A shedding dog is never fun. There’s fur anywhere, and you pull out clumps of fur any time you pet your dog.
We’ve been there, and we know the frustration of trying to keep everything vacuumed, as well as hoping you don’t find any hair in your food when you sit down to eat.
Our Top Choice
Runner Up
Best Value
That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite deshedding shampoos over the years, so you don’t have to share in the misery anymore.
So keep reading to learn more about our favorite products as well as a quick buying guide and some FAQs.
TropiClean Dog Shampoo
Product Highlights
TropiClean is made in the United States and contains naturally derived ingredients. This also means they do not include soap, parabens, or dyes in their products.
However, the company has still managed to include a strong smell, to help hide some of the odors that your pet may have. Their lime and coconut smell makes sure your pet reminds you of summer when they walk by, and not a trash pile.
Features
- Has a lime and coconut smell
- Made to reduce shedding, nourish, and clean
- Contains no soap, parabens, or dyes
- Can be used in conjunction with TropiClean conditioner
What We Like About TropiClean
TropiClean is our go-to when needing something for our dog. They have shampoos for itch relief, deep cleansing, whitening of the fur, and of course, deshedding.
Their shed control bottle comes with a lime and coconut smell and works well to not only help your dog with shedding but to moisturize their skin and fur.
What We Don’t Like About TropiClean
When found in stores, the product is very nicely labeled and packaged. However, when ordering online, the package often comes missing a seal or a cap, and sometimes even comes damaged.
This usually leads to some loss of product for the buyer and is a little upsetting. The company is pretty quick about responding, but it can be pretty frustrating to wait for a new bottle.
Pros
- Naturally derived ingredients
- Made in the United States
- Can shampoo dogs weekly
- Specifically for deshedding
Cons
- The smell doesn’t last long
- Some bottles don’t come with caps or seals
- Packaging could be better
FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo
Product Highlights
When you think of deshedding shampoos, you tend to assume that with a bath and brush, you will get all of the hair out right then and there. However, this shampoo works a little differently.
Right after the bath, you may not notice much of a difference. However, over the next few hours, your dog will begin shedding tremendously.
This product works well enough that you only have to do it once a month instead of weekly or every two weeks like most other companies.
Features
- Good for any dogs over 6 weeks old
- Part of Furminator’s monthly Hair Reduction System
- Contains ingredients such as omegas, calendula, and papaya
- Promotes healthy skin and coat
What We Like About FURminator
If you are simply looking for deshedding shampoo, FURminator delivers. However, they also have a whole deshedding line of products including sprays and conditioners, so you can help your dog feel better and not leave hair all over the house.
It also comes with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, to make sure your dog doesn’t dry out their fur or skin.
What We Don’t Like About FURminator
The delayed deshedding can be frustrating, especially if you don’t know about it when going in. You may just think that the product doesn’t work and decide to let your dog back on the couch, only to find it is completely covered in fur when you get up.
This company also didn’t focus on many natural or organic ingredients, which can be scary for dog owners that have pets with sensitive skin.
Pros
- Smells good
- Smell lingers after bath
- Easily noticeable lack of shedding after a bath and brush
- Great lather
- Makes coat shiny
Cons
- There is a delayed reaction for shedding where it can take a couple of hours
- Isn’t natural or organic
Organic 5 in 1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
Product Highlights
Organic Oatmeal Dog Shampoo works great for any pet. From cats to ferrets to dogs, you don’t have to worry about your poor pet having itchy or dry skin ever again.
This company uses many natural ingredients aimed at moisture while also providing many of the amino acids your dog needs. There are no sulfates, alcohol, soap, or parabens in this product, and it is cruelty-free.
Features
- Contains ingredients to detangle, reduce itching, soothe the skin, and reduce shedding
- Full of amino acids that are essential for your pets
- Good for a variety of different animals
- No alcohol, soap, parabens, or sulfates
- Natural ingredients work well for sensitive skin
What We Like About Organic
While it isn’t directly listed as a deshedder, it still works as an excellent one due to the oils and vitamins to help keep their skin hydrated and provide healthier coats for your dog.
We also enjoy this company because it is very open about its ingredients. Not only do they openly say what their ingredients are, but the purpose of those ingredients in their shampoo, so you know why each one is necessary.
What We Don’t Like About Organic
Unfortunately, since this product isn’t made specifically for deshedding, it doesn’t work as well as some of the other products on this list. It also smells pretty strongly of cherry cough syrup, though that smell tends to fade after a day or so, leaving your pup with a neutral scent.
A few people have reported that they had bugs in the bottle. While we personally never experienced that, we aren’t sure if the bugs came from manufacturing, or were mixed in with the ingredients.
Pros
- Good for dogs, cats, ferrets, and rabbits
- Very open about their products and ingredients
- Made in the United States
Cons
- Some people have found bugs in the bottle
- Smells like cherry cough syrup
- No lather
Oster Oatmeal Essentials Shampoo
Product Highlights
Oster is designed with many natural ingredients to make sure your dog naturally sheds their fur in a healthy way without leaving fur all over your couch.
