Shih Tzus are toy-sized, adorable, and make great family pets. However, bathing them can be a bit of an issue if you don’t have the right shampoo. Keeping a Shih Tzu groomed can be a bit of a challenge, as you well know if you have one.
Their thick, long hair can become easily matted, dirty, and tangled, so you want only the best shampoo for your Shih Tzu pal. Choosing the best shampoo, however, can be a challenge as well.
To save you doing the research yourself, we’ll give you our reviews of what we think are the best shampoos for Shih Tzus. Afterward, we’ll give a little bit of a guide on how to choose the best one for your pet.
Ready to get started? Then, let’s go!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
All natural, pet-safe ingredients
Gentle lather
Formulated to soothe dry, irritated skin
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Best Value
Espree Silky Show Aloe Vera Shampoo
Affordable
Made in the USA
All-Natural
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Premium Choice
Petpost Whitening Dog Shampoo
All-Natural
Made in the USA
Watermelon scented
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Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo
All-Natural
Made in the USA
Three scents available
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4-Legger Organic Shampoo
USDA certified oils
Holistic
Cruelty-free
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The 8 Best Shampoos for Shih Tzus
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
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Life Stage: All life stages
Grooming Feature: Soap-free, deodorizing
We have chosen Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo as our favorite shampoo for Shih Tzus. We love its simple, all natural ingredient list made without the use of harsh dyes, fragrances, or soaps. This pH balanced shampoo gently washes away dirt, dander and excess hair while hydrating your pups skin and coat.
Heppers lightly scented oatmeal shampoo is effective in lifting odors trapped in your pets fur without masking them with heavy perfumes. Any easy win for your Shih Tzus sensitive nose!
Overall, this our top pick for Shih Tzu shampoo!
At PetKeen.com we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Pros
Soothes & hydrates skin
All-natural, pet-safe ingredients
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
Made in the USA
Cons
Some pets may not like the scent
The best shampoo for Shih Tzus for the money is the Espree Silky Show Aloe Vera Shampoo. The shampoo is affordable and made in the USA. If your Shih Tzu’s skin becomes easily irritated, this shampoo contains aloe vera to help soothe their skin and make them feel much better after bathing. The shampoo is also all-natural and uses organic ingredients.
Soothes & hydrates skin
All-natural, pet-safe ingredients
Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
Made in the USA
- Soothes & hydrates skin
- All-natural, pet-safe ingredients
- Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
- Made in the USA
Some pets may not like the scent
- Some pets may not like the scent
Life Stage: Adult
Grooming Feature: Cruelty-Free
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The only drawback to this shampoo is that some users said it’s not as effective as it should be when it comes to getting that stinky smell off your Shih Tzu at bath time. All in all, however, for its affordability, this is a great choice.
Pros
Affordable
Made in the USA
All-Natural
Soothing
Cons
Not as effective as some other shampoos
Our premium pick is Petpost Whitening Dog Shampoo. This shampoo is made in the USA and is also all-natural, like many of the dog shampoos on our list. This one comes with a 100% guarantee and has a pleasant, fresh watermelon scent that will leave your Shih Tzu smelling fresh and clean. If your Shih Tzu is mostly white, then this is the perfect shampoo as it contains whitening agents.
Affordable
Made in the USA
All-Natural
Soothing
- Affordable
- Made in the USA
- All-Natural
- Soothing
Not as effective as some other shampoos
- Not as effective as some other shampoos
Life Stage: Adult
Grooming Feature: Whitening
It does take a few baths for the whitening to take effect, and a few pet owners reported not liking the scent of the shampoo. However, if your Shih Tzu is predominantly white, this could be the best choice of shampoo for you.
Pros
All-Natural
Made in the USA
Watermelon scented
100% guarantee
Cons
Takes a few baths for whitening
Some users didn’t like the scent
Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo is number four on our list. This shampoo is soap-free and the lavender and mint fragrance will do a lot to keep your pet calm during and after bath time. If you’re super busy, then the fact that this is a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner will make it even easier to bathe your little Shih Tzu. All-natural and made in the USA, this shampoo comes in three different scents to choose from and uses only pet-safe ingredients.
All-Natural
Made in the USA
Watermelon scented
100% guarantee
- All-Natural
- Made in the USA
- Watermelon scented
- 100% guarantee
Takes a few baths for whitening
Some users didn’t like the scent
- Takes a few baths for whitening
- Some users didn’t like the scent
Life Stage: Adult
Grooming Feature: Soap-Free
The only drawback to this shampoo is that it comes with no guarantee, and some pet owners reported that it doesn’t always work as specified.
Pros
All-Natural
Made in the USA
Three scents available
2-in-1
Cons
No guarantee
Doesn’t work well for some dogs
5. 4-Legger Organic Shampoo For Dogs
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Life Stage: Adult
Grooming Feature: Hypo-allergenic
4-Legger Organic Shampoo weighs in at number five on our list of the best shampoos for Shih Tzus. This shampoo uses only holistic, USDA-certified oils and is cruelty-free and eco-friendly to boot. It moisturizes, cleans thoroughly, and has a pleasing scent.
