8 Best Dog Shampoos for Golden Retrievers in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

With their thick, double-coat that’s water repellant, Golden Retrievers need a shampoo that can penetrate to the skin. It can be a chore grooming your Golden, but having the right shampoo can make it much easier.

There are so many dog shampoos on the market, though, that it can be difficult to find the best one for your Golden. We’ve done the work for you and found shampoos that work well on a Golden Retriever’s water-repellent coat. Our list of reviews and buyer’s guide will help you determine the best shampoo for your needs.

Read on for our recommendations.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo	Free from harsh chemicals Soothing and calming formula Made in the USA	Check Price
Best Value		Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner	Soap and alcohol-free 2-in-1 to make bathing easier Left coats silky and shiny	Check Price
Premium Choice		Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance-Free Dog & Cat Shampoo	Made for dogs with skin issues Helps moisturize and heal skin Fragrance-free	Check Price
Best for Puppies		Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo with Buttermilk for Dogs	Specially formulated for puppies Keeps coats soft and fluffy while soothing skin Won’t wash away tick and flea treatment	Check Price
		PetAg Fresh ‘N Clean Scented Dog Shampoo	pH-balanced and soap-free to prevent drying out of skin Added Vitamin E and aloe leaf juice to keep the coat shiny Claims to have a long-lasting scent	Check Price

The 8 Best Shampoos for Golden Retrievers

1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall 

Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is our top pick for the best overall shampoos for Golden Retrievers. It features a soothing oatmeal formula that won’t dry out your dog’s skin. It’s free from soaps, glutens, dyes, DEA, sulfates, and phthalates making it not only gentle but safe!

We enjoyed bathing our dog with this shampoo, and its long-lasting aloe vera and cucumber scent was pleasant and not the least bit overwhelming. We also loved that it is safe for use on cats, making it a cost-effective product for multi-pet homes.

Overall, we think this shampoo ticks all the boxes when shopping for a pet shampoo which makes it our favorite golden retriever shampoo on the market!

2. Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner– Best Value

Washing a Golden Retriever is sometimes a battle, so having a 2-in-1 shampoo that includes conditioner is ideal. Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint dog shampoo and conditioner provides that and so much more for your four-legged friend. Plus, it’s the best dog shampoo for Golden Retrievers for the money! It’s made with natural ingredients that work as conditioners, such as aloe and chamomile, to keep your dog’s skin feeling soft. It is also soap- and alcohol-free so that it won’t dry out the skin. Don’t let the fact this shampoo is soap-free concern you, though, as it still lathers incredibly well! And to ensure your pup has a coat that smells great, Buddy Wash has included wheat proteins.

One Golden Retriever owner said this shampoo left their dog’s coat silky and shiny. However, a few pups did have allergic reactions to Buddy Wash, so if your pet is prone to skin allergies or has a wheat allergy, watch for that. Some people also did not enjoy the consistency of the shampoo, as they felt it was too thick.

3. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance-Free Dog & Cat Shampoo– Premium Choice

If you’re looking for a premium option for your favorite Golden Retriever, particularly if they’re prone to skin issues, then Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance-Free dog shampoo might be just the thing. This oatmeal shampoo is soap-free, so it won’t dry skin out and has added aloe to moisturize. It doesn’t only moisturize skin, though; it also helps skin heal and eases dryness and itchiness. Plus, Earthbath is free of fragrance, so there are not any chemicals in it to irritate your dog’s skin.

Pet parents raved about how soft this left their dog’s coats, and several commented that this left their pups less itchy. The main issue about this shampoo had to do with the bottle being somewhat leaky. There were a couple of complaints that this product gave dogs dandruff, too.

4. Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo with Buttermilk for Dogs – Best for Puppies

Puppies need the gentlest of gentle shampoos to protect their skin and coats, making this shampoo by Burt’s Bees an excellent option. Not only do Burt’s Bees use ingredients that are plant-based, so they’re better for the skin, but buttermilk is used to help soothe and soften. This buttermilk shampoo also helps your pup’s coat grow as it should and keeps it healthy. Best of all, Burt’s Bees puppy shampoo is so gentle it won’t wash away tick and flea treatments!

Pet parents loved how soft and fluffy this shampoo left their puppies’ coats. There were a handful of complaints, though. Many people didn’t like the consistency of this shampoo, as they said it was too watery and didn’t lather well. People also didn’t enjoy the lack of deodorizing with this shampoo since they said their dogs smelled again reasonably quickly.