It has a beautiful smell of coconut verbena, which many say reminds them of baby powder. There are a lot of natural moisturizers as well, so you don’t have to worry about your dog’s skin drying out.
Finally, there is no alcohol, parabens, phthalates, or dyes that can harm your puppy, and the ingredients are all biodegradable.
Features
- Oatmeal for gentle shedding reduction
- Coconut verbena scent that lasts a long time
- No alcohol, parabens, phthalates, or dyes
- Biodegradable ingredients
- Natural ingredients
What We Like About Oster
Oster provides a dog and cat shampoo that helps to control shedding. It contains many natural ingredients while avoiding more harmful chemicals like alcohol, parabens, phthalates, and dyes.
One of the best parts about this shampoo is that there is no wait time while bathing. That means you don’t have to fight with your pet while the shampoo sits for five to ten minutes.
What We Don’t Like About Oster
Many of the products come poorly packaged with missing labels, scrapes and bumps. Also, some people find the scent doesn’t last for much more than a day or two.
The biggest downside, however, is that it is more of a shed control than a deshedder. This means that it won’t help shed your dog all at once but slowly reduces overall shedding over time.
Pros
- Also safe for cats
- Gentle smell like baby shampoo
- Also moisturizes skin and fur
- Easy to use, and no wait time while bathing
Cons
- Packing is poorly done
- Scent doesn’t last very long for some owners
- More of a shed control than a deshedder
Arm & Hammer for Pets Ultra Fresh Shampoos
Product Highlights
Arm & Hammer makes great products for both people and animals. Infused with their traditional baking soda, this product not only reduces shedding, but it masks some of the stronger smells that dogs may have while replacing it with a pleasant citrus smell.
Features
- Citrus and sea mineral scent
- Deodorizing as well as deshedding
- Contains fatty acids and proteins for healthy skin
What We Like About Arm & Hammer
Even if you don’t specifically need deshedding shampoo, or you have another dog, they have a lot of variety in their different soaps, including deep cleaning, puppy shampoo, shed control, and even a waterless bath spray.
What We Don’t Like About Arm & Hammer
Some of Arm & Hammer’s products have been known to leave dogs feeling greasy. This seems to be based on the breed. This is unfortunate, as you can’t know if the shampoo will work well for your dog until after purchase.
Pros
- Safe for all dogs
- Lots of shampoo options to fit your needs
- Good for dogs 8 weeks of age or older
- Gentle
- Not too overpowering in scent
Cons
- Scent may fade pretty quickly
- May leave your dog feeling greasy
- May work differently for different breeds
Wahl Shed Control Pet Shampoo for Animal Shedding & Dander
Product Highlights
Wahl’s shed control shampoo contains natural ingredients designed to benefit your dog. Not only does it help reduce shedding, but it also reduces dander. It is allergy-friendly and pH balanced to make sure your dog’s skin is safe and your pet feels their best after a shower.
It comes with a pleasant lemongrass and sage scent and contains sudsy coconut agent so you don’t have to use a large amount of soap.
Features
- Sudsy coconut agent to reduce amount of soap needed
- Allergy-friendly
- PH balanced
- Alcohol, paraben, and PEG-80 free
- Lemongrass and sage scent
What We Like About Wahl
There are no harsh chemicals in Wahl’s deshedding shampoo. The soap is also heavily concentrated, so you can get a lot more baths with one bottle than other companies.
Many people also notice that the deshedding benefits last for quite a few weeks, so you don’t have to bathe your dog with this shampoo as often to get the best results.
What We Don’t Like About Wahl
Unlike most other shampoos on this list, this one doesn’t contain a lot of ingredients to also help with moisture. Many people reported their dogs having drier skin and fur, and some were even itchy for a few days after using.
Pros
- No harsh chemicals
- No wait time, just lather and rinse
- Deshedding benefits last a few weeks
Cons
- May dry out some fur
- Most people don’t notice the smell
- May take a few days to kick in
TropiClean PerfectFur Shampoo for Dogs
Product Highlights
While it doesn’t have nearly as many benefits as other dog deshedding shampoos, this is a great product. Where this product shines is in its tailored shampoos for different dog breeds and fur types.
Features
- Easy to understand ingredients
- Moisturizing
- Deodorizing
- Gently exfoliates skin
What We Like About TropiClean
If you want a deshedding shampoo that fits your dog’s specific hair type, then the TrpoiClean PerfectFur shampoo is a great idea.
While they all come in a citrus scent, they contain different ingredients and proportions of ingredients to fit every type of dog fur. Their combinations include:
- Combination coat
- Thick double coat
- Curly and wavy coat
- Long-haired coat
- Short double coat
- Smooth coat
If you are unsure of what type of dog fur your dog has, they have recommendations for dog breeds with each product
What We Don’t Like About TropiClean
The only real complaint we have about this product is that shipping is poorly handled. Whether it is through the shipping company, delivery system, or the TropiClean company themselves is unclear, but it leads to a large mess and a lot of wasted product.
