Best Shampoo for Poodles
January 30, 2021 2021-05-17 11:29Best Shampoo for Poodles
Steffi Trott As an Amazon affiliate, we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. We only recommend products we have tested and are using on our own dogs!
Are you – like me – one of the lucky people who is owned by a Poodle? Then you have fallen in love with their smart wits, sense of humor, zest for life and adorable looks. Poodles are renowned for their special coat – one of the reasons all Doodle breeds have been developed from them – but the care for that coat … can be tricky.
My own white Miniature Poodle Ada is a challenge to keep clean and groomed. In addition to bringing her to the groomer’s regularly, I typically bathe her at home about once a month. I tested many different Poodle shampoos throughout her 5 years of life, and today I’ll share my favorites with you.
By the way: All of these were approved by my friend and professional groomer Elizabeth. Some of these shampoos are used by dog owners who show their dogs at conformation shows as well!
Our Top Choice: The #1 Poodle Shampoo
This is the ultimate dog shampoo. Specifically designed for curly coats and you cannot get a better product for your pooch.
The shampoo lifts the individual hairs for maximum shape and volume, while also coating each hair to smoothen follicles and prevent matting or tangles.
Seriously, try it out - you will love it so much!
Table of Contents
Our Best Shampoos for Specific Poodle Types
Sometimes you need a more specialized product. Find our top choices for budget and puppy friendly shampoos as well as Shampoos specifically for your Poodle’s coat color below.
Best Budget Option
Owning a dog can be pricey – but the shampoo doesn’t need to be!
This 4-in-1 shampoo and conditioner is from a line of products that many professional groomers use. It is not only high-quality, but an amazing budget option as well!
I used this on Ada and really enjoyed the Lavender scent, as well as the softness of her coat. Having a shampoo and conditioner in one product makes bath time easy for dogs that are impatient and want to get out of the tub quickly!
Best Shampoo for Poodle Puppies
Gentle ingredients, tear-free formula and baby powder scent – oh yeah.
If you have a Poodle puppy, you should get him or her used to being bathed as early as possible. Puppies will accept everything that happens in their first months as “just part of life”. You can prevent a lot of future struggles by starting bathing your Poodle early in life!
(Plus - puppies get dirty. A lot. That’s just a part of puppy life)
I used this shampoo with puppy Ada for her very first baths. It is from the company Oster, which is the preferred brand among professional groomers. Your puppy will indeed smell and feel like he or she just got back from a professional hair appointment. The scent of this one is baby powder - you won’t stop snuggling your pup after a bath with this!
Best Shampoo for White Poodles
Is your pup sparkling white? Or, well at least you wish – muddy-brown might be a more realistic description …
Brightening shampoos are a great choice for white Poodles. They will get rid of tear stains and really make that coat sparkle.
I have used this extensively with my own Ada. If you have a white Poodle or a Parti Poodle with a lot of white, this shampoo will be great to make him or her shine brightly. It removes tears stains (all owners of white dogs will struggle with that!), softens the coat and gives your Poodle a delicious blueberry scent. I couldn’t get enough of smelling my Ada - seriously!
This shampoo is also tear-free - if it accidentally gets into your pup’s eyes, they will be just fine.
Best Shampoo for Black Poodles
Have an ebony pooch? This is you best pick:
Black dogs’ coat can quickly look dull when not maintained properly. But with the right products, they will shine and shimmer in their ebony glory! This shampoo was specifically designed for black dogs. My friend’s Poodle Abraham (I know, gotta love that name) gets baths with this product and he looks so good, all the time.
This shampoo is meant to be diluted 4:1 - meaning that one bottle will last you many months, even if your pooch gets frequent baths. Let’s polish that black beauty!
Best for Poodles That get Dirty
If you need some extra-strength cleaning power …
Whether your Poodle loves to play in puddles or roll in the grass - this shampoo will get even the dirtiest dog to sparkle again! A product used frequently by veterinarians, it is formulated to repel dirt for long after your dog’s bath.
The green apple and white tea fragrance will make your pup smell much better than the mud he chose to run through!
Best Shampoo for Pampered Poodles
If your dog is used to luxury, this shampoo fits the bill.
Is your Pooch one of the really special Poodles? For doggy divas (you know who I mean!) this one is perfect. It leaves the coat incredibly soft and it smells soooo good! Seriously, I could not stop smelling Ada after bathing her with this. My husband thought I was weird, whatever! It just smells so good. This one made brushing once my Poodle was blow-dried so easy, too!
FAQ – Poodle Shampoos & Bathing
More questions about Poodle bathing and shampooing? We got your back.
How often should a poodle be bathed?
You should strive to bathe your Poodle every 3-4 weeks. The exact frequency will depend on your lifestyle, your Poodle’s age as well as what type of haircut your Poodle has.
A Poodle who lives in a rural area and spends a lot of time outside running around might need a bath every 2 weeks, especially if it is muddy.
If you live in an urban environment or your dog spends most of his time indoors, you will need to bathe him much less frequently.
Senior dogs sometimes do not tolerate being bathed very well. In that case you should give your Poodle a short haircut and try out doggy wipes to keep his paws and face clean.
Never plan a bath without brushing your Poodle beforehand, otherwise you could make mats and tangles worse!
Can you use human shampoo on poodles?
You should not use human shampoo on your Poodle, or any dog for that matter. Dogs’ skin has a different pH value than human skin. Human shampoo could dry out your Poodle’s coat and cause dandruff problems. A specifically formulated dog shampoo is the best way to go.
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