As a lab parent, you already know that finding the perfect shampoo for their double coat can be a tough job. Labs shed all year round and have a reputation for being rather smelly at times—important considerations before purchasing a shampoo for your lab.
No product will be ideal for every lab, so finding something adequate for your dog is crucial, but with so many products on the market finding the right shampoo can be complicated. In this article, we’ll help you find the best shampoo for labs—so keep reading and check out our in-depth reviews!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint
Inexpensive
Thick consistency
Long-lasting
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Veterinary Formula Clinical Care
100% paraben-free formula
Contains aloe vera
Promotes healing of skin irritation and conditions
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Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog
Helps with healing skin conditions and irritations
Prevents future skin problems
Tons of beneficial ingredients
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PetAg Fresh ‘N Clean Scented
Great for sensitive skin
Soap and cruelty-free
Lightly scented
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Earthbath Oatmeal Aloe
Soothing formula that moisturizes the skin
Great for puppies that are 6 weeks or older
Not runny
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The 10 Best Shampoo For Labs
Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner is our favorite overall shampoo for labs. It’s a combination of shampoo & conditioner with a gentle soap-free formula. This shampoo is made from all-natural ingredients that won’t harm your lab and the lavender and mint will help you create a soothing bath time routine with your beloved pet. This shampoo has been praised for leaving fur soft and silky, although it has a strong scent that doesn’t suit some people.
Bottle: 16-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult
Grooming feature: Soap-free
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It’s not runny like some other shampoos on the market, and it’s comparatively inexpensive, which is convenient. Also, the bottle has 16 ounces of product and due to the creamy shampoo texture, you only need a small amount to wash your lab, so the bottle will last for a while. When you count all these benefits, it’s easy to see why we chose it as the best overall shampoo for labs.
Pros
Inexpensive
Thick consistency
Long-lasting
All-natural ingredients
Cons
Strong scent
The Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic & Antifungal Shampoo is the best shampoo for labs for the money. Since the formula is medicated, it has multiple benefits, especially for dogs suffering from skin conditions and irritations. Ingredients like aloe vera will help soothe your lab’s skin and promote the healing of skin rashes, pyoderma, and dermatitis.
Inexpensive
Thick consistency
Long-lasting
All-natural ingredients
- Inexpensive
- Thick consistency
- Long-lasting
- All-natural ingredients
Strong scent
- Strong scent
Bottle: 16-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult
Grooming feature: Medicated
Even if you haven’t noticed any skin conditions in your dog, this shampoo would also be good prevention for those issues. It smells nice, and your lab’s skin will be clean and shiny after washing. Still, if your dog is very sensitive, their skin can become drier after several uses, so follow the instructions carefully.
Pros
100% paraben-free formula
Contains aloe vera
Promotes healing of skin irritation and conditions
Cons
May dry out the skin
Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog & Cat Shampoo is our premium choice and you will quickly understand why. The shampoo will soothe your pet’s skin while controlling any fungi and bacteria populations. You can also use it as a preventive shampoo, especially if your lab tends to have sensitive skin prone to irritations.
100% paraben-free formula
Contains aloe vera
Promotes healing of skin irritation and conditions
- 100% paraben-free formula
- Contains aloe vera
- Promotes healing of skin irritation and conditions
May dry out the skin
- May dry out the skin
Bottle: 16-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult, puppy
Grooming feature: Medicated
Many customers reported that this shampoo helped their dogs with the skin conditions they were facing while moisturizing the skin and preventing new outbreaks. You will love the mild-sweet scent that’s not too overpowering like most shampoos. If you use this shampoo in your lab, you can say goodbye to flakiness, itchiness, and redness.
Pros
Helps with healing skin conditions and irritations
Prevents future skin problems
Tons of beneficial ingredients
Cons
Expensive
PetAg Fresh ‘N Clean Scented Dog Shampoo is our best choice for puppies. If you have a lab pup, you know their skin is gentle and sensitive, so you need a mild shampoo that’s not too harsh or harmful. PetAg has created this soap-free, pH-balanced formula, so your pup will have a healthy, shiny coat.
Helps with healing skin conditions and irritations
Prevents future skin problems
Tons of beneficial ingredients
- Helps with healing skin conditions and irritations
- Prevents future skin problems
- Tons of beneficial ingredients
Expensive
- Expensive
Bottle: 18-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult, puppy, senior
Grooming feature: Soap-free, cruelty-free
Although it’s scented, the scent is very light and floral, so it shouldn’t be overpowering. The fragrance lasts, so your pup will smell lovely for days. Also, due to soothing ingredients like aloe vera, your dog’s skin will be less flaky and more moisturized and shampoo is refreshing and light, so your pup will love bath time!
