Our 6 Picks For The Best Shampoo For Pug

Pugs are adorable dogs with lots of energy and a distinctive face. Their short coat may seem low maintenance, but to preserve skin health, you may have to take some steps to ensure the skin is healthy. All coat issues start with skin health, so this is a great time to tackle any problems at the root.

It doesn’t require a lot of grooming, and it’s important not to wash your Pug too much. Using products designed to balance pH and keep the skin moisturized are a great way to ensure your Pug doesn’t develop hotspots or bald patches because of severely irritated skin.

The type of shampoo you need is one designed to remove any lingering odors and condition the skin. Healthy skin usually means a healthy coat. Luckily for you, it can be easy to spot skin problems before they become too challenging to manage because you don’t have a ton of hair in the way.

We’ve put together our favorite shampoos to keep your Pug looking and smelling its best. Plus, we’ve answered some questions you may have about how to choose and what to expect during bath time. Let’s take a look.

Things To Consider When Shopping For A Top-Rated Pug Shampoo

There are a few things you need to consider when you’re shopping for your Pug’s shampoo. Make sure you understand what your Pug’s needs are when it comes to grooming and that you have a clear understanding of the ingredients that go into your Pug’s products.

PH Balanced

First of all, humans and dogs have different pH requirements for their skin, so you should never use human shampoo. Dog shampoos are specially formulated to soothe the skin and provide nourishment without stripping it of vital oils.

Your shampoo should be made for dogs and be gentle enough to maintain proper pH and oil. You do need a little bit of oil to help support the skin’s protective layer, and an improper pH can throw that all off. Gentle shampoos can remove any lingering doggy odors and get rid of dirt and grime without affecting the overall integrity of the skin. Human shampoos can’t do that for your little one.

Hypoallergenic

Hypoallergenic shampoos are gentle on your Pug’s skin and coat. They contain none of the usual irritating ingredients such as parabens or sulfates and reduce fragrances to something more manageable.

Synthetic ingredients are kept to a minimum, and often the recipe includes holistic ingredients such as chamomile, oatmeal, aloe, and vitamins. These ingredients nourish and build up the skin while helping balance oil production and reduce itchiness.

It can be tempting to load up on fragrances and products, but the best approach to your Pug’s bath is simple and clean. The more fragrances, ingredients, gimmicks, and products you have, the more likely your Pug is to have an adverse reaction. Make sure that doesn’t happen by paring down and staying pure.

Deodorizing

Gently deodorizing shampoos could reduce how often you have to bathe your Pug in the first place. The fewer baths your Pug takes, the healthier their skin and coat generally are. If you get longer periods between the natural smelliness of your Pug, you may be less likely to wash too often.

Deodorizers should remain gentle, however. Synthetic fragrances can disrupt your Pug’s skin and coat and make things a lot more difficult in the long run. Choose deodorizers that use natural fragrances and contain plenty of nourishing ingredients to preserve your Pug’s sensitive skin balance.

Anti Itch

Pugs can have sensitive skin because there isn’t as much fur to protect from the elements. Making sure your Pug doesn’t spend excessive amounts of time scratching is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the skin.

There are lots of reasons for itchy skin. Your Pug could be allergic to grass or certain foods, and that could cause a reaction. In that case, soothing the skin with natural ingredients such as aloe and vitamin E to fight inflammation could be the best option. Many skin issues start with external factors like environmental allergens, or from internal ones like those pesky food allergies.

On the other hand, your Pug may have a fungal infection or a bacterial infection which could benefit from ingredients like tea tree oil and a trip to your vet. Make sure your Pug’s skin issues are treated with appropriate ingredients, and your Pug’s coat will thank you.

Dandruff And Shed Control

We aren’t huge fans of shampoos that claim to control shedding. Shedding is a natural part of your Pug’s coat, and gentle brushing can help more than the artificial ingredients in anti-shed shampoos. Other options for real shed control is to make sure your Pug’s skin is as healthy as possible.

