Their thick, long hair can become easily matted, dirty, and tangled, so you want only the best shampoo for your Shih Tzu pal. Choosing the best shampoo, however, can be a challenge as well.
To save you from doing the research yourself, we will give you our reviews of what we think are the best shampoos for Shih Tzus. Afterward, we’ll give a little bit of a guide on how to choose the best one for your pet.
Ready to get started? Then, let’s go!
In this article
A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2025
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Best Overall
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Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo |
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Espree Silky Show Aloe Vera Shampoo |
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Petpost Whitening Dog Shampoo |
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Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo |
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4-Legger Organic Shampoo |
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The 8 Best Shampoos for Shih Tzus
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall
| Life Stage: | All life stages |
| Grooming Feature: | Soap-free, deodorizing |
We have chosen Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo as our favorite shampoo for Shih Tzus. We love its simple, all-natural ingredient list made without the use of harsh dyes, fragrances, or soaps. This pH balanced shampoo gently washes away dirt, dander, and excess hair while hydrating your pups skin and coat.
Heppers lightly scented oatmeal shampoo is effective in lifting odors trapped in your pets fur without masking them with heavy perfumes. Any easy win for your Shih Tzus sensitive nose!
Overall, this is our top pick for Shih Tzu shampoo!
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!
- Soothes & hydrates skin
- All-natural, pet-safe ingredients
- Free of soap, gluten, dye, DEA, sulfate, and phthalate
- Made in the USA
- Some pets may not like the scent
2. Espree Silky Show Aloe Vera Shampoo
| Life Stage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Cruelty-free |
The best budget shampoo for Shih Tzus is the Espree Silky Show Aloe Vera Shampoo. The shampoo is affordable and made in the USA. If your Shih Tzu’s skin becomes easily irritated, this shampoo contains aloe vera to help soothe their skin and make them feel much better after bathing. The shampoo is also all-natural and uses organic ingredients.
The only drawback to this shampoo is that some users said it’s not as effective as it should be when it comes to getting that stinky smell off your Shih Tzu at bath time. All in all, however, for its affordability, this is a great choice.
- Affordable
- Made in the USA
- All-Natural
- Soothing
- Not as effective as some other shampoos
3. Petpost Whitening Shampoo For Dogs
| Life Stage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Whitening |
Our next pick is Petpost Whitening Dog Shampoo. This shampoo is made in the USA and is also all-natural, like many of the dog shampoos on our list. This one comes with a 100% guarantee and has a pleasant, fresh watermelon scent that will leave your Shih Tzu smelling fresh and clean. If your Shih Tzu is mostly white, then this is the perfect shampoo as it contains whitening agents.
It does take a few baths for the whitening to take effect, and a few pet owners reported not liking the scent of the shampoo. However, if your Shih Tzu is predominantly white, this could be the best choice of shampoo for you.
- All-Natural
- Made in the USA
- Watermelon scented
- 100% guarantee
- Takes a few baths for whitening
- Some users didn’t like the scent
4. Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo
| Life Stage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Soap-free |
Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo is number four on our list. This shampoo is soap-free and the lavender and mint fragrance will do a lot to keep your pet calm during and after bath time. If you’re super busy, then the fact that this is a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner will make it even easier to bathe your little Shih Tzu. All-natural and made in the USA, this shampoo comes in three different scents to choose from and uses only pet-safe ingredients.
The only drawback to this shampoo is that it comes with no guarantee, and some pet owners reported that it doesn’t always work as specified.
- All-Natural
- Made in the USA
- Three scents available
- 2-in-1
- No guarantee
- Doesn’t work well for some dogs
5. 4-Legger Organic Shampoo For Dogs
| Life Stage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Hypo-allergenic |
4-Legger Organic Shampoo weighs in at number five on our list of the best shampoos for Shih Tzus. This shampoo uses only holistic, USDA-certified oils and is cruelty-free and eco-friendly to boot. It moisturizes, cleans thoroughly, and has a pleasing scent.
However, some pet parents reported that this organic shampoo is being too watery to use and that the smell of the shampoo was a bit overwhelming. However, with all the benefits this shampoo carries, it’s worth a shot for your Shih Tzu and still belongs on our list, in our opinion. The lemongrass smell and the aloe for sensitive skin are enough to give it our recommendation.
