Yorkie parents know that their pups’ coats require special attention for them to look their best. Since Yorkies can have many health challenges, including sensitive skin, it’s vital to find grooming products designed for their unique grooming needs.
Here, we have reviews of various shampoo brands to help you find the best one for your Yorkie. We also go over the ingredients to look for and the ones to avoid when shopping.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo |
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Budget Buy
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TropiClean Pet Shampoo & Conditioner |
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Veterinary Formula Shampoo for Dogs |
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Pet Head Puppy Fun!! Tearless Shampoo |
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Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo |
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The 10 Best Dog Shampoos for Yorkies
1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Dog Shampoo — Best Overall
| Lifestage: | All life stages |
| Grooming Feature: | Soothes irritates skin, pH balanced |
Our favorite shampoo for Yorkies is the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. The first thing that we love about this shampoo is the all-natural ingredient list, as it is made without harsh fragrances, soaps, dyes, sulfates, and other skin-irritating additives. Yorkies can be prone to skin problems, and this shampoo will hydrate and nourish as it cleanses.
The aloe and cucumber scent, while mild and easy on the nose, can last for days. The lather created by this shampoo is quite light and simple to work with, making it easy to avoid the eye and ear areas of your little dog.
That’s why we think that this is the best overall shampoo for Yorkies.
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!
- All-natural, pet-safe ingredients
- Formulated to soothe dry, irritated skin
- Free of soaps, gluten, dyes, DEA, sulfates, and phthalates
- Promotes healthy skin and coat
- Gentle scented
- Light lather
- Some Yorkies may not like the scent
2. TropiClean Dog Shampoo & Conditioner — Best Value
| Lifestage: | Adult, senior, puppy |
| Grooming Feature: | Soap-free, cruelty-free, deodorizing |
The hypoallergenic TropiClean Pet Shampoo & Conditioner is the best shampoo for Yorkies for the money. It is pH-balanced and contains colloidal oatmeal and aloe for a soothing and moisturizing bath. It’s great for sensitive skin because it’s paraben, soap, and dye-free. The coconut-based cleanser is gentle and won’t irritate your dog. Like most products on this list, this one should be diluted before use.
This shampoo won’t help control shedding if you have a heavy shedder. While it’s not a common issue in Yorkies, it does happen. In this case, you may want to opt for a shampoo that also promotes the removal of loose hair.
- Reduces dry and itchy skin
- Keeps the coat smooth and soft
- Pleasant coconut scent
- Gentle on your pup’s eyes
- Some customers might find the scent too strong
- Doesn’t help control shedding
3. Veterinary Formula Solutions Shampoo for Dogs
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Deodorizing, oatmeal |
The Veterinary Formula Solutions Shampoo for Dogs contains aloe, zinc, and baking soda to soothe irritated skin. It’s a special formula for dry, irritated, or smelly dog coats. Fragrance extenders have been added to keep your dog smelling clean for longer, but it doesn’t smell like perfume that masks odors. It actually neutralizes odor on contact. It does have a water lily and lavender fragrance. This shampoo can be used regularly and doesn’t wash off topical flea-and-tick treatments.
- Improves red, irritated skin after the first shampoo
- Makes hair silky and soft
- Doesn’t burn the eyes
- Low fragrance
- Watery
- Doesn’t lather well
4. Pet Head Puppy Fun!! Tearless Shampoo — Best for Puppies
| Lifestage: | Puppy |
| Grooming Feature: | Tearless |
Pet Head Puppy Fun!! Tearless Dog Shampoo has a pleasant orange fragrance and is specially formulated for the puppy’s sensitive skin. Shea butter is added to restore shine to your pup’s coat, while safflower oil provides nourishing moisture to the skin. It is pH balanced just for puppies and tear free, so it is the best shampoo for a Yorkie puppy.
In an effort to be tear free, though, this shampoo doesn’t lather all that well, so you’ll have to use more of it than you might with some other products. The fragrance also doesn’t last. If you have a mischievous puppy that likes to get stinky, you might find that this won’t keep them fresh smelling for long.
- Leaves your dog’s coat soft and shiny
- Gentle and doesn’t burn the eyes
- Keeps skin hydrated
- Pleasant fragrance
- Doesn’t lather well
- Scent is weak and doesn’t last long
5. Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs
| Lifestage: | Adult, puppy |
| Grooming Feature: | Tearless, hypoallergenic, soap free |
Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs is formulated to treat dry, itchy, and irritated skin while moisturizing your dog’s coat. Vitamin E and B5 help heal damaged skin, while aloe vera and allantoin provide extra moisture to prevent flaking. This hypoallergenic shampoo helps remove allergens that make their home on your dog’s coat but doesn’t wash off topical flea-and-tick treatments.