The same goes for dandruff. Shampoos that contain a blend of holistic ingredients can help control the surface of the skin and reduce flaking. Once the skin is healthy, you should notice a difference in your Pug’s shedding frequency and dandruff. Nothing completely does away with shedding, however, so be prepared with light grooming.

The 5 Best Dog Shampoos For Pug

Best Overall – Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo

This is one of our favorite holistic pet lines. It contains gentle cleansers with no harsh soaps or synthetic fragrances that can overwhelm your pet’s skin. Oatmeal and aloe begin the healing process and soothe irritated skin to discourage scratching. It also helps preserve the skin’s natural moisture barrier and rebuild the outer protective layer.

The formula is never product tested on animals, and it’s 100% biodegradable. It won’t pollute our waterways. It’s safe to use with topical flea and tick treatments and is also a good option for sensitive Pug puppies. It leaves a clean scent behind that isn’t too strong and helps reduce the number of baths you need to give because of odor.

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4 Legger Organic Lemongrass And Aloe Dog Shampoo

4 Legger’s organic ingredients are designed to help balance your Pug’s skin and coat while providing gentle cleansing. It uses only pure, non-toxic ingredients like lemongrass for scent and aloe to soothe irritated skin. It’s great for all skin types and is very affordable.

Lemongrass is naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal. It can help control itchiness caused by yeast and rebuild the skin’s health. The recipe uses no harsh soaps or GMO ingredients, and it’s cruelty-free. The company manufactures in smaller batches to ensure quality, and just a little bit of this shampoo goes a long way. It’s even USDA certified and is safe to use on other types of animals for you multi-pet households out there.

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Moosh Natural Dog Shampoo

We love this shampoo because it’s one of the only shampoos on the market to offer bentonite clay in an affordable recipe. Bentonite clay is great for getting rid of fungus, bacteria, small pests, and controlling yeast overgrowth. It’s an excellent option for Pugs who’ve contracted infections due to these issues because it will help begin healing.

Other ingredients include Neem and Argan oil, both suitable for healing the skin and rebuilding the protective layer. Shea butter and Aloe vera soothe and moisturize the skin, preserving the moisture barrier and reducing itchiness. It’s safe for the environment and cruelty-free. It uses a natural smell to help deodorize your Pug and prevent unnecessary baths due to odor.

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Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Puppy Shampoo

Our final gentle shampoo uses a tearless, soap-free formula suitable for sensitive Pug puppies or any dog with severely sensitive skin. The formula uses a natural cocoa surfactant to help cleanse the skin and coat and restore softness while the tear-free formula helps prevent irritation with your puppy’s already sensitive eyes and nose.

Odor control helps gently deodorize your Pug and extend the time between baths. It’s as natural as it can get and contains no dyes, parabens, or harsh fragrances. It neutralizes a variety of odors and prevents them from returning too soon. It’s not for use on any other type of animal, but it is gentle enough for the environment.

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Pro-Pet Works Natural Oatmeal Shampoo

Pro-Pet Works uses gentle ingredients designed to both moisturize and retain the skin’s natural oils. It cleanses gently without harsh soaps or chemicals and lathers well without sulfates and parabens. It has no harsh alcohols and conditions the skin in addition to cleansing.

It has a clean, light scent and deodorizes well to reduce the number of baths your Pug needs. Aloe vera and almond oil begin the skin’s natural healing process while vitamins A, D, and E rebuild skin strength and health from the inside. It’s biodegradable and safe for the environment. Plus, the formula is never product tested on animals. It’s excellent for Pugs with ultra sensitive skin, especially around the ears, eyes, and nose.

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 Related: Best Brushes For Pug

3 Tips For Bathing A Pug

Whether your Pug is a puppy or an adult, there are a few things you can do to help bath time go more smoothly. Let’s take a look.

• Make sure you start early. Beginning your Pug’s care routines at an early age can help reduce the amount of pushback you receive when you do things like bathe or trim nails. Dogs need to keep up with hygiene just like humans, but it can be tough to explain to a dog that they don’t have to be anxious.