- USDA certified oils
- Holistic
- Cruelty-free
- Eco-friendly
- Watery
- Smell is too strong for some
6. Healthy Breeds Deodorizing Dog Shampoo
| Life Stage: | Adult, puppy, senior |
| Grooming Feature: | Soap-free, deodorizing |
Another great shampoo for Shih Tzus is Healthy Breeds Deodorizing Dog Shampoo. Not only is this brand bio-degradable, but it’s also cruelty-free.
The shampoo works to soothe your Shih Tzus’ sensitive skin while helping to calm them at the same time. The fact that this shampoo is all-natural is one of our favorite things about it—the shampoo is made in the USA and you don’t have to worry about ingredients that could hurt your pet. It works for all life stages, deodorizes your pup, and is soap-free.
The only drawback we saw to this shampoo is that it’s quite a bit more expensive than some products on our list, and some customers reported the fragrance being a little overpowering.
- Soothes skin
- All-natural
- Helps calm your pet
- Made in the USA
- Quite expensive
- Fragrance is strong
7. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo
| Life Stage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Soap-free, oatmeal |
At number six on our list is Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo. Not only is this shampoo soap-free, but it also contains oatmeal to help with irritated skin. In addition, the shampoo comes in a biodegradable bottle, and the shampoo itself comes in 13 different formulas to choose from, meaning you should be able to find the perfect shampoo to keep your pup clean smelling fresh, and healthy.
Some pet parents reported the shampoo drying out their Shih Tzu’s skin, while others said that the smell of the shampoo is too strong. However, considering the shampoo comes in 13 different formulas, there should be one that works well for your Shih Tzu.
- Biodegradable bottle
- 13 different formulas
- Soap-free
- Contains oatmeal
- May dry out some dogs’ skin
- Smell is too strong for some
8. Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Dog Shampoo
| Life Stage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Gentle |
Last but not least, at number seven on the list is Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Dog Shampoo. This shampoo comes in two sizes and is available in three formulas. While it’s not the best on our list, and it doesn’t come in tons of different formulas, it does have a 100% guarantee and many Shih Tzu parents reported liking it.
However, there were some pet owners who reported the shampoo as being super watery, having too strong of a smell, and even failing to lather. Nevertheless, the fact that it comes in three formulas and two sizes secured it a spot on our list.
- Three formulas available
- Two sizes to choose from
- 100% guarantee
- Fails to lather
- Watery
- Too strong
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Shampoo for Shih Tzus
Now that you’ve read our reviews and know all the options for the best dog shampoos for Shih Tzus, you might still be wondering how you’re supposed to pick from all the options. Below, we’ll give you a couple of factors that you should consider when choosing a shampoo for your little friend.
Price
While we do have a few shampoos on our list that are affordable for all budgets, there are also a few that are quite expensive. You shouldn’t base your decision solely on price, as you usually get what you pay for. However, there are a few budget-friendly options we listed that we feel will work well for keeping your pup clean and smelling great without breaking the bank.
All-Natural
Whether it’s organic or all-natural, you don’t want a shampoo that has artificial ingredients and other chemicals. Also, your puppy probably has sensitive skin being a Shih Tzu, so you want to choose a shampoo that works best with their fur and skin for the best results.
If you’re unsure what the best shampoo for your Shih Tzu is, make an appointment with your vet and they’ll give you some recommendations.
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!
How We Selected These Shampoos For Shih Tzus
This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The dog shampoos reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best dog shampoos available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with dog shampoos. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.
Final Thoughts
This concludes our reviews of the best shampoos for Shih Tzus. First, the best overall pick went to Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo for its all-natural ability to soothe the skin. Next, the budget buy option went to Espree Silky Show Aloe Vera Shampoo for its affordability. Finally, our next choice was Petpost Whitening Dog Shampoo for its watermelon scent and 100% guarantee.
We hope this helps you choose the best shampoo to keep your little Shih Tzu clean and smelling great for a long time to come.
See Also:
- 4-Legger Dog Shampoo Review: Our Final Verdict
- Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator Review: Our Final Verdict
Featured Image Credit: antoniodiaz, Shutterstock
