Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

8 Best Dog Shampoos For Shih Tzus in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

shih tzu taking a bath

When you care about the well being of your dog, the matter of buying shampoo becomes a little bit complicated. Will it bring out the health of your dog’s coat? Will it smell good? Will it do a good job of preventing skin irritation?

These are the questions you ask when shopping for a shampoo, but unfortunately, answering these questions is often easier said than done. Most of the time, you can’t really know how well a shampoo performs until you’ve tried it out on your pooch.

Don’t want to go the trial and error route? Can’t blame you. With this guide, you won’t have to. Read on for some Shih Tzu shampoo reviews!

hepper-dog-paw-divider 5

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
  • Sensitive skin-friendly formulation
  • Easy to lather and rinse
  • Removes dirt and grime effectively
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    Espree Silky Show Espree Silky Show
  • Affordable
  • Completely natural
  • Very soothing
  • Third place
    Healthy Breeds Healthy Breeds
  • All-natural
  • Soothing for skin
  • Calming during bath
  • BioSilk BioSilk
  • Great price
  • Good scent
  • Tear-free
  • CHI Gentle 2in1 Dog Shampoo & Conditioner CHI Gentle 2in1 Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
  • 2-in-1 product
  • Free from sulfates and parabens
  • Works with topical flea and tick treatments
  • The 8 Best Dog Shampoos for Shih Tzus

    1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall

    Hepper Colloidal Shampoo Shih Tzu Grey Bathtub

    Check Price on Hepper

    You’re here because you are looking for the best overall shampoo for your Shih Tzu. We reckon you needn’t look any further than Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. This luxurious pet shampoo is specifically formulated to keep your doggo’s coat healthy, soft, and shiny. This product makes bath time a cinch—because it is designed to hydrate and soothe your dog’s skin—while also providing a deep clean. Shih Tzus are often prone to itchy, dry skin because of their lustrous coats: this shampoo is crafted with natural ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and cucumber, which are gentle enough for sensitive skin. This shampoo is also pH-balanced, so you don’t have to worry about it disrupting your bestie’s natural oil production.

    Performance-wise, this shampoo is a standout. In addition to removing dirt and grime from the coat, it also leaves your Shih Tzu smelling pleasantly clean after using it. You and your pet can both use it safely since the formula is non-toxic. Free from detergents, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfates, and phthalates, it provides a soothing bath time experience that will leave your Shih Tzu feeling refreshed and renewed.

    Overall, Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is an excellent choice for Shih Tzu owners who are looking for a high-quality, natural shampoo that provides both cleaning and soothing benefits. For all of these reasons, Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo tops our list as the best overall shampoo for Shih Tzus.

    You might have guessed, this is our own product – but we love it so much we just have to share it, and hope you get to own one too!

    Pros
    • Sensitive skin-friendly formulation
    • Colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and cucumber are among the natural ingredients in this product
    • Easy to lather and rinse
    • Removes dirt and grime effectively
    • pH-balanced and formulated without harsh ingredients
    Cons
    • Some pet parents may prefer a more intense fragrance

    2. Espree Silky Dog Shampoo – Budget Buy

    Espree

    The Espree is our best dog shampoo for Shih Tzus for the money. This is an affordable and soothing dog care product that features aloe vera oil within the ointment. Consequently, dogs with irritated skin will recover quicker, and dogs with healthy skin will stay healthy.

    The product is also completely organic, which will be great for buyers that tend to favor natural products. Predictably, there are some issues that come with the territory of going organic.

    Namely, this is not an extremely effective deodorizing agent. If you are dealing with a major smell problem, you will probably favor something else.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Completely natural
    • Very soothing
    Cons
    • Not extremely effective

    3. Healthy Breeds Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo

    Healthy Breeds

    The Healthy Breeds is an entirely natural product that is designed to be soothing for dogs with irritated skin. It has been infused with aloe vera and oatmeal. There are additional notes of chamomile operating in the background that tend to keep pups calm during bath time.

    Granted, this is what you would call a deluxe dog shampoo. Besides having great features, it also comes at a fairly major price. In fact, it is roughly twice the cost of most of the other products on our list.

    The good news is that it does come with a guarantee: if you are not absolutely satisfied with the performance of the shampoo, the manufacturer claims they will give you your money back.

    Pros
    • All-natural
    • Soothing for skin
    • Calming during bath
    Cons
    • Fairly major price tag

    You may also like: Clippers for Shih Tzus


    4. BioSilk Silk Tearless Shampoo for Dogs

    BioSilk for Pets

    Next, we have a budget-friendly all-purpose shampoo that will be safe for your pup to use. The ingredients, though not completely organic, are safe enough that they won’t bring tears to your dog’s eyes.

    It also features a very strong floral smell that many users with smelly dogs will certainly appreciate. That said, if your pet has any sensitivities, this won’t be the product for you. It can be very irritating on the skin of some dogs. If your canine is in good health, you probably will not have any problems.

