Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Getting Started

DIY dog shampoo: 4 recipes to make from home

Gabrielle LaFrank
By

Concocting homemade dog shampoo might sound like a tricky feat, especially if bathing your dog is difficult to begin with, but it’s actually easier than you think. In fact, you may have all the ingredients you need already waiting in your pantry. DIY dog shampoo will definitely require some water and a handy spray bottle, so don’t forget to gather all your supplies before you begin. Obviously, you’ll also need a place to wash your dog, like a bathtub or kiddie pool next to the backyard hose. Finally, it never hurts to have a couple of treats on hand to make bath time as easy as pie — your pup will surely thank you!

a small dog in a white tub gets a bath

The best ingredients for dog shampoo

  • Apart from the soapy material that gets all the dirt and oil from your dog’s fur, you’re sure to need water to make an effective shampoo. It’s just as important to wash away all soapy residue as it is to lather up your pup in the first place, as any leftover suds can lead to dry skin and irritation in any species.
  • Oatmeal is another popular ingredient for dog washes and shampoo. With its anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties, raw oatmeal is even known to relieve skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and other allergic irritations. It also provides a gentle exfoliation for skin and fur, which can help with those hard-to-reach spots.
  • Essential oils are another surprising ingredient in many DIY and natural dog shampoos. Some of these oils have antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and even flea-repelling properties. It’s worth noting that pure essential oils should never be applied on or diffused near your dog — always dilute them! Not every essential oil is safe for use around pets, so it’s a good idea to double-check with your vet before making any substitutions.

What products not to use on dogs

Other than avoiding toxic essential oils (aka, any oils your vet hasn’t approved) in your dog’s shampoo, you should avoid using any hair products meant for humans. Even if your pup has hair rather than fur, she runs a much greater risk of skin irritation from using a shampoo meant for people. Don’t be fooled: Even natural products can lead to sensitivity!

a chocolate labrador retriever stands in a tub and gets a bath

DIY dog shampoo recipes

Here are some dog-friendly recipes for a shampoo you can make right at home:

Recommended Videos

Instant dog shampoo

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), many DIY canine shampoos use a base combination of vinegar, dish/Castile soap, and baking soda. Once mixed thoroughly, this concoction has a pH level of 7, which is considered neutral and safest for your fur baby’s skin. Just mix equal parts of these ingredients in a bottle and grab your pup for bath time!

Oatmeal bath for dogs

This recipe includes many easy-to-find ingredients you may already have at home, including:

  • Oatmeal (even instant oats will work, as long as they’re unflavored).
  • Warm (not hot) water.
  • High-fat milk, avocado oil, or vegetable oil (optional).

Yep, that’s all you need! You’ll start the process by making a powder out of the oatmeal using any food processor or blender. Mixing the oats and the water is the next step — once you have a milky, smooth liquid, you’re ready to go. If you use the third ingredient, either milk or oil, this is when to mix it in.

You can also directly mix the oat powder in a shallow bathtub of warm water. Gently pour the water over your pup’s body to take advantage of its soothing and moisturizing properties.

Flea-repellent dog shampoo

With this recipe from the AKC, your dog can stay flea- and tick-free completely naturally. There are no fancy directions, either — just combine the ingredients in a bottle and go!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 10 ounces warm water
  • 1 tablespoon Castile soap
  • 2 ounces aloe vera gel
  • 2 drops lavender essential oil

Don’t forget to rinse thoroughly, and be sure not to get any soap in your fur baby’s eyes!

Dog shampoo for dry skin

Here’s another recipe that’s perfect for pups with dry, itchy, or sensitive skin beneath their coat. The only ingredients you may need to search for or order are glycerin, baby shampoo, and aloe gel, though all can usually be found at your local grocery store or pharmacy. Simply mix the following in a spray bottle:

  • 1 quart water
  • 1 cup baby shampoo or dish soap
  • 1 cup apple cider (or regular) vinegar
  • 1/3 cup glycerin
  • 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel

Aloe vera and glycerin are super soothing on sensitive skin, but aloe is great after sun exposure, too.

Whether you’re looking for a natural alternative to your dog’s regular shampoo or just want to try something new (and less expensive), making your pup’s hair products at home can be an awesome learning experience for you. For your dog, it’s a great opportunity to be pampered and even to get some relief from her dry skin symptoms. Ready to dive in?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Gabrielle LaFrank
Gabrielle LaFrank
Contributor
Gabrielle LaFrank has written for sites such as Psych2Go, Elite Daily, and, currently, PawTracks. When she's not writing, you…
Did you find worms in your dog’s poop? Here’s how to identify and treat them
Parasitic worms can cause real problems in pets — here's how to treat them and take care of your furry friend
Dog runs through the grass outside