All-Natural
Made in the USA
Three scents available
2-in-1
- All-Natural
- Made in the USA
- Three scents available
- 2-in-1
No guarantee
Doesn’t work well for some dogs
- No guarantee
- Doesn’t work well for some dogs
However, some pet parents reported that this organic shampoo is being too watery to use and that the smell of the shampoo was a bit overwhelming. However, with all the benefits this shampoo carries, it’s worth a shot for your Shih Tzu and still belongs on our list, in our humble opinion. The lemongrass smell and the aloe for sensitive skin are enough to give it our recommendation.
Pros
USDA certified oils
Holistic
Cruelty-free
Eco-friendly
Cons
Watery
Smell is too strong for some
- See Also: 4-Legger Dog Shampoo Review 2023: Our Final Verdict
Another great shampoo for Shih Tzus is Healthy Breeds Deodorizing Dog Shampoo. Not only is this brand bio-degradable, but it’s also cruelty-free.
USDA certified oils
Holistic
Cruelty-free
Eco-friendly
- USDA certified oils
- Holistic
- Cruelty-free
- Eco-friendly
Watery
Smell is too strong for some
- Watery
- Smell is too strong for some
Life Stage: Adult, puppy, senior
Grooming Feature: Soap-free, deodorizing
The shampoo works to soothe your Shih Tzus’ sensitive skin while helping to calm them at the same time. The fact that this shampoo is all-natural is one of our favorite things about it—the shampoo is made in the USA and you don’t have to worry about ingredients that could hurt your pet. It works for all life stages, deodorizes your pup, and is soap-free.
The only drawback we saw to this shampoo is that it’s quite a bit more expensive than some products on our list, and some customers reported the fragrance being a little overpowering.
Pros
Soothes skin
All-natural
Helps calm your pet
Made in the USA
Cons
Quite expensive
Fragrance is strong
At number six on our list is Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo. Not only is this shampoo soap-free, but it also contains oatmeal to help with irritated skin. In addition, the shampoo comes in a biodegradable bottle, and the shampoo itself comes in 13 different formulas to choose from, meaning you should be able to find the perfect shampoo to keep your pup clean smelling fresh, and healthy.
Soothes skin
All-natural
Helps calm your pet
Made in the USA
- Soothes skin
- All-natural
- Helps calm your pet
- Made in the USA
Quite expensive
Fragrance is strong
- Quite expensive
- Fragrance is strong
Life Stage: Adult
Grooming Feature: Soap-Free, oatmeal
Some pet parents reported the shampoo drying out their Shih Tzu’s skin, while others said that the smell of the shampoo is too strong. However, considering the shampoo comes in 13 different formulas, there should be one that works well for your Shih Tzu.
Pros
Biodegradable bottle
13 different formulas
Soap-free
Contains oatmeal
Cons
May dry out some dogs’ skin
Smell is too strong for some
Last but not least, at number seven on the list is Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Dog Shampoo. This shampoo comes in two sizes and is available in three formulas. While it’s not the best on our list, and it doesn’t come in tons of different formulas, it does have a 100% guarantee and many Shih Tzu parents reported liking it.
Biodegradable bottle
13 different formulas
Soap-free
Contains oatmeal
- Biodegradable bottle
- 13 different formulas
- Soap-free
- Contains oatmeal
May dry out some dogs’ skin
Smell is too strong for some
- May dry out some dogs’ skin
- Smell is too strong for some
Life Stage: Adult
Grooming Feature: Gentle
However, there were some pet owners who reported the shampoo as being super watery, having too strong of a smell, and even failing to lather. Nevertheless, the fact that it comes in three formulas and two sizes secured it a spot on our list.
Pros
Three formulas available
Two sizes to choose from
100% guarantee
Cons
Fails to lather
Watery
Too strong
- See Also: Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator Review: Our Final Verdict in 2023
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Shampoo for Shih Tzus
Now that you’ve read our reviews and know all the options for the best dog shampoos for Shih Tzus, you might still be wondering how you’re supposed to pick from all the options. Below, we’ll give you a couple of factors that you should consider when choosing a shampoo for your little friend.
Three formulas available
Two sizes to choose from
100% guarantee
- Three formulas available
- Two sizes to choose from
- 100% guarantee
Fails to lather
Watery
Too strong
- Fails to lather
- Watery
- Too strong
Price
While we do have a few shampoos on our list that are affordable for all budgets, there are also a few that are quite expensive. You shouldn’t base your decision solely on price, as you usually get what you pay for. However, there are a few budget-friendly options we listed that we feel will work well for keeping your pup clean and smelling great without breaking the bank.
- See Also: 10 Best Mosquito Repellents for Dogs in 2023: Reviews & Top Picks
All-Natural
Whether it’s organic or all-natural, you don’t want a shampoo that has artificial ingredients and other chemicals. Also, your puppy probably has sensitive skin being a Shih Tzu, so you want to choose a shampoo that works best with their fur and skin for the best results.
If you’re unsure what the best shampoo for your Shih Tzu is, make an appointment with your vet and they’ll give you some recommendations.
- See Also: 38 Shih Tzu Mixes
Final Thoughts
This concludes our reviews of the best shampoos for Shih Tzus. First, the best overall pick went to Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo for its all-natural ability to soothe the skin. Next, the best choice for the money went to Espree Silky Show Aloe Vera Shampoo for its affordability. Finally, our premium choice was Petpost Whitening Dog Shampoo for its watermelon scent and 100% guarantee.
We hope this helps you choose the best shampoo to keep your little Shih Tzu clean and smelling great for a long time to come.
Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock
