Using a leave-in conditioner on your dog after a bath can help soothe itchy, dry skin and detangle hair. Leave-in conditioners require no rinsing. They can be your final step after your dog’s bath.
If your dog has a short coat, they can still benefit from these products. They soften hair and add shine. Plus, they leave your dog smelling great! Choosing the right leave-in conditioner can be a little tricky, though. With so many options on the market, it’s hard to know which one is right for you.
We gathered our favorite leave-in conditioners for dogs here and included reviews so you can look at the choices and make a decision. If you’re still not sure, check out the buyer’s guide for tips on how to choose the best one.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Zymox Veterinary Strength Leave-On Conditioner
Antimicrobial properties
Gentle enough for everyday use
Relieves skin irritation
Check Price
Best Value
Davis Oatmeal Leave-On Conditioner
Relieves skin after one use
Long-lasting formula
Dries quickly
Check Price
Premium Choice
Warren London Leave-In Conditioner
Makes brushing easier
Hypoallergenic formula
Deodorizing
Check Price
Best for Puppies
BarkLogic Calming Leave-In Conditioning
Therapeutic lavender fragrance
Suitable for dogs of all ages
Hypoallergenic formula
Check Price
CHI Keratin Leave-In Conditioner
Made with CHI technology
Reduces static
Include keratin for strong, healthy hair
Check Price
The 10 Best Leave-In Conditioners for Dogs
The Zymox Veterinary Strength Enzymatic Leave-On Conditioner moisturizes skin and detangles hair. It can be used on coats for added softness and a citrusy, pleasant scent. The formula combines protein, enzymes, and vitamin D3 to make the patented LP3 Enzyme System. This gives the conditioner antimicrobial properties to relieve irritation.
Bottle size: 12 ounces
Scent: Grapefruit, citrus
Check Price on Chewy
The conditioner is suitable for everyday use on wet or dry coats. The gentle formula contains no parabens or sulfates. It can relieve skin irritation due to allergies, psoriasis, and infections. The non-greasy formula dries quickly, leaving your dog smelling fresh.
This multi-use product is our best overall leave-in conditioner for dogs because it does the job of several different products in one. It’s also safe for use on cats. Some dog owners can’t tolerate the scent, but the conditioner can be diluted with water before use to reduce the fragrance.
Antimicrobial properties
Gentle enough for everyday use
Relieves skin irritation
- Antimicrobial properties
- Gentle enough for everyday use
- Relieves skin irritation
Strong fragrance
- Strong fragrance
The Davis Oatmeal Leave-On Conditioner is formulated with colloidal oatmeal to soothe, soften, and hydrate skin. It provides fast relief for dogs with dry or irritated skin, and results can be seen after just one application.
Bottle size: 12 ounces
Scent: Apple
The long-lasting formula means you don’t have to frequently reapply, making this the best leave-in conditioner for dogs for the money. It dries quickly, leaving behind a fresh apple scent. The formula is also gentle enough to use on puppies and kittens.
If your dog has a long coat, the conditioner works to soften the hair, detangling it and making it easier to comb. Since it stays in and doesn’t get rinsed out, it keeps working even after it dries.
With this conditioner, a little goes a long way. If you use too much, your dog’s coat can look greasy.
Relieves skin after one use
Long-lasting formula
Dries quickly
- Relieves skin after one use
- Long-lasting formula
- Dries quickly
Using too much can make coats look oily and greasy
- Using too much can make coats look oily and greasy
The Warren London Dematting & Detangling Leave-In Conditioner goes on as a spray but works like a lotion, penetrating knots and tangles and making them easier to brush out. It has a hypoallergenic formula made with aloe, jojoba oil, and mineral oil. It’s best applied after a bath, before you brush your dog’s coat.
Bottle size: 16 ounces
Scent: Vanilla
The formula is suitable for dogs over 12 weeks old and contains no parabens, alcohol, or detergents. It leaves behind a light vanilla scent. In addition to detangling and smoothing hair, it can be used as a deodorizer after a bath.
After spraying the product on your dog’s coat, it should sit for a minute for maximum effectiveness. The coat should then be slick enough to brush, easily working through mats and knots.
Makes brushing easier
Hypoallergenic formula
Deodorizing
- Makes brushing easier
- Hypoallergenic formula
- Deodorizing
Vanilla fragrance may be too strong
- Vanilla fragrance may be too strong
The BarkLogic Calming Lavender Leave-In Conditioning Spray conditions and detangles your dog’s coat with a hypoallergenic, chemical-free formula. It’s safe for use on puppies of all ages.
Bottle size: 16 ounces
Scent: Lavender
This conditioner provides a soothing, therapeutic, lavender fragrance that can calm anxious dogs and puppies and relieve stress. It can be used on wet or dry hair. Simply spray it on, rub it in, and comb through the coat. It can be used after baths or in between baths to freshen and soften coats.
