Since bringing home our new Dachshund puppy, Georgie, a few weeks ago, I’ve been on the look-out for a gentle yet effective dog shampoo that can be used for puppies. I asked for recommendations from my pet blogger friends and other dog moms, and I got lots of different ideas but nothing that I was crazy about until someone mentioned a DIY puppy shampoo.
One of the best things about making your own puppy shampoo is the ability to control the quality of the ingredients. I was able to find a shampoo recipe that uses essential oils, and I couldn’t wait to try it.
I chose lavender and rosemary essential oils for a clean, fresh, earthy scent, but of course you can play around with the recipe a bit to find the perfect combination of oils that both you and your dog will love.
When purchasing essential oils for use with your pets, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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- Always purchase oils that come in amber, cobalt blue, or violet purple glass bottles;
- Check the label for important information such as the country of origin, how the oil was extracted, and the names – both common and scientific – of the oil;
- Be sure the label specifically says “100 percent pure essential oil” and “therapeutic grade”. Accept no substitutes!
Although aromatherapy and essential oils may provide many wonderful benefits for pets, it is imperative that we know which ones are safe and how to properly use them so as not to harm our pets. If you have any questions about what is safe to use for your pet, always consult your veterinarian BEFORE using any essential oil or other natural product.
Be sure to check out my recipe for DIY dry dog shampoo, too. For those occasions when a good soap and water bath just isn’t doable, this dry shampoo is a real lifesaver!
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 tsp. olive or coconut oil
- 2 tsp. vegetable glycerin
- ¼ cup Dr.Bronner's castille soap, mild
- 5-7 drops lavender essential oil
- 3-4 drops rosemary essential oil
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a pump style upcycled bottle or pick up a new one.
- Shake well to thoroughly mix the ingredients; you will want to do this every time you use the shampoo.
- Store your puppy shampoo in a squeeze bottle for easy use in your bathroom cabinet, it should last for up to 6 months.
Extras
To use:
Squirt a generous amount onto your wet dog.
Rub vigorously into fur and skin.
Rinse well and towel dry.
*Shampoo will not lather like typical shampoos as it is sulfate free but will still wash your dog's skin and coat very well!
Have you ever tried a do-it-yourself shampoo for your pet? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience in a comment below. And if you decide to try this recipe, feel free to share your photos on my Facebook page!
What a great recipe! I’m always shocked by the long list of un-pronouncable ingredients in so many dog shampoos. I would definitely want something gentle for a puppy.
Me and you both, Lara. Those ingredients are crazy. If I can’t pronounce it, I don’t want to use it on my pets!
Great DIY dog shampoo recipe – it’s important to try to keep as close to natural, organic, and whole products, including body products, as much as possible!
I agree. I love it when I can use natural ingredients on my babies! So much better than the commercial stuff that includes stuff I can’t even pronounce! 🙂
Don’t think I’ve seen a shampoo recipe yet! I wonder if I could do something similar for my ratties. I just gave them a bath last night… they are so flaky.
I can’t imagine why a similar recipe wouldn’t work for rats, but you might want to double check with your vet. I don’t know of anyone who’s used essential oils on rodents.
Yes – unsure of the essential oils part.
Bath time is nuts for me. I have two yellow labs and a pit bull and everyone acts like they are being tortured. I wonder if the calming scent of lavender would help? (It would certainly help me)
I love when the list of ingredients is short, I know all the items and can easily find them at my natural grocery store. This recipe sounds like it smells great.
Now, if you can just give me a DIY option for building a bath time assistant, that would be awesome! 😉
Haha, I”ll see what I can come up with! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today!
Thank you so much for all your wonderful advice and articles. I printed off the Puppy Shampoo but can this be used also on my older Shih Tzu’s. And if not… do you have a recommendation
Karolyn, I don’t see any reason why it can’t be used on dogs of all ages. But if you have any questions, I highly recommend consulting with your veterinarian before using it with your dogs.
I’m not getting a puppy, but maybe I’ll look into making this for my poor allergy prone Maltese. She always needs a bath between her appointments with the groomer, but I don’t always give her one.
What a great recipe! I have really sensitive skin and I have to be careful about what I wash the dogs in, so I’ll have to look into this.
Ok, I’ve looked everywhere and the recipe for the puppy shampoo is NOT on this page. It is s recipe for dog treats. Can someone send this to me please??