-free, disproving of any sort of product testing on animals, no matter how harmless it may seem.

The cost is on the more average end which is amazing for an all-natural shampoo with this level of quality.

One minor issue that may happen is that some shipments end up spilling and that floods the crate with the lavender smell which can be a bit much when first opened, but that’s about it.

6. Burt’s Bees for Dogs 2 in 1 Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

Going back to something a little more familiar, we have Burt’s Bees, a manufacturer known for making both dog and baby gear alike.

And they’re popular for a good reason as they aim to make said gear as comfortable and as usable to as many buyers as possible.

It has buttermilk as a base ingredient paired together with linseed to provide the ultimate soft experience for your precious Goldendoodle.

The texture this mix provides is as smooth as silk and easy to lather onto your dog’s skin and fur, providing him with an extremely comfortable experience, akin to that of Cleopatra’s famous milk baths.

The two ingredients, if not already apparent, do wonders for the dog’s fur, making it soft and fluffy while hydrating the skin and promoting the creation of natural oils.

The shampoo is perfectly pH balanced for dogs minimizing risks of irritation on the skin due to lack of abrasiveness. And, your dog won’t end up with watery or otherwise irritated eyes for this very reason making it a fully tearless shampoo.

The product contains no artificial fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, artificial colors, parabens or any other chemicals potentially hazardous to your dog’s health.

Of course, being a brand that makes both dog and baby items, it’s only natural that they don’t test any of these products on animals and that they actually worry about our furry friends and their health.

Animals aren’t the only things they care about either as the dog shampoo is environmentally friendly too, a whopping 80% of the bottle is made from recyclable material while the rest of the percentage exists for the sake of bottle quality.

Given the quality of their ingredients and their positive stance on safeguarding the environment and its animals, it comes as recommended by veterinarians nationwide as a top quality product.

All of that and it’s one of the cheapest products on this list considering the amount you get? It sounds impossible but it is true. It’s certainly one of my top picks for any breed of dog.

The only downside that I could really attribute to it is that the bottles look somewhat bland, but that’s really about it.

7. 2-in-1 TropiClean Dog Shampoo And Conditioner With Coconut And Papaya

The next entry is another relatively well known brand, Tropiclean with their 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner option.

Using coconut and papaya as the base, this Goldendoodle shampoo option provides an incredibly gentle, soothing texture to the lather while also providing a lovely tropical scent.

But, these aren’t the only ingredients, there are plenty of other, all natural ones inside that make for a wonderful bouquet of comfort and aromas.

Aloe Vera can be found within as well, a staple in dog shampoos everywhere, at least the quality ones as it doubles as a relaxant and skin rehydration option.

Aside from that, you’ll find chamomile, kiwi and mallow flower which help improve upon the texture of the coconut base, but also provide added relaxing properties to the dogs muscles, skin and overall demeanor during baths.

They also help enrich the dog’s fur, leaving it nice, soft and fluffy.

Finally, they mix with everything else to deodorize your doggo’s fur and make him smell like he just came from a tropical island.

It easily eliminates stains left from dog food, dirt, grass and other common dog fur stains while not irritating the skin whatsoever.

Of course, a tropical shampoo emulates the untamed greenery and nature of the tropics, untouched by civilization and pollution.

In this case, that means that the shampoo is free from phthalates, parabens and artificial dyes as well as any other potentially harmful chemicals to your Groodle companion.

The dog shampoo is made without causing harm to any animals, be it direct or indirect as the people at Tropiclean value all animal life.

That said the shampoo isn’t for every doggo, only those that are at least 12 weeks of age, barring exceptional cases, so do be careful when buying it.

Being packed with so many amazing ingredients that provide such wonderful benefits, it’s no wonder that the shampoo received the “Amazon’s choice” tag.

It also comes in 5 different size options depending on how much you need. They even have a ship-friendly one since some of their prior products had issues with leaky caps, but they’ve since remedied the issue somewhat.

The price isn’t all that expensive either, sitting at around the average for a good shampoo so it can prove to be a worthy investment.

That said, some products may still end up with a busted cap and leaking depending on the size that you buy, so do be mindful of that.

