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10 Best Dog Shampoos for Yorkies at PetSmart – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Chantelle Fowler

By Chantelle Fowler

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers have a unique single coat of hair, which makes taking care of their coat very important. Regularly brushing and bathing your pup is essential for keeping your Yorkie’s skin and coat healthy. However, the products you use during bath time are just as important as how often you do it.

Choosing a good shampoo for your Yorkie isn’t as simple as it sounds. You need a special Yorkie-approved shampoo that will cleanse, hydrate, moisturize, and deodorize. If your Yorkie has skin allergies, choosing a high-quality, hypoallergenic shampoo is even more essential.

We can help if you’re already overwhelmed with your options. Keep reading to read our reviews of the 10 best shampoos for Yorkies available at PetSmart, and stick around for the buyer’s guide at the end of the article to learn the importance of a good shampoo.

Divider 3A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2024 Update)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Nature's Miracle® Oatmeal Shampoo Nature's Miracle® Oatmeal Shampoo
  • Scent isn’t overpowering
  • Odor neutralizing
  • No wet dog smell
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Attitude Anti-Itch Attitude Anti-Itch
  • Anti-itch formula
  • Moisturizing
  • Plant-based formula
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    earthbath® Oatmeal & Aloe earthbath® Oatmeal & Aloe
  • Great for cats and dogs
  • Big bottle
  • Addresses dry and itchy skin
  • Best for Puppies
    earthbath® Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo earthbath® Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo
  • Designed for puppies
  • Tearless formula
  • Leaves coat shiny
  • CHI® for Dogs Oatmeal CHI® for Dogs Oatmeal
  • Gentle formula
  • Moisturizes dry and irritated skin
  • Soothing on the skin
  • The 10 Best Shampoos for Yorkies at PetSmart

    1. Nature’s Miracle® Oatmeal Shampoo– Best Overall

    Nature's Miracle® Oatmeal Shampoo

    Intended For: Dogs
    Health Consideration: Stinky dogs
    Total Weight: 32 fl oz

    Nature’s Miracle Oatmeal Shampoo will help leave your pup smelling fresh and clean if your Yorkie is a bit of a stinker. This odor-neutralizing formula is the best overall shampoo for Yorkies at PetSmart because of its odor-fighting ability. The formula has a lovely oat milk and aloe scent that’s light and not too overpowering. There will be no lingering wet dog smell when you use this shampoo on your Yorkie. It’s also enriched with aloe and vitamin B5 to leave your dog’s skin and coat moisturized and shiny. The formula contains colloidal oatmeal to help relieve any itchiness or redness. Although the shampoo smells lovely, the scent doesn’t last as long as expected.

    Pros
    • Contains oatmeal for skin itchiness
    • Scent isn’t overpowering
    • Odor neutralizing
    • No wet dog smell

    Cons
    • Short-lived scent


    2. Attitude Anti-Itch– Best Value

    Attitude Anti-Itch

    Intended For: Dogs, cats, small pets
    Health Consideration: Sensitive skin, hypoallergenic
    Total Weight: 16 fl oz

    You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a high-quality shampoo for your dog. Attitude’s Anti-Itch shampoo is affordable, making it the best shampoo for Yorkies at PetSmart. This formula is excellent for multi-species households as it’s formulated for dogs, cats, and other small pets. The shampoo is soothing and protective to cleanse your Yorkies dry skin while addressing its itchiness. The formula is mild and hypoallergenic with a lovely lavender scent. It’s made with natural plant-based ingredients to make it vegan and has conditioning glycerin to leave your Yorkie with a soft and moisturized coat. Though the lavender scent is labeled “subtle,” it may be too intense for some people.

    Pros
    • Anti-itch formula
    • Moisturizing
    • Plant-based formula
    • Great for other pet species

    Cons
    • Scent may be too strong


    3. earthbath® Oatmeal & Aloe– Premium Choice

    earthbath® Oatmeal & Aloe

    Intended For: Adult dogs, puppies, cats, kittens
    Health Consideration: Itch relief
    Total Weight: 32 fl oz

    Earthbath’s Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo may be one of the priciest picks on our list, but you’re receiving 32 ounces of shampoo for the price, so it’s more than worth the investment. This formula is designed to address your Yorkie’s dry and itchy skin. It has colloidal oatmeal and organic aloe vera to help relieve irritated skin while promoting healing so your dog can get back to feeling its best. The formula is designed to remoisturize skin that’s sensitive and dry. It is a pH-balanced soap-free formula to clean your dog’s fur and skin while deodorizing it. Your Yorkie will be left with a soft, plush and clean coat. This formula is designed for use on cats and dogs over six weeks of age.

    Pros
    • Great for cats and dogs
    • Big bottle
    • Addresses dry and itchy skin
    • Organic aloe to promote healing

    Cons
    • Expensive

    4. earthbath® Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo – Best for Puppies

    earthbath® Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo

    Intended For: Puppies, adult dogs
    Health Consideration: Skin & coat
    Total Weight: 32 fl oz

    This puppy-specific formula from Earthbath is a must-have for the young Yorkie in your life. Though it was designed specifically with puppies in mind, you can continue using this formula well into adulthood. This tearless and pH-balanced shampoo is gentle on your puppy’s sensitive skin. It features a unique blend of cleansers, organic aloe, and a lovely cherry scent to get your pup feeling and smelling its best. It leaves a stunning, show-quality shine on your Yorkie’s coat and will leave it smelling fabulous. This formula is concentrated and can be diluted 10:1 to make it last even longer.

