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7 Best Shampoos for Bernese Mountain Dogs in 2026 — Reviews & Top Picks

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Bernese Mountain Dog scratching itself after bathing in the river

Bernese Mountain Dog scratching itself after bathing in the river Bernese Mountain Dogs make fantastic pets, but they are also working dogs that can get quite dirty on the job, resulting in the need for a bath. However, with so many different brands of dog shampoo available, choosing one that is just right for your pet can be challenging. If you need help, keep reading for a list of the best options. There’s also a buyer’s guide that goes over what you should look for in a dog shampoo so you can make an informed purchase.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
  • pH-balanced
  • Conditions coat
  • Aloe and cucumber fragrance
  • Second place
    Pet Pleasant Dog Shampoo Pet Pleasant Dog Shampoo
  • Rinses clean
  • Flip-top cap
  • Oatmeal ingredients
  • For Smelly Dogs
    Third place
    Hepper Deep Clean Shampoo Hepper Deep Clean Shampoo
  • No parabens or sulfates
  • Combats unpleasant odors
  • Deep cleans while preserving natural oils
  • PET CARE Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner PET CARE Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner
  • Tearless
  • Many sizes available
  • Good for sensitive skin
  • Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs
  • Concentrated
  • Allergy friendly
  • Oatmeal formula
  • The 7 Best Shampoos for a Bernese Mountain Dog

    1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo — Best Overall

    Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo with Aloe Vera

    Scent: Aloe and cucumber
    Size: 16 oz

    Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is the best overall shampoo for Bernese Mountain Dogs for its ability to clean and soothe skin. Berners can be prone to skin issues due to those glorious double coats, and colloidal oatmeal is known to soothe irritated skin.

    This shampoo contains oatmeal and is pH-balanced for soothing and moisturizing skin. It also conditions the coat and leaves behind the light fragrance of aloe and cucumber. It’s free from DEA, soap, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic dyes.

    Just be aware that while the scent is light and refreshing, people or dogs sensitive to odors might still find it a bit strong.

    At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!

    Pros
    • pH-balanced
    • Conditions coat
    • Aloe and cucumber fragrance
    Cons
    • Potentially strong odor

    2. Pet Pleasant Dog Shampoo

    Pet Pleasant Dog Shampoo

    Scent: Lavender
    Size: 8 ounces

    Pet Pleasant Pet Shampoo is our pick as the best shampoo for Bernese Mountain Dogs for the money. The vegan formula has oatmeal that helps moisturize the skin and soften the fur. The flip-top cap is easy to use and enables you to apply the shampoo without making a mess, and there is less risk of a spill. It also rinses away clean and leaves behind a soft lavender fragrance.

    Unfortunately, Pet Pleasant Shampoo comes in a bottle that runs out quickly when using it on a large dog, like a Bernese, and several users have complained that the fragrance isn’t strong enough.

    Pros
    • Oatmeal ingredients
    • Flip-top cap
    • Vegan
    • Rinses clean
    Cons
    • Small bottle
    • Weak fragrance

    3. Hepper Deep Clean Shampoo — Best for Smelly Dogs

    Hepper Deep Clean Shampoo 2024

    Scent: Neutral
    Size: 8 oz

    The Hepper Deep Clean Shampoo is specifically designed to combat unpleasant odors in dogs and contains odor-repelling and odor-neutralizing properties. It is pH-balanced and does not include soap, parabens, sulfates, DEA, alcohol, or synthetic dyes.

    Despite its deep-cleaning capabilities, this shampoo is gentle on your Berner’s coat, preserving their natural oils and preventing skin dryness. Instead of masking bad smells with fragrance, it helps eliminate them.

    Some owners may find the neutral scent a bit overpowering, but it fades within 24 hours.

    At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!

    Pros
    • Combats unpleasant odors
    • No parabens or sulfates
    • Deep cleans while preserving natural oils
    Cons
    • Overpowering neutral scent

    4. PET CARE Shampoo and Conditioner

    PET CARE Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner

    Scent: Light, gentle
    Size: 8 or 16 ounces, 1 gallon

    PET CARE Sciences Tearless Puppy Shampoo and Conditioner is our pick as the best shampoo for Bernese Mountain Puppies. This tearless shampoo has a gentle formula that contains oats to help soothe and nourish sensitive skin and coconut to help hydrate the fur, making it easier to manage. It’s also perfect for dogs with sensitive skin and is available in several sizes, so you can get bigger bottles as your pet grows.