Pros
Great for sensitive skin
Soap and cruelty-free
Lightly scented
Soothes and moisturizes skin
Cons
The scent is not for everyone
Earthbath Oatmeal Aloe Dog & Cat shampoo is another excellent shampoo for labs. It’s soap and cruelty-free and contains oatmeal which helps soothe and regenerate your dog’s skin. The shampoo has a discrete almond and vanilla scent, so your pup will smell fantastic for days. It’s safe for puppies and adults and you can begin using it once your pup is 6 weeks old.
Great for sensitive skin
Soap and cruelty-free
Lightly scented
Soothes and moisturizes skin
- Great for sensitive skin
- Soap and cruelty-free
- Lightly scented
- Soothes and moisturizes skin
The scent is not for everyone
- The scent is not for everyone
Bottle: 16-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult, puppy
Grooming feature: Oatmeal, cruelty-free, soap-free
The shampoo has a great consistency and is not runny, so it lathers easily and you will last for quite a few uses. After washing, your lab’s coat will be silky and fluffy and soothed from skin irritation. It cleans very well and rinses easily, so grooming time will be quick and efficient. Some people did not like the smell, though, while others loved it.
Pros
Soothing formula that moisturizes the skin
Great for puppies that are 6 weeks or older
Not runny
Cons
Some people might not like the scent
Zesty Paws Itch Soother Dog Shampoo with Oatmeal & Aloe Vera is a popular choice for people who have dogs with itchiness problems and flaky skin. It’s expensive compared to other products, but people tend to like it because it soothes your pup’s skin and keeps their coats healthy. This product is also suitable for puppies from 6 weeks old.
Soothing formula that moisturizes the skin
Great for puppies that are 6 weeks or older
Not runny
- Soothing formula that moisturizes the skin
- Great for puppies that are 6 weeks or older
- Not runny
Some people might not like the scent
- Some people might not like the scent
Bottle: Unknown
Lifestage: Adult, puppy
Grooming feature: Oatmeal, aloe vera
You know how messy shedding can be in labs, and this shampoo should help keep shedding to a minimum. The shampoo has a vanilla scent and should leave your lab coat silky and shiny after washing. Some users didn’t like the smell of the shampoo, though.
Pros
Oatmeal and aloe vera combination
Soothes itchiness and flaky skin
Suitable for puppies
Cons
Smell is not for everyone
Expensive
You’ve probably heard of or even used some of the Furminator’s great products. One of their best sellers is the Furminator DeSheddig Ultra Premium Shampoo For Dogs, which contains natural ingredients and doesn’t have any parabens, chemical dyes, or artificial colors. It’s great for pups 6 weeks or older and the shampoo should soothe their skin, prevent itching, and minimize shedding.
Oatmeal and aloe vera combination
Soothes itchiness and flaky skin
Suitable for puppies
- Oatmeal and aloe vera combination
- Soothes itchiness and flaky skin
- Suitable for puppies
Smell is not for everyone
Expensive
- Smell is not for everyone
- Expensive
Bottle: 16-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult, puppy
Grooming feature: Natural ingredients
The shampoo has a pleasant smell and it’s good at cleaning, although it might be too harsh for dogs with gentle skin. You will probably notice the loose hair coming off while bathing your lab, so shedding afterward will be minimal. It doesn’t work for all dogs, has a fairly pungent odor, and may dry out some dogs’ skin with frequent use.
Pros
No parabens, chemical dyes, or artificial colors
Natural ingredients
Prevents itching and minimizes shedding
Cons
Strong scent
It might dry the skin
Doesn’t work for all dogs
You know that ticks and fleas can quickly become a big issue for your pet and cause discomfort. Sentry Flea & Tick Oatmeal Hawaiian Ginger Shampoo is a useful preventative shampoo with a reasonable price. This shampoo is pH-balanced and it should help kill any ticks and fleas your lab might have. Some people feel that the formula sometimes fails to kill all the fleas on their dogs, though.