Before You Buy: What To Look For In A Shampoo For Goldendoodles

While the products listed are of top tier quality, I do understand that every dog has his unique needs and yours may not end up liking either of the ones listed here.

But, I’d still like to show you a few highly sought-after traits to be on the lookout for when searching for the product that you’d deem the best shampoo for Goldendoodles, or at least your doodle.

Naturally Gentle And Soothing

The key part of a shampoo is not just to clean your dog and deodorize him, it’s to help your dog relax so he doesn’t end up trying to run away or struggle around too much.

It’s meant to make bathing a pleasurable experience for him.

While I’m sure some of you do have dogs that absolutely enjoy it regardless, that’s not the case for most dogs.

That’s why focusing on relaxing properties is key to keeping yourself dry and not having to chase your precious pupper around the house or the yard prior to every bath instead.

Skin And Fur Care

Goldendoodles have this nice and thick fur coat, wonderful for cuddles, but this fur often gets tangles and mats, especially with the more playful and active ones.

Some may even have dry or overly sensitive skin or have relatively weak hair which is why finding a shampoo that offers good skin and fur care properties is another high priority trait to seek out.

Try going for ingredients that your dog is likely to enjoy.

Aloe Vera is usually a surefire hit, though oatmeal and buttermilk as well as coconut to a degree have proven themselves great standalone options or solid pairings with the former.

pH Balanced For Dogs

The constant mention of this fact may be confusing for some, but you see, dogs can’t use every shampoo out there as, for instance, human shampoo and dog shampoo have different levels of acidity.

This is because of the different resistances our skin has compared to our dogs which is why we usually need a higher pH level to help scrub some filth off.

The human shampoo would, in most cases be harmful to dogs and would be too abrasive for their skin, barring a few exceptions that double as both human and dog shampoos.

Do make note of this as it may save your furry friend a lot of potential discomfort.

All-natural Ingredients

As with any other product, organic and all-natural is the way to go.

All of the chemicals that are often put in to supplement something organic are simply a means to cut costs of production for a lower quality product that ultimately does more harm to your dog than good and can lead to some nasty rashes and skin irritations.

That’s why it’s best to avoid artificial ingredients and harmful chemicals as best as you possibly can.

The all-natural stuff may be more expensive, but your dog will definitely thank you for it, even if he can’t voice that gratitude verbally.

Hypoallergenic

There are plenty of dogs that have some form of allergy, and for that, you always want to look for a hypoallergenic shampoo option.

Sure it’s an obvious thing, but I felt it was still worth being mentioned, especially considering how more and more allergies are starting to pop up in humans and dogs alike.

Affordable Pricing

And, one of the most subjective traits is affordability.

I know that the cost of raising a Goldendoodle or any dog for that matter can be quite high as all of the expenses accumulate so making some cuts in places is understandable.

And, while the cut in the shampoo bit is usually only about 5 to 10 dollars, it does make a significant difference.

Make sure to balance out quality with price though as you don’t want to get something that’ll be harmful to your precious pooch in the long run.

FAQs

What Is The Best Shampoo For Goldendoodle Dogs Then?

For me, one of the best options would certainly be the Burt’s Bees one as it has everything in a relatively inexpensive package with the runner up being the Earthbath option.

They’re great all-rounders that work for pups and adult dogs alike so you don’t have to put much thought into whether they’d fit a specific breed or not.

Can Dogs Use Human Shampoo To Bathe?

Absolutely not. As mentioned before, the shampoos have a different pH balance and the human one is a lot stronger which’ll just bring harm and irritation to your canine companion for no reason.

There are some shampoos that work for both humans and dogs, but they’re primarily dog shampoos.

How Often Should A Goldendoodle Be Bathed?

Goldendoodles are known to have really sensitive skin which is why it’s important to not overdo it with baths.

About once a month or so should be plenty, give or take a few weeks, as they’ll do some self grooming on the side, but you also don’t want to irritate their skin from using shampoos too much.

Thankfully, this should cut down on shampoo expenses somewhat compared to some other dogs who require some more frequent attention.

How To Properly Bathe A Goldendoodle?

While the process of getting a shampoo may be difficult enough, getting to bathe a smaller dog like the Goldendoodle can be just as big of a challenge, at least at the start.

