Dog Shampoo/Conditioner

Question
Hello, I was planning to adopt a dog but wanted to get familiar with it first. I was wondering what the best and healthiest shampoo and ocnditioner brand there is for small dogs. Any answer and brand with help. Thanks!

Answer
Congratulations on planning to adopt a dog, and kudo's to you for thinking ahead and being prepared.  

Unfortunately there is no one "perfect" shampoo for every type of coat.  So I will go through a few coat types and suggest the type of shampoo you might consider for them.

If your dog has a smooth and short coat I like protein based shampoos.  I look for conditioning shampoo.  I like color enhancing shampoo's for smooth coats.  It seems to add extra sparkle and shine.

If your dog has a longer coat I use the same shampoo as a short haired dog, but I also add a cream rinse or rinse out conditioner.  This will coat the hair and make it easier to brush.

If you get a dog with a wirey  or thick curly coat then look for a texturizing shampoo.  This will add body and crispness to the coat and make it stand out more from the body.

If you are concerned that your pet may have sensitive skin then look for a soap free hypo-allergenic shampoo.  These are very gentle but very effective.

In general, use a dog shampoo and not a human shampoo.  Human shampoo's are manufactured to strip oil out of our hair.  Dogs produce much less oil so most human shampoo's are harsh.  

There are many brands of shampoo that I like.  Tigi is now making a "Bedhead" line for dogs.  These are fun shampoo's that work very well.  Ryan's Pet Supply carries a line called "Abracadabra".  I really like the products expecially on the longer coats.  I also like the "Nature's Choice" products.  They have some wonderful scents and are terrific product.  Feel free to alternate 2 or 3 shampoo's.  It's not going to hurt and your dog will sport different scents.  

Good luck with your future adoption!  Adding a new pet is so much fun.  Play with your choices and enjoy!