5. PetAg Fresh ‘N Clean Scented Dog Shampoo

This plant-based cleanser by PetAg is pH-balanced and soap-free, so it doesn’t dry out your dog’s skin. Extra conditioners make it extremely moisturizing for your pup’s coat and get rid of tangles quickly, so brushing your pet is a breeze. Aloe leaf juice and Vitamin E are responsible for keeping your pup’s coat extra shiny, and this shampoo claims it will keep your Golden Retriever smelling great for up to two weeks.

A host of people absolutely hated the smell of this shampoo, though, as they found it overpowering. There were also a couple of reports of dogs developing hives after being bathed with this shampoo.

6. Earthbath All Natural Brightener Dog Shampoo

The Earthbath All Natural Brightener Shampoo is great for your Golden’s sensitive skin because it’s a soap-free shampoo. This formula is designed to brighten your Golden’s coat and make it shiny. It contains purified water and coconut-based cleansers to clean and moisturize naturally. It also contains lavender oil to help remove bad odors. This shampoo is free from DEA, parabens, synthetic dyes, sulfates, and phthalate.

In some sensitive dogs, this shampoo can cause skin irritation. On dogs with very light or white coats, it can cause yellowing.

7. Wahl Gentle Formula Puppy Shampoo

The Wahl Gentle Puppy Shampoo is made to be gentle on your pup’s coat. It’s alcohol free and paraben free, so it doesn’t dry out your Golden’s silky coat. It uses cornflower and aloe to naturally moisturize your dog’s skin and coat. It’s also pH balanced specifically for dogs.

For bigger dogs with a great deal of hair, you have to use a large amount of the product despite it being concentrated. This shampoo can cause skin irritation in some sensitive dogs. It also doesn’t do a good job of removing odors.

8. Healthy Breeds Bright Whitening Dog Shampoo

The Healthy Breeds Bright Whitening Dog Shampoo enhances white and light-colored coats, so it’s great for Golden Retrievers. This formula also helps control matting and tangling. The shampoo contains natural oatmeal.

This is not a paraben- or sulfate-free shampoo, which can be harmful to the skin of some dogs. The shampoo doesn’t always work well at brightening the coat, and a large amount of product has to be used. It also doesn’t lather well. In some sensitive dogs, it can cause skin irritation.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Shampoos for Golden Retrievers

Now that you have a better idea of the best dog shampoos for Golden Retrievers, you should know what to look for in one of these shampoos. Here are a few things that are important to have in a dog shampoo for Golden Retrievers.

Deodorizers

Half the point of giving your Golden Retriever a bath is to stop them from smelling bad, so you need a shampoo that contains deodorizers of some kind (this is particularly important for those pups who love to romp outside!). Scented shampoos without deodorizers will only leave your dog smelling fresh for a short while (usually hours), so ensure that any shampoo you purchase is deodorizing.

Ingredients

Golden Retrievers can be prone to skin allergies and conditions, so you want to be careful with the ingredients you put on their skin. Shampoos with natural ingredients are less likely to irritate your pup’s skin or cause allergic reactions.

Hypoallergenic

Again, because Golden Retrievers can experience skin allergies and irritation, getting a shampoo that is hypoallergenic is wise. This ensures there aren’t any ingredients in the shampoo that could cause an allergic reaction. You should still check the ingredient list, though, to be sure it doesn’t contain anything your pup is specifically allergic to; after all, a hypoallergenic oatmeal shampoo won’t do your pet any good if they have an allergy to oats!

Moisturizing

Shampoos that have moisturizing ingredients are key to keeping your dog’s skin from becoming irritated or itchy. Many dog shampoos contain ingredients such as aloe, buttermilk, or Vitamin E, which help moisturize your pet’s skin (and coat!), leaving them feeling great.

Scent

Shampoos come in scented and unscented, so consider which is better for your dog. Some canines may be sensitive to scents, so do better with unscented shampoos. Plus, the fragrance in shampoo may come from chemicals or essential oils, which can be harsh on your dog’s skin.

Cost

If you find a shampoo you like, shop around to see if you’re getting the best price for it. You might find another shampoo with the same or similar ingredients that’s a bit cheaper!

Reviews

Reviews from other Golden Retriever parents are the quickest and easiest way to determine if a shampoo might work for your dog. Be sure to read the good and the bad, though, to better understand how a product works.

Conclusion

When you want the best dog shampoo for Golden Retrievers, you’ll want to look at Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo, as it’s incredibly soothing and has a long-lasting scent. If you want the best dog shampoo for the money, check out Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint dog shampoo for a 2-in-1 shampoo that leaves coats silky smooth, all for a great price. Finally, if you want a dog shampoo that’s a bit more premium, Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance-Free dog shampoo is just the thing since it’s designed to soothe and heal skin irritation and issues.

Featured Image Credit: 135pixels, Shutterstock