    Pros
    • Great price
    • Good scent
    • Tear-free
    Cons
    • May upset your dog’s skin

    5. CHI Gentle 2in1 Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

    CHI Gentle

    CHI Gentle 2in1 Dog Shampoo & Conditioner is a gentle formula that makes washing your Shih Tzu quick and easy. Since it is a combination shampoo and conditioner, you only need one product to leave your Shih Tzu’s coat looking smooth, silky, and shiny. 

    This shampoo only contains mild surfactants, and it is sulfate and paraben free. It won’t irritate your dog’s eyes in the event that it does get into them. It is also safe to use with topical flea and tick treatments.

    The downsides to this product are that it is a little pricey, and it isn’t suitable for puppies under 8 weeks old, but the latter is true of most dog shampoos.

    Pros
    • 2-in-1 product
    • Free from sulfates and parabens
    • Works with topical flea and tick treatments
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • Not ideal for young puppies

    6. Buddy’s Best Natural Dog Shampoo

    Buddys Best

    Buddy’s Best Natural is an entirely organic product that will be good for buyers who have dogs with sensitive skin. The shampoo is designed not just to clean out a dog’s coat, but also to moisturize their skin.

    For dogs that have allergies, this will be a really great shampoo to get your hands on. However, there are some issues that keep it towards the bottom of the list. For one thing, this is a pricey shampoo that simply will not suit the buyer on a budget.

    It is also not extremely effective at eliminating unpleasant odors. The natural ingredients are good for preserving your dog’s skin but not much else.

    Pros
    • Entirely organic
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • Not very effective

    7. BarkLogic Natural Dog Shampoo

    BarkLogic

    The BarkLogic is a hypoallergenic shampoo that is designed to have calming properties. Thanks to a lavender scent, it is able to actively calm your dog. It is also an eco-friendly compound, and it can be used just as effectively on big dogs as it can be on little ones, making it a versatile pet care product to have around.

    Unfortunately, we have found that the shampoo doesn’t lather very well. It can be fairly challenging to use in general, and once you have applied it, the scent tends to be overpowering. If you have a sensitive nose this might not be the product you’ll want to get.

    Pros
    • Hypoallergenic
    • Soothing lavender scent
    • Eco-friendly
    Cons
    • Difficult to lather with
    • Overwhelmingly potent scent

    8. Sofee & Co. Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

    Sofee & Co

    We end the list with the Sofee natural organic shampoo. As an entirely natural product, this is actually a fairly affordable option.

    However, the price may end up being the best thing about it. The shampoo is not extremely effective at eliminating unpleasant odors. This means that smelly dogs probably won’t be a good match for the product.

    It also doesn’t do much to soothe dogs, which is one of the main selling points of oatmeal infused shampoos.

    The product is not a complete failure by any stretch of the imagination. However, when you compare it to many of the other organic options, it becomes clear that there are some shortcomings.

    Pros
    • Affordable for an organic shampoo
    Cons
    • Not very effective at eliminating odor
    • Does not perform the same way as other organic shampoos

    hepper-dog-paw-divider 5

    Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Dog Shampoos For Shih Tzus

    Now that you know all about your options, it is time to look into some considerations that will hopefully make the decision a little bit easier

    Natural

    Natural ingredients are great because they are very rarely associated with irritating the skin of dogs. However, they’re generally more expensive.

    Still, if the concession is worth it to you, there are a few different ingredients to be on the lookout for. For example, oatmeal is a product that is well known for actively soothing your dog’s skin. Aloe vera is often associated with the same benefits.

    Finally, chamomile can soothe your dog’s nerves in real time to help them overcome bath time jitters. It’s a good way to help make bath time a little bit more pleasant for your dog.

    Shih Tzu
    Image Credit: wernerdetjen, Pixabay

    Tear Free

    Like babies, dogs tend to get a lot of shampoo in their eyes. It is going to happen pretty much no matter what, but there are still some things you can do to make things go a little smoother. For example, tear-free shampoo is a great way to avoid catastrophes.

    Manufacturers are well aware of the fact that dogs have a problem with getting shampoo in their eyes and they tend to make their products accordingly.

    Still, if this feature is important to you, it may be a good idea to give the label a thorough inspection before you finalize a buying decision.

    Price

    Finally, shampoos are available at a wide range of different prices. More affordable products tend to feature synthetic chemicals that, while potent in their ability to eat odor, are not so delicate on the skin.

    If you are willing to spend more money to get an organic product it will ensure that your pooch has a safer experience it may prove fruitful in the long run. However, younger healthier dogs may be able to get away with standard products.

    hepper-dog-paw-divider 5

    Conclusion

    So, which one of our Shi Tzu reviews spoke to you the most? Maybe you liked the high-quality performance and value of our top choice, the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo.

    Or, perhaps budget is your main concern right now. In that case, you might be better served by our runner up choice the Espree Natural Silky Show Dog Shampoo.

    At the end of the day though, all of these shampoos are pretty effective at what they do. You just need to identify the one that is the best fit for your pooch.


    Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

    Related Articles

    Further Reading

    Vet Articles

    Latest Vet Answers

    The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database