    The cherry scent may be too strong at first and not last as long as expected.

    Pros
    • Designed for puppies
    • Tearless formula
    • Leaves coat shiny
    • Long-lasting formula when diluted

    Cons
    • Cherry scent may not last long


    5. CHI® for Dogs Oatmeal

    CHI® for Dogs Oatmeal

    Intended For: All dogs
    Health Consideration: Skin & coat
    Total Weight: 16 fl oz

    Chi is one of the world leaders in high-quality hair supply products, so we were surprised to see that they have an entire line devoted to pet hair care. Their oatmeal shampoo works to gently cleanse and moisturize dry and irritated skin. As the name would suggest, it is made with oatmeal which can soothe skin and rehydrate. This formula will leave your Yorkie’s coat softer and shinier than ever. It is sulfate- and paraben-free so it’s safe to use on dogs of any age.

    The fragrance is quite strong, which may be a turn-off for some people. Chi describes the scent as having faint floral notes but is not too sweet.

    Pros
    • Gentle formula
    • Moisturizes dry and irritated skin
    • Soothing on the skin
    • Leaves coat soft and shiny

    Cons
    • Scent may be too strong


    6. TropiClean® Essentials Shea Butter

    TropiClean® Essentials Shea Butter

    Intended For: Dogs, puppies, cats
    Health Consideration: Itch relief, skin & coat
    Total Weight: 16 fl oz

    This multi-tasking shampoo from TropiClean is great for use on dogs, puppies, and cats. The formula is designed to be moisturizing and hydrating. It can soothe dry and itchy skin while restoring the natural hydration of your Yorkie’s coat. This safe shampoo is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, soap, and dyes, so it’s something you can feel good about using on your pup. Its soft shea butter and chamomile scent is lovely and not too overpowering. The inclusion of shea butter provides your pup with a source of antioxidants and linoleic acid, the most important essential fatty acid for dogs.

    While this shampoo is very high-quality, it is expensive for its size.

    Pros
    • Great for dogs of all ages
    • Soothes dry and itchy skin
    • Safe formula
    • Lovely scent

    Cons
    • Pricey


    7. Only Natural Pet® Hypoallergenic

    Only Natural Pet® Hypoallergenic

    Intended For: Dogs
    Health Consideration: Skin & coat, allergies, sensitive skin, hypoallergenic
    Total Weight: 9 fl oz

    Only Natural Pet’s hypoallergenic shampoo is perfect for Yorkies with extra sensitive skin. Its ultra-nourishing formula is designed to provide relief for dogs with dry and sensitive skin and coats. The shampoo is fragrance-free and plant-based so you can trust the ingredients that are going on your dog’s skin. Since it is made with all-natural ingredients and no harsh detergents or chemicals, this shampoo will leave your pup smelling fresh and clean. The aloe in the formula moistures, while the oatmeal can help soothe damaged coats. This is the best shampoo if your Yorkie has allergies.

    There are some reports of the shampoo being a little on the watery side.

    Pros
    • Natural ingredients
    • Leaves a fresh and clean scent
    • No harsh detergents
    • Soothing formula

    Cons
    • Watery


    8. DOUXO S3 Calm

    DOUXO S3 Calm

    Intended For: Dogs, cats
    Health Consideration: Allergies, dermatitis
    Total Weight: 7 fl oz

    DOUXO’s shampoo is designed to provide relief from inflamed skin and itching. Its potent formula is recommended by vets for pets with itchy skin, thanks to allergies. Not only can this formula help with your Yorkie’s itching, but it can also detangle its first while leaving a soft and shiny coat in its wake. This shampoo is free of any nanoparticles, phthalates, colorants, parabens, and sulfates, so you don’t need to worry about further irritating your pup’s skin.

    This formula is only available in 6.7-ounce containers and is quite pricey for how much product you get.

    Pros
    • Great for dogs with allergies
    • Paraben and phthalate-free
    • Leaves a soft and shiny coat
    • Detangling

    Cons
    • Very pricey
    • Small bottle


    9. Hempz® Petz Herbal Sensitive

    Hempz® Petz Herbal Sensitive

    Intended For: Dogs
    Health Consideration: Skin & coat, shiny coat, odor control
    Total Weight: 17 fl oz

    Hempz has been on a mission of sharing the wellness-boosting power of hemp since its formation in 1998. Their Petz line features all sorts of shampoos, conditioners, and paw balms. This Sensitive formula is among one of their best for pets. This shampoo is cruelty-free, paraben-free, and THC-free. Its nourishing and hydrating formula provides restorative qualities to keep your Yorkie’s coat and skin feeling its best. Since this formula is designed for sensitive skin, you can feel safe using it on your pet. The smell isn’t too strong or overpowering and doesn’t have that perfumey scent that other shampoos do.