Pros
- Have different soaps for different dog fur types
- Naturally derived ingredients
- Made in the USA
- Deep Conditioning
Cons
- Scent is potent to some
- Shipping is poor
The Coat Handler Undercoat Control deShedding Dog Shampoo
Product Highlights
Coat Handler is great for professionals or people that are bathing a lot of dogs. It comes in a one-gallon jug, but dilutes to 32 gallons. It is used by a lot of professionals, especially when they are dealing with dogs that shed a lot.
It contains 100% degradable soap and is cruelty-free, so you don’t have to feel bad about the products you are buying.
Features
- All natural ingredients
- 100% biodegradable soap and cruelty-free
- Concentrated to make 32 gallons of shampoo
- Used by many grooming professionals
What We Like About The Coat Handler
This coat handler contains no scent. Due to its heavy 32:1 dilution ratio, it can be used as frequently as needed without any harmful side effects.
Also, many people have used this shampoo without any downsides, meaning it works well for a wide variety of dog breeds.
What We Don’t Like About The Coat Handler
Having to dilute the product makes it a little bit of a pain to use. It also comes out very watery, which makes it feel like it isn’t working well.
The worst part, but something pretty common with most deshedding dog shampoos, is that it has to sit on a dog’s fur for a few minutes to soak in. If you have a dog that doesn’t do well in baths, this can make the whole thing a huge struggle.
Pros
- Can be used in conjunction with flea and tick treatments
- Can be used as frequently as needed
- No scent
- Works with many different breeds of dogs
Cons
- Has to be diluted to use
- Dogs have to sit with soap on for a while
- Very watery when diluted
Nature’s Miracle Shed Control Shampoo for Dogs
Product Highlights
This Nature’s Miracle Shed Control Shampoo is made just for dogs. That means it contains the ingredients your dog needs, instead of adjusting the recipe to fit a lot of animals.
It contains products that help with shedding right now, as well as controlling your dog’s shedding problems in the future. There are also ingredients like aloe and keratin to help your dog’s fur and skin stay smooth.
Features
- Made for dogs
- Melon burst scent
- Contains aloe and keratin for moisturizing products
- Controls shedding
What We Like About Nature’s Miracle
This is more of a shed control than a deshedder, but after a few baths, you will notice that it does help with deshedding as well. If you are struggling to not only help your dog now but keep it under control in the future, this is a great tool.
What We Don’t Like About Nature’s Miracle
This shampoo requires you to use a lot of it. Whether it is because you have to shampoo and rinse your dog twice, or your dog has a lot of fur, you may find yourself going through a bottle much faster than you would with other shampoos.
Pros
- Doesn’t have to be diluted
- Leads to bright-shiny fur and moisturized skin
- Reduces the need for frequent baths
Cons
- Works better with two rounds of shampoo
- Scent doesn’t last long
What to look for when buying deshedding shampoo?
Dog Type
It is important to find a dog shampoo that works well for your dog. Many shampoos will not specifically say what kind of dog breeds and dog fur they work best for.
However, if you look at the reviews and comments, you should be able to figure out if your dog breed might use this shampoo as well.
Natural Ingredients
Dogs are sensitive and have sensitive skin. You want to make sure you are only using natural, beneficial ingredients to make sure your dog doesn’t have many adverse side effects.
Focused on Reduced Shedding
Many products are made for a variety of different uses. This means that it might contain a lot of unnecessary ingredients. It may also not work as well as other deshedding shampoos as it isn’t focused on that job.
Moisturizing Ingredients
Deshedding can severely dry out your dog’s fur and skin. Make sure that your shampoo also comes with a lot of moisturizing ingredients so that your dogs can feel soothed and soft after a bath, instead of itchy and dry.
FINAL VERDICT – THE BEST DESHEDDING SHAMPOO
TropiClean Dog Shampoo
The TropiClean Dog Shampoo is our number one recommendation because it ticks almost all of the boxes above in our buying guide. It has moisturizing ingredients and contains a lot of naturally derived ingredients. It also works for a majority of dog types.
While it does cater to a wide variety of skin problems in dogs, it does well at mostly focusing on the moisturizing aspect that helps to remove extra fur and keeps the skin and coat smooth. It also is made in the USA.
You can purchase the product here.
Best Deshedding Shampoo For Dogs FAQ
Can I use TropiClean Dog Shampoo on puppies?
This product is recommended for any puppies and dogs older than 12 weeks of age. If you are going to use it, it should be diluted first.
Does deshedding shampoo make dogs shed more?
Deshedding shampoos are designed to help reduce shedding by keeping the skin softer, loosening up shedding fur, and keeping the fur healthy.
Can I use TropiClean Dog Shampoo on cats?
It is not recommended for cats due to the neem oil included.
Is deshedding shampoo worthwhile?
While they do not cure all shedding problems, they do help control excess shedding and can increase coat and skin health. However, you will still need to use additional tools like conditioners and brushes.
Does TropiClean Dog Shampoo provide flea and tick relief?
While this product does not kill fleas and ticks, it is an effective degreaser and provides relief for pets bitten by fleas and ticks.
What is the best way to deshed a dog?
The best way to deshed a dog is to soften up the fur with shampoos and conditioners. Then, you will want to take a specialized brush that fits your dog’s coat, and take a lot of care to brush it all out.
