DIY Homemade Dog Shampoos and Conditioners

Are you looking for a dog shampoo substitute? I share your thoughts. I have tried many on the market dog shampoos myself but then check out the ingredients and have to wonder what is so natural about it. Yes, of course there are good shampoos out there but in the back of my head I start wondering, “If it is all natural, how come the ingredients do not sound like something I have heard of. Better yet, if it is all natural, how would they keep it fresh? I mean organic material only has so long a shelf life right?”.

I know I am more of a lunatic when it comes my Frenchie than I am when it comes to myself. He is like one of my sons. I prefer to make him his meals and shampoos so I know exactly what all is in them. That is why I created this recipe page. I figured I would share some DIY shampoos for those of you that do not like to second guess ingredients.

You can always substitute these ingredients with others to put your own spin on it. I usually like to use shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil and avocado oil in place of glycerin since it can dry the skin from the inside out if the air has less than 65% humidity. You can always substitute each oil with glycerin or others to suit your needs. You could also switch around to see what best fits your dogs needs as far as his coat and skin.

Homemade dog shampoo with coconut oil

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup castile soap
• 3/4 cup filtered or distilled water
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 3 to 5 drops of essential oil (optional)

Or

• 1 1/2 cups liquid unscented castile soap
• 4 tbsp glycerin
• 1 to 2 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp aloe vera juice (optional)
• 10 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
• 1 to 2 tbsp filtered or distilled water

Add all of the ingredients together in your container. I like to use a 16 oz. pump container I found online but I am sure you can find one just about anywhere. If you are not using liquid coconut oil, it is good to melt it in a double boiler before adding. Secure your top and shake all the ingredients together.

Homemade dog shampoo for dry skin

• 1/2 cup organic castile soap
• 1/2 cup filtered or distilled water
• 1/2 tablespoon of Aloe Vera Gel
• 1/2 tablespoon of Vitamin E Oil
• 3 to 5 drops of essential oils (optional)

Just mix the ingredients together and you are ready to go.

Homemade dog oatmeal shampoo

Honey & Coconut oil Oatmeal Shampoo

• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1/2 cup warm water

I use a food processor to grind up the oatmeal to a flour like consistancy. If I do not have liquid coconut oil on hand, I will use a double broiler to liquify the coconut oil. I am not sure if this is a must since I have never tried it otherwise. Add the oats, coconut oil, and water together. I then add the honey and make sure it is thoroughly stirred.

Honey Oatmeal shampoo

• 1 cup Oatmeal
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 1 Tbs Honey
• 1 1/2 cups filter or distilled water
• 5 drops of essential oil (optional)

Use a food processor to grind up the oatmeal into a flour-like consistency. Mix oatmeal, baking soda and essential oils in a container. Slowly add your water about a half cup at a time to the mix. Mix well until it thickens. Mix in the honey in, making sure it is stirred well.

Basic Oatmeal Recipe

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 cup baking soda
• 4 cups warm water

Use a food processor to grind up the oatmeal to a flour consistancy. Mix the ingredients together to make a paste. Rub it on to your Frenchies
coat and try to let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Because these recipes do not add castile soap, they do not lather like store brands. You could always attempt to add castile soap if you are looking for more of a nice lather.

Homemade dog shampoo for sensitive skin

• Add 2 cups of warm water to the bottle
• Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar
• Add 1/4 cup of castile soap

Or

• 1 quart of water
• 1 cup of white vinegar
• 1 cup of castile soap
• 1/3 cup of glycerine
• 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel

You can add this mix to a bottle and shake to mix together or you can mix this in to the container of your choice. I like to use a bottle that I can gently shake before bath time since these recipes contain a lot. You can always split the ingredients for a smaller amount though if you do not want extra.

Homemade dog shampoo for fleas and ticks

Flea and Tick Shampoo

• 1 quart water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup blue dawn

Mix ingredients well. Lather it up and try to leave to soak in for five to ten minutes. Rinse well and repeat. I do not use this all the time since dish detergent seems like it would dry out my boys coat.

Flea-Repellent Dog Shampoo

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

Mix the ingredients together and now you have a flea repelling shampoo. You can also add a couple of drops of rosemary, peppermint, or eucalyptus oils which are also repellents.

Relieving Flea Shampoo

• 1/2 cup dawn dish soap
• 1 tbsp oatmeal
• 1 tbsp aloe vera juice
• 1 tbsp lemon or orange oil
• 1 tbsp lavender oil
• 2/4 tsp of vitamin E (2 capsules worth)

Grind oatmeal in a food processor until it is like flour like consistancy. Add it to the ingredients and mix well.

Homemade dry dog shampoo

• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 3–5 drops of essential oil of your choice

Combine all of the ingredients and pour into a container with a shaker top for easier coverage. Brush your dog first before shaking this on your dog. Brush your dog down and dust off with a towel. It is a shampoo on the go. I personally do not really like using dry shampoos but I thought I would share this recipe for those of you that do.

Homemade dog conditioner

Rosemary rinse

• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary
• 4 cups of water

Mix the rosemary into the water and heat it to a boil. As soon as it starts to boil, remove it from the heat . Let it seep for at least ten minutes to twenty minutes. Use a strain to get the rosemary out and allow the water to cool down. After you are done giving your lil one a bath, pour the rosemary water over your Frenchie’s coat.

Coconut, Honey and Oatmeal Conditioner

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/4 cup of oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1/4 cup of warm water

Grind your oatmeal in a food processor to a flour like consistancy. Double broiler your coconut oil or use liquid. Mix together all of the ingredients well. Use this conditioner after shampooing your dog. Try to leave it one for a couple of minutes before washing out. You can also add essential oils if you are looking for your dog to smell nice or to help repel fleas. You could also substitute the warm water for the rosemary water in the recipe above.

Eggxellent Conditioner

• Egg Yolk

Eggs yolks are as good as aloe vera and are packed with nutriets. You can stir the yolks and apply to your dog after shampooing. Make sure to thoroughly rinse off. You can also grind up the shell in the processor and put it in their food. Now, you just have to come up with something to do with the egg whites.

Aloe Vera or Coconut Oil

As basic as it seems, you can use either of these as a conditioner. You can also add a little Vitamin E in that mix. Thoroughly apply to your dog after a good shampoo and let it sit. Rinse and feel that beautiful fur.

Conclusion

As I stated before, you can make substitutions to these recipes for your own personal touch. You can cut out or add fragrances as well to meet your own preferences. Please take caution what fragrance you use. There are many shampoos and recipes out there using essential oils that could be toxic to your dog. Please do your research to find out which essentials oils are okay to use and which ones are poisonous to your dog.