8 Best Dog Shampoos for Golden Retrievers in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

With their thick, double-coat that’s water repellant, Golden Retrievers need a shampoo that can penetrate to the skin. It can be a chore grooming your Golden, but having the right shampoo can make it much easier.

There are so many dog shampoos on the market, though, that it can be difficult to find the best one for your Golden. We’ve done the work for you and found shampoos that work well on a Golden Retriever’s water-repellent coat. Our list of reviews and buyer’s guide will help you determine the best shampoo for your needs.

Read on for our recommendations.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated in 2023):

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo	Free from harsh chemicals Soothing and calming formula Made in the USA	Check Price
Best Value		FURminator deSHEDDING Dog Shampoo	Has omega-3 and -6 fatty acids Reduce shedding Promotes healthy skin and coat	Check Price
Premium Choice		Rocco & Roxie Dog Shampoos	Argan oil to restore the coat’s natural luster Chamomile soothes and softens skin Geranium strengthens hair follicles	Check Price
		Paws & Pals 5-in-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo	Oatmeal to help soothe and moisturize itchy skin No parabens sulfates or synthetic dyes Tear-free soap-less formula	Check Price
		PET CARE Sciences 5-in-1 Dog Shampoo	Professional-grade formula Made from coconut oil No sulfate parabens phosphate MEA or DEA	Check Price

The 8 Best Shampoos for Golden Retrievers:

1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall 

Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is our top pick for the best overall shampoos for Golden Retrievers. It features a gentle formula that won’t dry out your dog’s skin. It is free from soaps, glutens, dyes, DEA, sulfates, and phthalates making it not only gentle but safe!

We enjoyed bathing our dog with this shampoo, and its long-lasting aloe vera and cucumber scent were pleasant and not overwhelming! We also loved that it’s safe for use on cats, making it a cost-effective product for multi-pet homes!

Overall, we think this shampoo ticks all the boxes when shopping for a pet shampoo which makes it our favorite shampoo this year!

2. FURminator deSHEDDING Dog Shampoo – Best Value 

The FURminator Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo is the best shampoo for Golden Retrievers for the money because it actively works to reduce shedding. The shampoo is enriched with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids to add natural shine to your Golden’s coat. It also promotes healthy skin. The shampoo contains no parabens or chemical dyes. It works well with the Furminator bathing brush.

This shampoo’s formula can cause itching in some dogs with sensitive skin.

3. Rocco & Roxie Dog Shampoos – Premium Choice 

The Rocco & Roxie Dog Shampoo is our premium choice because it contains natural ingredients to promote healthy skin and coats. The shampoo has Argan oil to restore the coat’s natural luster. Chamomile is used to soothe and soften skin. Geranium strengthens your dog’s hair follicles to possibly reduce shedding. The shampoo contains no dyes, alcohols, or parabens.

This is a more expensive shampoo, however. It can also cause skin irritation in some dogs with sensitive skin and allergies.

4. Paws & Pals 5-in-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo

The Paws & Pals 5-in-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo cuts down on the need for multiple grooming products. It’s a tearless, soap-less formula that’s made to be gentle on your dog’s skin and coat. The shampoo contains oatmeal to help soothe and moisturize itchy skin. It’s also free from parabens, sulfates, or synthetic dyes.

This shampoo can cause skin irritation in some dogs with sensitive skin and allergies. This is especially true with dogs who are allergic to oatmeal. It also doesn’t take away bad smells, so if you have a particularly stinky dog, this might not work.

5. PET CARE Sciences 5-in-1 Dog Shampoo 

The PET CARE Sciences Dog Shampoo is another great choice because it’s a professional-grade formula that gently and easily cleans your Golden’s coat. This is a five-in-one shampoo that cleans, conditions, deodorizes, moisturizes, and detangles, so you don’t have to use multiple products. The shampoo is made from coconut oil and is naturally moisturizing. It contains no sulfates, parabens, phosphates, MEA, or DEA.

Because of the natural ingredients, you have to use a large amount of the shampoo to have a good lather on your dog’s coat.

