German shepherds like playing. And some of them seem so obsessed with mud that they always find one way or another to get themselves dirty whenever they’re outdoors.
Well, there’s nothing much you can do about your dog staining itself while still wagging its tail as if to make you proud. But what you can do is take care of its hygiene by bathing it with a good shampoo.
This article discusses some things you should look for in dog shampoo and some of the best dog shampoos for german shepherds.
Why Does Your German Shepherd Need a Dog Shampoo?
Before anything, let’s address this question. Can you simply use human shampoo while bathing your german shepherd?
For starters, human skin has a pH balance of 5.5-5.6, while dogs have a pH balance of 6.2-7.4. This means that humans have more acidic skin than dogs.
Furthermore, dogs have way more sensitive skin than humans. This is attributed to the fact that we can have up to 15 layers of skin cells, while they can only have up to 5.
Human shampoos can be very harsh on dogs. They can damage the acid balance in your pet’s skin and leave it vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, and other parasites. In addition, they can cause issues such as allergies, skin drying, flakiness, etc.
On the other hand, dog shampoos are milder and are designed to clean the fur rather than the hair. They use various antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ingredients and have compounds that contribute to healthy skin.
Things to Look for While Buying a Dog Shampoo
Now that you know why dog shampoos are beneficial, you still need to remember that not all of them are created the same. Some tend to be better than others, based on several factors given below.
Natural Ingredients
Shampoos that have ingredients such as natural oils and herbs are milder on the skin. On the other hand, shampoos made with artificial chemicals such as phthalates, colors, formaldehyde, or isothiazolinone preservatives, etc. should be avoided as much as possible as they damage the skin.
Type of the Shampoo
These days, manufacturers have been creating special shampoos for conditions such as allergies, dandruff, dry skin, fur loss, etc. You can choose one depending on the current situation of the dog.
Overall Product Quality
Well, the product quality boils down to how the ingredients are derived and if the ingredient list is accurate. To be completely sure, you can prioritize shampoos that are made in the USA. This also depends on the trustworthiness of the brand.
Top 10 Best Dog Shampoos for German Shepherd Dogs
Now that you are familiar with all the basics, here are some of the best shampoos you can get for german shepherds:
Best Shampoos for Allergies and Itchy Skin
First, let’s look at some products that can be useful if your dog is constantly scratching its skin:
Douxo Calm Dog Shampoo
Made especially for pets dealing with allergies, Douxo Calm Shampoo has ingredients that help reduce irritation, improve the barrier function of the skin, and reduce itchiness and scratchiness.
The company claims that the soothing effects are seen within a week, and your dog can experience the full benefits in as little as 21 days.
Douxo Calm Hair Shampoo consists of unique patented products based on science. It consists of Ophytrium and Chlorhexidine, compounds used for treating various conditions such as skin infection, bacterial and yeast overgrowth, etc.
Another thing we like about this shampoo is that it doesn’t have any harmful chemicals and is soap free. It hydrates well, and the bathing time is only about 10 minutes.
Pros
- Effective for allergies
- Has good smell
- Makes the fur soft
Cons
- The scent doesn’t last long
- Need to be careful about the quantity
Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs
How great would it be to have a shampoo that doesn’t only help address skin allergies but also doesn’t interfere with any ongoing treatments for ticks and fleas? Well, Vet’s best Hypno-Allergenic shampoo does exactly that.
This shampoo is made of natural ingredients like Aloe Vera that reduce inflammation and soothe the skin but don’t react with chemicals from other products that you may have been applying to your dog’s skin.
In addition, it has Allantoin, a popular moisturizing agent, added Vitamins B5 and vitamin E.
The bathing time is about five minutes, so this product can also be useful if you have a restless dog. But keep in mind that you may need to apply the shampoo more than once if the problem is more severe.
Pros
- Natural Ingredients
- A pleasant tree tea oil smell, which isn’t as strong as the smell often found in other natural products
Cons
- Not very lathery
Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Pet Shampoo
Wahl Dry Skin and Itch Relief Pet Shampoo does everything it promises. This oatmeal-formulated shampoo can provide instant itch relief and high moisturization levels by spreading wide on the skin.
What’s impressive about this shampoo is that even if it’s a natural formula, it’s very lathery. This means you can use tiny amounts at a time; thus, a bottle will last longer than other brands.
The Walk Dry Skin and Itch Relief Pet Shampoo is pH-balanced and alcohol, paraben, and PEG-80-free, making it suitable even for highly sensitive skin. The smell in this one is coconut lime verbena.
Pros
- Natural soap-free formula
- Great for dryness and itchy skin
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Since it’s a concentrated formula, you need to avoid eye contact as much as possible.
Best Shampoos for Puppies
A German shepherd puppy has very sensitive skin, so it will need very mild shampoos. Here are some products that are the best for German shepherd puppies:
TropiClean Grooming Shampoo for Dogs & Cats
The Tropiclean Grooming Shampoo is created for puppies but is gentle enough to fit adult dogs with very sensitive skin as well. It’s formulated with coconut, is PH-Balanced, and doesn’t have soap, paraben, or dye. In addition, all the ingredients are derived from naturally occurring materials.
This product has a pleasant coconut leaf smell, making it great for scented bathing! Furthermore, it’ll leave your dog’s coat soft and smooth, as the shampoo also has a moisturizing agent inside it.