Once you get into the swing of things, it becomes real easy, here’s how to do it.

1. Brush Your Dog Down Before A Bath

To make baths easier overall, you’ll want to brush your dog down beforehand.

This’ll help remove excess fur, which, in turn, will help eliminate matting and tangles a lot easier so you won’t have to struggle as much.

If you’re bathing your doggo indoors, it’ll also help not make a mess of the tub or clog the drain.

2. Provide As Much Warmth As You Can

While this goes without saying, wet fur can make it real cold for your doggo afterwards if you’re using cold water, so make sure to use lukewarm or slightly warmer water to give your Goldendoodle an extra level of comfort.

It may not mean much to you, but it’ll certainly mean a lot to him and will help him keep steady. If your shower needs time to adjust, aim the showerhead away from your dog until it warms up.

The same can be said for the drying towel. Warm it up prior to the bath and use it to keep your own dog warm while drying him up.

3. Make a proper gripping surface

If you’re giving your furry friend a bath in the tub, chances are he’s not going to have a good grip on the surface of the tub itself given how smooth and sturdy it is.

This ends up panicking the dog as he doesn’t have as good a grasp of balance as he normally would on a flat surface.

You can circumvent this by buying something that you can place in a bath to cover it to provide grip, or you can simply take an extra towel and place it underneath.

The rugged texture will provide your Goldendoodle with extra grip and he’ll be calmer than he would’ve been otherwise during bath time.

This is a lot less of an issue if you have a backyard, but some of you may not have that luxury with you.

4. Prevent hair from clogging the drain

While this doesn’t contribute to your dog’s enjoyment, it does to yours as you won’t have clogged up pipes as quickly as you would if you left the drain unprotected.

You don’t want to fully plug it so the dirty water can still drain off, but you want to place some sort of filter over it, a sieve of some kind.

The best option for that is getting some steel wool and stuffing it in the drain.

It’ll catch all the stray hairs on the way while letting the water safely drain off, and we all know that there’s going to be A LOT of hair coming from a Goldendoodle, no matter how thoroughly you brush.

5. Use Gentle Shampoos

Another no-brainer, but one that’s always worth reiterating. Goldendoodles have very sensitive skin.

That’s why you want to get a shampoo that helps stimulate the production of the skin’s natural oils and that won’t scrape off existing ones while still cleaning the filth off your precious pooch.

6. Brush After The Bath Too

Once you’re done bathing your doggo, you can either blow-dry his hair if you have a hair dryer handy or you can simply pat him down with the warm towel you had stored up prior.

Regardless of which, once he’s fully dry you should brush him again to get any tangles that may have created themselves during the bath out of his fur.

While optional, you can help prevent some of them by dabbing the shampoo on your dog rather than rubbing it in as it makes for less fur movement overall, reducing the chances of tangles occurring in the first place.

As for why brush when the Goldendoodle’s coat is dry? Because wet fur is a lot harder to detangle than dry fur is.

In Conclusion

The best shampoo for Goldendoodles is one that’s ultimately extremely gentle on the skin and helps rehydrate it through natural means.

You’ll also want a shampoo that acts as a relaxant to your dog in some capacity since most dogs don’t particularly like getting wet without their agency on the matter.

While a lot of shampoos cover these two niches, there are many other small factors that make certain ones stand out above the rest, edging them out above the competition.

This is why it’s hard to choose the de facto best one in the first place as every Groodle has different tastes and preferences, even when dog shampoos are concerned.

But, you know your dog the best, so I have full confidence that you’ll be able to pick out the perfect option that’ll cater to his every need. Until next time.

RELATED LINKS:

• Goldendoodle Feeding Chart: The Golden Feeding Guide

• The Top 8 Best Goldendoodle Breeders In The UK

• Goldendoodle Growth Chart: Different Sizes Of Goldendoodles

• 15 Best Goldendoodle Haircuts

• Best Brush For Goldendoodle: Top 12 Tools To Make That Doodle Coat Golden

• Goldendoodle Colors: Shades And Patterns Of This Popular Breed

• The Red Goldendoodle: 15 Things You Didn’t Know About This Doodle