6. Earthbath All Natural Brightener Dog Shampoo

The Earthbath All Natural Brightener Shampoo is great for your Golden’s sensitive skin because it’s a soap-free shampoo. This formula is designed to brighten your Golden’s coat and make it shiny. It contains purified water and coconut-based cleansers to clean and moisturize naturally. It also contains lavender oil to help remove bad odors. This shampoo is free from DEA, parabens, synthetic dyes, sulfates, and phthalate.

In some sensitive dogs, this shampoo can cause skin irritation. On dogs with very light or white coats, it can cause yellowing.

7. Wahl Gentle Formula Puppy Shampoo

The Wahl Gentle Puppy Shampoo is made to be gentle on your pup’s coat. It’s alcohol free and paraben free, so it doesn’t dry out your Golden’s silky coat. It uses cornflower and aloe to naturally moisturize your dog’s skin and coat. It’s also pH balanced specifically for dogs.

For bigger dogs with a great deal of hair, you have to use a large amount of the product despite it being concentrated. This shampoo can cause skin irritation in some sensitive dogs. It also doesn’t do a good job of removing odors.

8. Healthy Breeds Bright Whitening Dog Shampoo

The Healthy Breeds Bright Whitening Dog Shampoo enhances white and light-colored coats, so it’s great for Golden Retrievers. This formula also helps control matting and tangling. The shampoo contains natural oatmeal.

This is not a paraben- or sulfate-free shampoo, which can be harmful to the skin of some dogs. The shampoo doesn’t always work well at brightening the coat, and a large amount of product has to be used. It also doesn’t lather well. In some sensitive dogs, it can cause skin irritation.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Dog Shampoos for Golden Retrievers

With their long, luxurious coats, Golden Retrievers need special shampoo to keep their fur looking glossy and clean. Here are features to look for when you’re shopping for the right shampoo:

Hypoallergenic

Golden Retrievers are susceptible to skin conditions and allergies. Because of this, you want to look for hypoallergenic shampoos. This means the shampoo doesn’t contain ingredients that could cause an allergic reaction. If your dog has an allergy to oat proteins, for example, be sure not to use a shampoo that contains oatmeal.

Natural Ingredients

Because of the Golden Retriever’s susceptibility to skin conditions, it’s best to only use shampoos with natural or organic ingredients. Harsh chemicals and additives can irritate your dog’s skin. You also want to avoid any artificial fragrances, perfumes, or colors for this same reason.

Moisturizers

The Golden Retriever’s long coat needs plenty of conditioning to keep it shiny and soft. You also need to consider the dog’s skin, which needs moisture just like ours does. Natural moisturizers like aloe vera, almond oil, and oatmeal can keep both your dog’s skin and coat healthy and conditioned.

pH Balance

Whereas humans have a skin pH of around 5.5, dogs have a skin pH of between 6.5 and 7.5. To reduce skin irritation, look for shampoos that are specially formulated for dogs and are pH balanced.

Deodorizers

Deodorizers in dog shampoos can be helpful when you have a dog that likes to spend a great deal of time getting dirty. No one likes sharing a house with a stinky pup, so deodorizers can make a big difference. The important thing is that the deodorizing ingredients are natural and not too harsh.

Brightening Ingredients 

Golden Retrievers have beautiful blonde coats, but their fur can sometimes look dull and dingy. A brightening shampoo can help add shine and brightness back to your dog’s coat. Be sure to look for natural ingredients.

Conclusion:

Our best overall choice is the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo because it is free from soaps, glutens, dyes, DEA, sulfates, and phthalates. Making it a safe and gentle product for your fur baby.

Our best value choice is the FURminator 285307 Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo because it actively works to reduce shedding, which is great for a Golden’s coat. The shampoo contains omega-3 and -6 fatty acids that promote healthy skin and a shiny coat.

We hope that our list of reviews and buyer’s guide have helped you find the best shampoo for your Golden Retriever.

Featured Image Credit: Prystai, Shutterstock