No parabens, chemical dyes, or artificial colors
Natural ingredients
Prevents itching and minimizes shedding
- No parabens, chemical dyes, or artificial colors
- Natural ingredients
- Prevents itching and minimizes shedding
Strong scent
It might dry the skin
Doesn’t work for all dogs
- Strong scent
- It might dry the skin
- Doesn’t work for all dogs
Bottle: 18-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult
Grooming feature: Flea & tick treatment
Although your pet can benefit from this shampoo, it can be harmful to you, so keep that in mind and be careful during bathing. This is another shampoo with a scented aroma and leaves your dog’s coat soft and shiny.
Pros
Reasonable price
Kills ticks and fleas
Scented
Cons
Not 100% effective
Paws & Pals Oatmeal Sweet Basil & Turmeric Dog Shampoo is a bit on the expensive side, but it’s made from all-natural ingredients. It’s convenient for adult dogs and is a great puppy shampoo for labs too since it’s tearless. The formula is watery, though, which is wasteful and not very convenient, and the smell doesn’t last too long. A day or two after the bath, your lab can quickly become smelly again.
Reasonable price
Kills ticks and fleas
Scented
- Reasonable price
- Kills ticks and fleas
- Scented
Not 100% effective
- Not 100% effective
Bottle: 20-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult, puppy
Grooming feature: Oatmeal, soap-free, tearless
Also, the packaging isn’t great and can easily break and create a mess in your home. Although this shampoo is supposed to stop itchiness, some dogs might be too sensitive to it. If you decide to purchase this shampoo, test it out with a small portion first to ensure it won’t cause problems.
Pros
All-natural ingredients
Great for puppies
Cons
Watery
Expensive
Too harsh for some dogs
Not the best packaging
Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey For Dogs is highly affordable, and a good shampoo for your lab. It contains oatmeal flour and honey that moisturizes skin and makes fur shiny. Unfortunately, this is not the best shampoo for puppies, so you should only use it on adult dogs.
All-natural ingredients
Great for puppies
- All-natural ingredients
- Great for puppies
Watery
Expensive
Too harsh for some dogs
Not the best packaging
- Watery
- Expensive
- Too harsh for some dogs
- Not the best packaging
Bottle: 16-ounce bottle
Lifestage: Adult
Grooming feature: Oatmeal, cruelty-free
This product has a 97% natural formula and is pH is balanced to prevent skin dryness and redness. Still, it can be too harsh for some dogs and might dry out your lab’s skin. Also, the formula is quite runny and unscented, so your furry friend won’t smell lovely after the bath—although some customers prefer this. If you want your dog to smell great, we suggest trying a different product, although this shampoo might work for some.
Pros
Affordable
97% Natural ingredients
Cons
Runny
Unscented
It doesn’t leave your dog smelling nice
It can dry out your dog’s skin
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing The Perfect Shampoo for Your Lab
Since finding a proper shampoo for your lab can be challenging, you need to know what to look for and what to consider to make a smart purchase. The most important factors you should consider are:
Affordable
97% Natural ingredients
- Affordable
- 97% Natural ingredients
Runny
Unscented
It doesn’t leave your dog smelling nice
It can dry out your dog’s skin
- Runny
- Unscented
- It doesn’t leave your dog smelling nice
- It can dry out your dog’s skin
Age
Skin type
Skin conditions
Odor control
Flea and tick control
Tangles and matting
Before purchasing a shampoo for your adult lab or puppy, you need to think about what you want to achieve. There are great products that prevent itchiness and skin conditions, while others make your puppy’s coat shiny and silky. Try shampoos with all-natural ingredients and useful substances like oatmeal and aloe vera. They should help your lab and soothe their skin.
Age
Skin type
Skin conditions
Odor control
Flea and tick control
Tangles and matting
- Age
- Skin type
- Skin conditions
- Odor control
- Flea and tick control
- Tangles and matting
Avoid using human shampoo for your dog at any cost. The shampoos that are designed for humans can be harmful to your dog, and they can cause severe skin issues or even bigger health problems. Dog shampoos are created for a reason, so you should always purchase an adequate shampoo that will work for your lab’s skin. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so please stay away from using human shampoo on dogs.
- See Also: Does Dog Shampoo Expire? What You Need To Know!
Conclusion
As you can see from our reviews, there are great shampoos you can choose for your lab. Our favorite overall is the Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner as it offers high quality for a reasonable price. If you want a cheaper product that still works, go for Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic & Antifungal Shampoo because it has the best value for money. If you want a luxurious shampoo, the Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog & Cat Shampoo is our premium choice.
We hope that these reviews were helpful and that you’ll find the perfect product for your furry friend!
Featured Image Credit: Glass_Burin P, Shutterstock