    The formula may not be able to control strong doggy odors as well as some of the others on our list.

    Pros
    • Great scent
    • Natural formula
    • No parabens or THC
    • Cruelty-free

     

    Cons
    • Not as powerful at removing doggy smells


    10. Dog MX™ Medicated Anti-Dandruff Seborrhea

    Dog MX™ Medicated Anti-Dandruff Seborrhea

    Intended For: Dogs 12 weeks+
    Health Consideration: Skin & coat
    Total Weight: 16 fl oz

    This medicated anti-dandruff shampoo will help you maintain your Yorkie’s skin health. Its pH-balanced formula features high-quality ingredients that will help relieve some discomfort your dog may feel due to its itchy and dry skin. This shampoo will clean and nourish both the skin and coat while removing oily and dry patches that come with dandruff. This shampoo is only available at PetSmart and the brand does not seem to have its own website.

    Pros
    • Cleans skin
    • Nourishes skin and coat
    • Relieves oily and dry patches

    Cons
    • Hard to find out information about the brand
    • Only available at PetSmart

    hepper-dog-paw-divider

     

    Buyer’s Guide: Everything to Know About Buying Shampoo for Yorkies at PetSmart

    Do I Really Need to Shampoo My Yorkie?

    Yorkies have a single coat of hair instead of fur, like most dogs. It is their long coat that makes proper grooming and shampooing so essential. You’ll need to be careful while grooming your Yorkie as sometimes dead hairs will remain near the base of the skin, blocking airflow. A slicker brush will remove the dead hairs. You should be brushing your Yorkie’s coat every three days or so.

    Shampooing using the proper product also keeps your Yorkie clean and looking their best. The right shampoo for your dog will have natural moisturizers to prevent common Yorkie skin issues like dry skin and irritation.

    Why Should I Buy Good Shampoo?

    You can find very cheap dog shampoos at your local dollar or department store, but you shouldn’t. The higher quality the shampoo is, the better it will be for your Yorkie.

    There are four jobs that a good shampoo should perform:
    • Remove accumulation of body oils properly
    • Ensure proper pH balance
    • Moisturize
    • Soothe

    Low-quality shampoos can perform one or two of these jobs, but they are unlikely to accomplish all four.

    Do All Yorkies Have Sensitive Skin?

    While reading through our buying guide, you may have noticed that many shampoos are formulated for dogs with sensitive skin. It is not uncommon for Yorkies to have skin problems at some point in their lives since their skin is quite delicate. A Yorkie’s long hair can trap allergens and reduce the airflow that reaches the skin.

    A healthy Yorkie should have soft, smooth skin free of cracking, flaking, or bumps. The skin shouldn’t be too dry or oily to the touch and should be light pink with good elasticity.

    Regular bathing can keep your pup’s skin free of common irritants that cause allergic reactions. However, some of the poorer-quality shampoos on the market contain allergens in their formulas, so you must be careful which you pick.

    Yorkshire Terrier
    Image credit: Yorkshire Terrier by PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay

    Are There Any Ingredients to Avoid?

    In a perfect world, all animal-centric products would only contain ingredients safe for pets. Unfortunately, many irresponsible manufacturers use dangerous chemicals in their products. When hunting for the best shampoo for your Yorkie, check the back of the label for any of these potentially hazardous ingredients:

    • Fragrance: This vague term can include anything a manufacturer considers a “trade secret” and may contain byproducts or chemicals.
    • MEA/TEA/DEA: These are a group of chemicals known as ethanolamines made from alcohol and proteins with an ammonia-like odor. They create a thick and foamy texture, but when used alongside other preservatives, they can form nitrosamine, a potential carcinogenic.
    • Mineral oil: Though mineral oil is an excellent moisturizer, it can harm your dog’s skin as it is a by-product of distilled gasoline. It can create an impenetrable layer over your Yorkie’s skin, making it difficult for the skin to release toxins.
    • Parabens: They can cause hormonal disruptions and reproductive problems after long-term exposure.

    Can’t I Use My Shampoo on My Yorkie?

    You should not use shampoos designed for humans on any of your animals. Human and dog skin have different pH levels, so they react differently to certain chemicals.

    Human shampoo can disrupt your dog’s acid mantle, leaving it vulnerable to parasites and bacteria. Your shampoo can also make your Yorkie’s already sensitive skin feel drier and flakier, which can cause your pup to scratch incessantly at their skin, leaving it open for bacteria to enter.

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    Conclusion

    Nature’s Miracle® Oatmeal shampoo is the best overall as its odor neutralizing properties and combating itchiness. The best value pick is Attitude’s Anti-Itch shampoo for its affordability and plant-based formula. Our premium pick is earthbath’s Oatmeal & Aloe for its large size and versatility. Finally, earthbath’s Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo is the best for puppies, thanks to its long-lasting formula and tearless design.

    Picking a shampoo for your Yorkie can be challenging because you need a formula that’s nourishing and moisturizing but safe for your pup’s sensitive skin. We think you’d be hard-pressed to find any formulas better than the 10 in our reviews above.


    Featured Image Credit: Petra, Pixabay

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