Dog grooming is a big business and all dogs need to be bathed.  Sometimes, you may want to avoid the added expense of taking your furry friend to the groomers and bathe your dog at home.  There are a lot of dog shampoos on the market, but they can often cause itching, discomfort, and flakiness. Or you may be wanting to try an inexpensive way to create your own shampoo using household products you already have around the home.  Here are some dog shampoo remedies that you can try out along with a bonus conditioner recipe.

Deep Clean Natural Shampoo

2 cups apple cider vinegar

2 cups organic dish soap

4 cups of water

4oz of vegetable glycerin

Mix together and shake well before each use.

Flea Free Shampoo

1 qt of water

1 cup of white or apple cider vinegar

1 cup of baby shampoo or nontoxic dish soap

Mix ingredients together and to avoid over-usage, store in a spray bottle or clean condiment container.  When bathing your dog, let the shampoo soak for at least 5 minutes before rinsing.

Note:  Baby Shampoo and Dish soap can be drying, so this mix should not be used regularly.  You can switch them out with liquid castile soap and use that as your regular shampoo.

Shampoo for Dry Skin

1 qt of water

1 cup of white or apple cider vinegar

1 cup of liquid castile soap

⅓ cup of glycerine

2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel

Mix together and shake well before each use.

Note:  Aloe Vera and Glycerin are soothing for a dog, especially if they have sensitive skin.

Short on Time Dry Shampoo

1 cup of corn starch

1 cup of baking soda

Few drops of essential oil (Lavender or lemon for example)

Mix ingredients together and store in a clean container with holes in the top, an old bottle that had powder works best.  Sprinkle the mixture on your dog and rub it into your dog’s coat with your hands or using a brush. Since the ingredients never fully come off your pooch, this shouldn’t be the only method for bathing your dog but provided a quick solution to help between bathing.

Note:  If your dog has sensitive skin, you may not want to use essential oils, or check with your veterinarian first.

Coconut & Lavender Shampoo

¾ cup of water

½ cup of castile soap

¼ cup of coconut oil

Few (4-5) drops of lavender essential oil

Mix ingredients together in a glass jar and bathe your pooch. 

Note:  Coconut adds shine, hydration and helps with detangling.

BONUS:  Rosemary Conditioner

2 tablespoons of rosemary leaves

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Heat up the rosemary and olive oil together, let sit and cool.  After the oil has cooled down, remove the rosemary leaves. Gently massage the conditioner into damp fur and let sit for a few minutes, then rinse.

Note:  Rosemary provides help with itchy and dry skin, blood circulation and to grow and a strong coat of fur.

Additional Tips for making your own Dog Shampoo and Bathing your Furry Fido

• Don’t use essential oils if your dog is pregnant or nursing puppies.
• If your dog has any skin irritations, be sure to speak with your veterinarian before using a homemade remedy
• Bathe your dog regularly, the average is once a month but could be as often as once a week.  
• Wash your dog’s head last, as most dogs will want to shake all that water off once their head gets wet.
• Don’t use human hair products on your dog.
• Use a towel to dry your dog off and then let them air dry.