Keeping our dogs regular is a fundamental part of pet ownership and is usually pretty easy. Their food includes all the nutrients they need plus maybe a built-in probiotic to help maintain digestion. Sometimes, though, you'll suddenly find your pup has diarrhea, and you'll have to figure out exactly what's going on inside. While there are a number of different possible causes, it could be worms, which can turn serious and even into a life-threatening situation if left untreated.
What are parasitic worms?
When we're talking about worms here we don't mean the kind in your yard and we also aren't including heartworm and ringworm. The type that usually leads to vomiting and diarrhea are intestinal parasites, meaning they're living in your pup's gut. There are a bunch of different worms in dogs out there but the most common in dogs are hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, and roundworm. Each can have slightly varied effects but likely all include problems with your pet's poop.
How do I know if my dog has worms?
Remember vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms of a lot of issues in dogs, everything from eating something they shouldn't have to serious illnesses, like cancer. The best thing to do is call your vet. They will likely have you bring in a stool sample to test for parasites and possibly other conditions -- sometimes our animals catch a tummy bacteria from other dogs that's easy to treat with antibiotics.
Where do they catch worms?
Sadly, some puppies are born with them and that's when they're most fatal, too (particularly hookworms in dogs). In adulthood, your animal might get them from dirt, poop, a rodent, fleas, or another infected pet. It's best to test your pet before bringing them home or make sure the adoption agency or breeder has thoroughly ruled out worms in dog poop. Even then, you might include a fecal examination as part of a routine screening during their first checkup.
How do I go about identifying dog worms?
Some worms are easy to spot with the human eye, and if you notice something in Fido's poop, you should keep it for later and bring it to the vet. Otherwise, you won't always necessarily see the worms, but you'll notice the effects clearly. When you bring in a stool sample, the tests will determine the type of worm, which also can influence treatment.
How do I treat dog worms?
The best way to take care of worms is with preventatives. Check your heartworm or flea medicine to see if they already contain the right chemicals to keep them at bay. That way, the parasites never have a chance to take root inside your beastie at all. However, once the bugs set in, you might need an additional dewormer to get them out. Your vet will prescribe this, possibly over the course of many months.

We say this a lot, but the best defense is a good offense when it comes to worms in dogs. If you're already paying for preventatives, you can look around and see which ones kill the most worms. One note, cats and dogs sometimes do share parasites if they live in the same household. If you find that your pup has caught one of these, you'll need to look at your other pets, too.

Read more
This is what a flea looks like, and it’s disgusting
You definitely don't want these gross bugs to take over your house and bite your pets
Dog scratches their side while in the grass

We could have gone our whole lives without seeing a flea up close under a microscope — they're terrifying! Most of the time, when you spot a flea, it's outside in the grass, or unfortunately, on your dog or cat. It's not pleasant, but at least at such a small size, it's tricky to make out any kind of identifying details (imagine if one of these creatures was actually large enough to look at without magnification assistance).
While it might spook you to take a look at a flea up close, you should be even more concerned about spotting them in the wild, where they might be snacking on your pet and infesting your home.

What do fleas look like?
If you gaze upon the close version of this insect, you'll spot the telltale six legs, brown or reddish body, and tiny needle-like appendages for sucking blood (fortunately no wings). Instead of flying, these little buggers jump from person to pet to grass. They feast on blood from mammals, so they're coming for you and all your furry friends. To the naked eye, you'll likely spot a tiny blackish speck that could be deep in your dog's fur or even crawling on your floor.
What do fleas do to pets?
Mostly, eat them. As with other biting bugs, they inject a bit of anticoagulant in order to keep the blood flowing --  that's part of where the itchiness comes in. You'll notice red spots and lots of scratching if they wind up on your dog or cat. These pests can also cause other more serious problems, such as tapeworm and anemia, so you want to take care of this quickly once you discover the infestation.
What treatment is available for fleas?
Luckily, a little maintenance usually prevents these parasites from moving in. You have a few options to use as a preventative, including oral, topical, or removable. Many choose to give their pets a chewable or a pill (and some combo pills are available that tackle multiple freeloaders at once, like heartworm and fleas).

Read more
New Year’s resolutions that can make you a better pet parent in 2023
5 ways you can become the best pet parent this year
A woman strokes a blue-eyed white dog while outside

We all kick off the new year with resolutions, but for pet lovers, the goal to be a better pet parent is a resolution worth keeping. From teaching your fur babies to get along to helping your cat kick a treat addiction, there are plenty of things we can do to improve our four-legged friends' quality of life. We'll take a deep dive into the top New Year's resolutions pet parents should make to ensure their furry companions stay happy and healthy throughout 2023.

How to set a New Year's resolution you'll keep
We all start off the new year with the best of intentions, vowing to eat healthier, get more exercise, and spend less time doomscrolling on social media. However, by the end of January, the vast majority of people have already started to backslide -- or have given up on their resolutions altogether. But when you're setting resolutions with your fur babies in mind, keeping them is more important than ever. Try:

Read more