Another thing we like about the TropiClean series is that it has products for every problem, like ticks relief, shed control, moisturizing conditioner, etc. Finally, TropiClean Grooming Shampoo also relieves mild itchy skin, which is a bonus.
Pros
- Naturally derived ingredients
- Very mild yet soothing
- Amazing Smell while bathing
Cons
- Your dog may not smell so good while drying
- Cruelty-free products
Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo
Burts Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo contains a blend of natural products that provide gentle and relaxing shower sessions.
The label says it is about 99.7% natural, which is excellent since it shows that the manufacturer has been using high-quality ingredients and isn’t shying away from being transparent about their product.
The primary ingredient here is Buttermilk, which is very high in moisture. It also has honey and beeswax, which ease scratches and wounds on your dog’s skin.
Moreover, this gentle-smelling shampoo is free of dye, petroleum, and colorants, and it’s pH regulated so it suits your pet’s skin type.
Remember that despite the label, no shampoo can be tearless. However, Burt’s Bees still goes easier on your pup’s eyes than other products in the market.
Pros
- Almost completely natural
- Doesn’t irritate your puppy’s skin
Cons
- Will leave your dog smelling fresh, but there are other shampoos with a better scent
- Doesn’t spread very well, given its all-natural
Best Shampoos for Shedding
Try these shampoos if your German shepherd has been losing a lot of hair.
FURminator® deShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo for Dogs
While the name ‘FURminator’ sounds exactly opposite to what the product actually is, this shampoo may just be the best for reducing shedding in dogs.
Its proprietary formulation doesn’t only reduce shedding but also promotes healthy skin and coat.
This shampoo is made of Aloe Vera and enriched with Omega 3 & 6 and fatty acids. In other words, it’s also perfect for dogs with sensitive skin.
Furthermore, it’s got a formula known as Odorcapture 360, which removes the wet smell quickly after bathing.
FURminator DeShedding Premium Shampoo does not contain any parabens. Furthermore, it has no chemicals and is manufactured in the United States.
Pros
- Leaves your dog’s coat shiny and soft
- Natural
- Smells great
- Helps with fur loss
Cons
- Not so great at moisturizing
Shed-X Shed Control Shampoo for Dogs
The Shed-X Shed Control is another great shampoo for fur loss. It’s also based on natural ingredients, which include oatmeal and wheat protein, Vitamins A, D, and E, and Flaxseed and Grape Seed oil.
It also has Alpha Hydroxy Acid and DL Panthenol, popular ingredients known to strengthen and moisturize the coat.
Shed-X is a ph-balanced shampoo and has a citrusy pomelo fragrance. And if you’ve noticed, the ingredients are also the ones used on most allergy control shampoos, and they aren’t oily, making the product perfect for sensitive skin.
Finally, another thing we need to mention while talking about this shampoo is its affordable price. While it’s very effective, it’s significantly cheap than other products of the same category.
Pros
- Good for sensitive skin
- Affordability
- Effective even if your dog has a thick coat
Cons
- Can leave some dogs dry
Best Shampoos for German Shepherds with Infestations
Here are the best shampoos to use if your dog has ticks, fleas, or even yeast:
Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog & Cat Shampoo
Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog & Cat Shampoo has Ophytrium and Chlorhexidine that reduce the number of microorganisms and yeasts in dogs’ skin. This combination of meds can also help eliminate irritations from allergic reactions.
Douxo in itself is a brand found in many veterinaries, so it’s dependable for the thing it promises to do. Furthermore, this particular product is also free of soaps, parabens, sulfates, dyes, and nanoparticles, which means it has few side effects.
When talking about yeast infection, you’ll need to be a little patient, for it’ll take about a week of regular bathes with this shampoo to see significant results.
On the other hand, the product does have an adjusted pH and a coco-vanilla fragrance. Its formulation also helps to detangle and soften the fur.
Pros
- Vet-trusted brand
- Can fight bacterial and fungal infections
- You can use it with DOUXO PYO Mousse to get even better results
Cons
- Not completely natural
Vet’s Best Flea Itch Relief Dog Shampoo
Here’s a product that doesn’t only helps remove fleas but also offers relief from flea bites.
The Bet’s Best Flea Itch Relief shampoo is made of essential oils and ingredients such as oatmeal, orange, lemon, neem, etc., which are effective in not only disinfecting but can also be helpful to moisturize dry, itchy skin.
Like another Vet’s Best product on this list, this shampoo doesn’t interfere with other topical ticks treatment. Furthermore, it’s made in the USA, so you can be sure about the quality of the ingredients.
Don’t forget that you may still need to take your dog to the vet if the infestation is severe. You should only be using flea relief shampoos to complement the primary treatment recommended by the veterinarian.
Pros
- Natural
- Is lathery
- Will leave the skin soft
- Can also help with lice
Cons
- Not a medicated shampoo
Conclusion
While buying shampoo for German shepherds, you’ll need to ensure that the product has natural ingredients and is from a trusted brand.
While all the above products fit this bill, you also need to remember that some may cause allergic reactions in your dog. If that’s the case, you may need to try another brand; that’s why we recommended multiple products in all the above categories.
We hope our article helped you find the best shampoo for your pooch. Now, it’s time actually to get it into the shower- we wish you the best of luck with that!