    The only downside is that it doesn’t produce much of a fragrance.

    Pros
    • Tearless
    • Contains oats and coconut
    • Good for sensitive skin
    • Two sizes available
    Cons
    • Little fragrance

    5. Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs

    Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs

    Scent: Coconut, lime, verbena
    Size: 24 ounces

    Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs uses a high concentration of coconut-derived sodding agent to create a concentrated shampoo that enables you to use less than you might with other brands. The coconut ingredients in the shampoo make it a good choice for pets with sensitive or dry skin. It’s made in the U.S.A. by a company that’s been in business for more than 50 years.

    The primary downside is that many people complain that it smells bad.

    Pros
    • Oatmeal formula
    • Concentrated
    • Allergy-friendly
    • Company in business for more than 50 years
    Cons
    • Smells bad

    6. Burt’s Bees for Dogs Shed Control Shampoo

    Burt’s Bees for Dogs Shed Control Shampoo

    Scent: Unscented
    Size: 16 ounces

    Burt’s Bees is a popular brand that makes many products for pets and humans. One of the best for Bernese Mountain Dogs is Burt’s Bees for Dogs Shed Control Shampoo. It contains vitamin E and omega-3, which help strengthen your pet’s fur and reduce breakage. It’s pH balanced for dogs and can help reduce the amount of shedding. Many people also like the fact that it doesn’t contain any chemicals or fragrances.

    The downside to Burt’s Bees shampoo is that the bottle opens too easily and often results in spills, especially during shipping.

    Pros
    • Strengthens fur to reduce breakage
    • No fragrances or chemicals
    • pH balanced for dogs
    Cons
    • Bottle opens too easily

    7. Healthy Breeds Bernese Mountain Dog Shampoo

    Healthy Breeds Bernese Mountain Dog Chamomile Soothing Dog Shampoo

    Scent: Chamomile
    Size: 8 ounces

    Healthy Breeds Bernese Mountain Dog Chamomile Soothing Dog Shampoo provides owners and pets with chamomile’s fresh and relaxing fragrance. It also contains colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera to help condition and moisturize your dog’s skin and fur so these will look better and be easier to manage.

    Unfortunately, there are a few downsides to Healthy Breeds pet shampoo, including a leaky bottle that leaves behind a sticky mess that’s hard to clean up. Many users also complain there is nothing breed-specific about it that warrants the name.

    Pros
    • Contains colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera
    • Conditions and moisturizes
    • Safe for use with flea-control products
    Cons
    • Sticky
    • Not actually breed specific
    • Leaky bottle

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Shampoos for Bernese Mountain Dogs

    Bernese Mountain Dog with shower cap and accessories
    Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

    Bottle Size

    When choosing a pet shampoo for your Bernese Mountain Dog, one of the first things that you are likely to look at is the bottle size. Since these dogs are so large, you likely want to purchase something containing at least 16 ounces of shampoo, or else consider buying more than one bottle.

    Ingredients

    Your dog’s skin can be sensitive to the harsh chemicals, dyes, and fragrances found in many commercial shampoos, which can leave your pet with a dull coat and itchy skin. Choosing a brand that uses all-natural ingredients will help keep the skin and fur healthier, which might also result in less shedding. Key ingredients to look for are colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, omega-3 fats, and vitamins A, D, E, and B12.

    If you’re unsure of which dog shampoo to use, please contact your vet or a reputable groomer for a recommendation.

    If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's our online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the advice you need for your dog — all at an affordable price!

    PangoVet_Mention-in-Content Savings V1

    Fragrance

    Another thing to consider when choosing a shampoo for your Bernese Mountain is the fragrance. Many pet owners prefer a nice smell after a bath, while others prefer to leave out the scent. We recommend reading the reviews of any shampoo products that you are interested in to see if other users praise or condemn the smell.

    divider dog faces oct 2024

    Conclusion

    When choosing your next pet shampoo for a Bernese Mountain Dog, we highly recommend our pick as the best overall, as Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal which is known to soothe irritated skin. It also helps moisturize and produces a bright shiny coat. Another great choice is our premium pick: Hepper Deep Clean Shampoo, which gets your Bernese clean without stripping their natural skin oils.


    Featured Image Credit: Kristesoro, Shutterstock

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