Dogs frequently develop fears around bathing or trimming nails, so starting early by making it peaceful and positive. This approach could help your Pug develop good habits throughout its lifetime. Puppies are always learning about their environment and your expectations, so making sure that a bath is a regular occurrence could help make it a smoother process down the road.

• Focus on the positive. You don’t want to cause your Pug any unnecessary anxiety, so make sure you reward the behavior you’d like to see rather than focusing on behavior you don’t like. Making the bath all about the positive rewards can encourage your Pug to relax and enjoy the bath, or at least tolerate it without fighting.

Your Pug may not understand that you don’t like it fighting in the bath and could associate your reprimands with the bath itself. Instead, begin slowly and reward your Pug for getting its paws wet or for standing still in the bath. Don’t pour water over the head just yet. Allow your Pug to explore and take time. It may take a few sessions, but you have a good chance of helping your Pug to

• Get to the skin. The best thing to do is fill the bath with warm soapy water and allow your Pug to soak as you massage in the soap. This allows you to get to the skin and make sure you don’t see any issues. When you’re done, drain the bath and rinse with clean water until you’ve gotten all the soap out.

Soaking helps remove excess dirt and grime and allows your soap time to condition the skin adequately. It’s important to remember to rinse thoroughly, however. Even though your Pug doesn’t have a lot of fur, soap can still get trapped underneath the skin and cause irritation that reverses any good your natural shampoo was doing. Be thorough.

FAQ

• How often should you bathe a Pug? – Dogs don’t need baths every day or even every week. If your fur baby spends most of its time indoors, it may not need a bath even once a month. Adjust accordingly depending on how much chance your Pug has to get dirty outside.

A good rule of thumb is to bathe your Pug only when needed. Jumped around in the mud puddle? Bath. Rolled in something stinky? Bath. You can’t remember the last time you bathed your Pug, and now when it lays in your lap it leaves an oily, grimy spot behind? Bath.

Dogs will smell like dogs, however, and odor alone isn’t a good enough reason to have a bath. Try for once a month to see how your Pug’s skin reacts because this could balance your need for odor control with preserving the natural balance of your Pug’s skin.

• Can I use human shampoo on my Pug? – You may love your shampoo, but using it for your Pug is a bad idea. Human shampoo is formulated for a very different type of skin pH and often contains ingredients that react poorly with dogs.

The best option is to use a shampoo formulated especially for your Pug. You can use holistic ingredients designed to improve the moisture level of the skin and the condition of the coat without the adverse reactions of human shampoo.

• What if my Pug hates baths? – It’s common for dogs to hate baths. The most important thing you can do is to be patient. While you can’t bathe your Pug often enough to desensitize them to the bath without irritating the skin, you can help them associate water and the tub with good things.

Start by running a small amount of warm water, just enough to cover the feet, and having your Pug stand in it. Offer praise and treats for handling that well. Add a few inches of water each time until your Pug is comfortable with a full bath. Focus on the positive and reward behavior you like to see.

If your Pug fights at first, just remove the dog from the situation. Remain calm and try again. You don’t want the dog to associate your anger with the bath itself.

How do I handle skin irritations? – Dogs can have a number of skin irritations. It’s part of adapting to life with humans. Whether it’s environmental factors, food allergies, or an infection of some kind, skin problems can make your Pug’s life miserable.
If the problem is severe, a trip to the vet is necessary to determine exactly what’s causing the irritation. If your Pug scratches but doesn’t seem too bothered and you don’t notice any open wounds or hair loss, you could try to figure it out on your own. Try removing common allergens from its diet to see if the problem improves. Keep your Pug away from grass for a bit to see if that helps.

Use shampoos that have calming ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal or aloe to encourage the skin to heal. Vitamins A, D, and E can also rebuild the integrity of the skin. Avoid too many products and make sure you aren’t over bathing. Finally, occasional scratching is natural and shouldn’t be too much to worry about.