Since it has a calming effect, it can be sprayed on anxious dogs during thunderstorms or other stressful situations. It’s sulfate and paraben free.
Using too much of this conditioner can make your dog’s coat feel sticky. It’s best to use light, misting sprays and not saturate dry coats.
Therapeutic lavender fragrance
Suitable for dogs of all ages
Hypoallergenic formula
- Therapeutic lavender fragrance
- Suitable for dogs of all ages
- Hypoallergenic formula
Too much will leave a sticky residue on coats
- Too much will leave a sticky residue on coats
The CHI Keratin Leave-In Conditioner Spray is made with keratin amino acids to strengthen and protect hair. Along with the same technologies that go into the brand’s human salon lines, the ingredients penetrate and nourish the coat, getting down to the cuticles. This spray promotes shine, elasticity, and hydration to make dogs look their best. It also works to reduce static and frizz by keeping coats smooth.
Bottle size: 8 ounces
Scent: Papaya, chamomile
This paraben-free formula is safe for use on dogs over 8 weeks old. It leaves behind a clean scent of papaya and chamomile.
While some dog owners enjoy the scent, others find it to be too overpowering. The spray also tends to come out in clumps because the product has a thick consistency. This can make it hard to get even coverage.
Made with CHI technology
Include keratin for strong, healthy hair
Reduces static
- Made with CHI technology
- Include keratin for strong, healthy hair
- Reduces static
Strong scent
Thick consistency
- Strong scent
- Thick consistency
John Paul Pet Oatmeal Conditioning Spray uses a botanical formula to soothe skin and condition coats. It’s made with 13 ingredients, including aloe, panthenol, and chamomile, that combat itchy, dry skin. It contains no parabens and is cruelty free. These products are made by John Paul Mitchell, which makes a line of hair care products for people. Its animal products are tested on humans before being pH balanced and deemed safe for pets.
Bottle size: 8 ounces
Scent: Almond
The oatmeal in this spray nourishes the skin and keeps it moisturized. It also soothes irritated skin and makes long-haired coats easier to brush. This is a good option for dogs with sensitive skin and those that need help managing their coats. It leaves hair soft and shiny, with a light scent of almond.
The spray nozzle is difficult to work and sometimes sprays in a circle rather than a straight line. This could be a defect from the manufacturer, but it’s been noted by several dog owners.
Tested on humans first
Nourishes and soothes irritated skin
Pleasant almond scent
- Tested on humans first
- Nourishes and soothes irritated skin
- Pleasant almond scent
Nozzle may not work properly
- Nozzle may not work properly
The same care that has gone into Burt’s Bees products for people since 1984 goes into its products for pets. The Burt’s Bees Care Plus+ Avocado & Olive Oil Leave-In Conditioner takes out the stress of brushing your dog’s unruly coat. It detangles matted hair while nourishing the skin.
Bottle size: 12 ounces
Scent: Avocado
The conditioner contains no sulfates, colorants, or fragrances and uses natural ingredients that are pH balanced for dogs. Hair will be left shiny and soft. The biggest issue with this product is the scent. Dog owners don’t like it and say that it makes “wet dog smell” even worse. Also, if too much of the conditioner is used, it can leave a greasy texture on the coat.
Natural ingredients
Detangles coats
- Natural ingredients
- Detangles coats
Unpleasant scent
Can leave a greasy residue behind
- Unpleasant scent
- Can leave a greasy residue behind
The Pet Silk Rainforest Leave-In Conditioner leaves coats shiny, soft, and easy to brush through. It adds a light rainforest-inspired scent to your dog’s coat without leaving any residue. If your dog has an undercoat that frequently mats, this conditioner is a good option.
Bottle size: 11.6 ounces
Scent: Floral
The conditioner adds moisture to dry coats. If necessary, you can dilute the spray with water to thin it for more even coverage, or you can spray it directly on the coat. It can cut time from your dog’s grooming session by making coats manageable right out of the tub. Hair will be left shiny, soft, and smelling great.
Detangles and works through mats
Pleasant floral scent
No residue left behind
- Detangles and works through mats
- Pleasant floral scent
- No residue left behind
May need to be diluted
- May need to be diluted
9. Envirogroom De-Mat Pro Leave-In Conditioning Spray
Check Latest Price
Bottle size: 16 ounces
Scent: Grapefruit, citrus
The Envirogroom De-Mat Pro Leave-In Conditioning Spray is safe for use on dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. It’s made with a paraben-free formula that includes vitamin E and aloe vera to nourish your dog’s coat and skin.
This conditioner can be used for detangling, cutting brushing time by up to half. Just spray it on a wet coat, and massage it in. If you’re using this as a detangler, spray it on and brush it out. It helps remove dead and loose hair. The light spray can also be used to control static and frizz in your dog’s coat.
While the conditioner has detangling properties, it doesn’t work well on heavy mats or severely tangled coats. Dogs with thick coats won’t see as much detangling help from this product as they would from other products on this list.
Contains vitamin E and aloe vera
Lightly detangles
Controls static and frizz
- Contains vitamin E and aloe vera
- Lightly detangles
- Controls static and frizz
Doesn’t work well on heavy mats or thick coats
- Doesn’t work well on heavy mats or thick coats
10. Dogtor Doolittle Mane Tamer Leave-In Conditioner Spray
Check Latest Price
Bottle size: 4 ounces
Scent: Coconut
The Dogtor Doolittle Mane Tamer Leave-In Conditioner Spray conditions and hydrates coats while working through knots and tangles. Your dog’s coat will be ready for easy brushing after a bath. The cruelty-free, vegan formula comes in a recyclable bottle, making it an eco-friendly choice.
Just spray it on your dog’s wet coat, and either allow it to dry naturally or use a brush or comb to work out tangles. It soothes skin and adds moisture to dry, brittle hair. Let it air dry, and it will leave behind a pleasant tropical scent.
For severe mats, you may need to add more conditioner to get them loose. Spray the conditioner directly on the mat to saturate it before trying to comb it out.
Eco-friendly
Detangles and moisturizes
Tropical scent
- Eco-friendly
- Detangles and moisturizes
- Tropical scent
Expensive option for the size of the bottle
- Expensive option for the size of the bottle
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Leave-in Conditioner for Dogs
If you’re still deciding which leave-in conditioner is right for your dog, here are tips and things to keep in mind when choosing one.
Why Does My Dog Need a Leave-In Conditioner?
Leave-in conditioners can help relieve dogs of dry, itchy skin. They can restore moisture, help remove dead hair, and detangle coats, which is great for long-haired breeds.
Even if your dog has a short coat, they can still benefit from the nourishing properties of leave-in conditioners.
Can I Use My Own Leave-In Conditioner on My Dog?
No. Only products that specifically say that they are safe for use on dogs can be used on your dog. Human products are not pH balanced for dogs. A dog has more alkaline skin than humans do, so a human product can throw their pH off balance and lead to skin issues and dry, brittle coats.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Leave-In Conditioner for Dogs
Ingredients
Leave-in conditioners made with all-natural ingredients are good options because they don’t contain harsh chemicals that can dry the skin and strip it of its oils. Aim for products that don’t include parabens or alcohol. These are drying on the skin and can irritate dogs with sensitive skin.
Application
Depending on when you want to use the conditioner, choose one that can be used on wet or dry coats. If you want to use it after a bath, choose one that can be applied while the coat is wet. Most conditioners used after baths have detangling properties to make brushing easy.
Conditioners are available in sprays, foams, and lotions. The way that you apply the conditioner should be easy for you, so keep that in mind. If your dog hates sprays, choose a conditioner that can be applied with your hands. Foams and lotions are also thicker and provide a more precise application.
Consider how tolerant your dog is of a bath and how long they’ll hold still. If you don’t have time to uncap a bottle or wrangle a spray bottle and your wiggly dog, choose a conditioner with an applicator that is easiest for you to use.
Fragrance
The scent that you choose should be one that you enjoy, but remember that your dog’s nose is more sensitive than yours. If the scent seems to irritate your dog, it’s too strong for them. Most scents are light, but not every dog will react the same way to each one.
Switch to a lighter scent if your dog seems bothered by the fragrance. Sneezing, pawing at the nose, and trying to rub the scent off of them by rolling on the ground are indicators that the fragrance isn’t sitting well with them.
Purpose
The leave-in conditioner that you choose can target various skin issues. If you’re looking for something to combat your dog’s dry skin, moisturizing conditioners are your best options. Detangling conditioners will keep your dog’s coat smooth. If your dog has irritated skin, opt for a conditioner that has soothing ingredients in it, like aloe and oatmeal.
Conclusion
The best overall leave-in conditioner for dogs is Zymox Veterinary Strength Enzymatic Leave-On Conditioner. This product has antimicrobial properties for irritation relief and leaves behind a citrus scent.
If you’re looking for the best value leave-in conditioner, our favorite is Davis Oatmeal Leave-On Conditioner. It relieves irritated skin in one use, and the long-lasting formula continues to nourish skin after it’s dried.
The Warren London Dematting & Detangling Leave-In Conditioner uses a hypoallergenic formula made with aloe and can be used as a deodorizer.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed our reviews of the best leave-in conditioners for dogs and were able to find the right one for your best friend!
Featured Image Credit: BY-_-BY, Shutterstock