- Improves red, itchy skin
- Makes hair soft and smooth
- Doesn’t irritate eyes
- Low fragrance
- Watery consistency
- Doesn’t lather well
6. Bobbi Panter Soothing Dog Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Tearless |
The Bobbi Panter Soothing Dog Shampoo is pH balanced, so it shouldn’t upset your Yorkie’s sensitive skin. Oatmeal, aloe vera, and cucumber extract make this shampoo soothing to skin that’s already irritated. The lavender oil scent will help calm your dog during bath time and is soothing for the skin.
All Bobbi Panter products are cruelty free and compatible with any flea or tick treatments that you may be using. It’s a highly concentrated product, so manufacturer recommendations suggest diluting this shampoo at a ratio of 30:1.
- Soothes itchy skin
- Lathers and cleans well
- Rinses well
- Leaves the coat soft and healthy looking
- Some people may not like the scent
7. Buddy Wash Refreshing Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Soap free |
This Buddy Wash Refreshing Dog Shampoo & Conditioner offers essential oils to help maintain moisture in your Yorkie’s skin while using botanical extracts to clean and condition their fur. Vitamins C and E and aloe vera gel help nourish the coat. Coconut additives also help soothe itchy skin.
Buddy Wash does a good job of cleaning and conditioning your dog’s coat, leaving it tangle free for post-bath grooming. However, the fragrance in this shampoo is strong and may be irritating to both dogs and humans sensitive to smells.
- Lathers and cleans well
- Long-lasting scent
- Doesn’t dry out the skin
- Scent is strong and may be irritating
8. Nature’s Specialties Plum Silky Dog Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Small, medium, and large breeds |
Nature’s Specialties Plum Silky Dog Shampoo is biodegradable and hypoallergenic. The all-natural ingredients condition, clean, and deodorize your dog’s hair. This shampoo is pH balanced for a Yorkie’s sensitive skin and has added vitamins to nourish the skin. It comes in concentrated form and can be diluted up to a ratio of 24:1. This product is a favorite with groomers, but the price tag can make some owners balk.
Most customers raved about this shampoo, but a few said that it made their dog’s allergies worse.
- Cleans well
- Reduces itching in most dogs
- Good lather and easy to rinse
- Long-lasting fresh smell
- Some people may not like the scent
- Causes irritation in some dogs
9. Zesty Paws Oatmeal Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Grooming Feature: | Organic, moisturizing |
Zesty Paws’ Oatmeal Anti-Itch Shampoo has all plant-based ingredients to clean and condition your dog’s coat. With added vitamins and extracts to nourish the hair and skin, this shampoo does a good job of “cooling down” hot spots of inflammation. If your Yorkie has been scratching or picking their skin, this shampoo does a great job of helping tame the itch.
This shampoo is thick, so it’s hard to get out of the bottle and difficult to use. It also doesn’t work for every dog, as its success in soothing irritated skin seems to depend on the cause of the itch.
- Makes your dog’s coat healthy looking and silky smooth
- Improves dry, itchy skin
- Reduces scratching
- Eliminates odor
- Lathers and rinses well
- Thick and hard to use
- Doesn’t work for every dog
10. 4-Legger Organic Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo
| Lifestage: | Adult, Puppy |
| Grooming Feature: | Hypoallergenic, cruelty free |
USDA-certified 4-Legger Organic, Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo is gentle enough to use on dogs of all ages. There are no additives or harsh chemicals in this product, and it provides soap-free cleansing that soothes your dog’s skin. Lemongrass and rosemary essential oils do a good job of keeping your dog’s skin moisturized and their coat smelling great after a bath. Lemongrass is also a flea deterrent, so it might help keep those pesky critters away.
This shampoo works great—unless it doesn’t. 4-legger can cause an allergic reaction in some dogs, despite the hypoallergenic label. Since there are no allergens in the shampoo itself, it’s likely the essential oils causing the reaction. If your Yorkie has a history of allergies or has frequent skin reactions, you might want to skip this product. That said, it’s still a great choice for those dogs that just need a solid, non-irritating, good-smelling shampoo.
- Lathers and rinses well
- Leaves the coat soft and fluffy
- Light scent
- Added flea repellant
- Some Yorkies react to the ingredients
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Shampoo for Your Yorkie
Yorkies have bigger-than-life personalities, but they also have giant health issues, with skin problems being one of them. These pint-sized dogs can have a ton of different skin issues and conditions, ranging from flea allergies and dry skin to alopecia and hypothyroidism. These skin issues can result in flaky, red, irritated skin without care and treatment.
So, what’s a Yorkie and their owner to do? Many times, dogs start chewing and scratching at themselves in an effort to relieve the itchiness. Unfortunately, this instinctive behavior sets them up for even more problems, including infections. This is why it’s important to take good care of your dog’s fur and skin. The best way to do this is through regular bathing and grooming. But the right grooming products are essential; otherwise, you can leave your dog’s skin more irritated than when you started or their fur will be a tangled, matted mess.
In order to select the best shampoo for your dog, let’s discuss what features you should look for in a high-quality Yorkie shampoo.
Features of a High-Quality Yorkie Shampoo
- Hypoallergenic — Purchasing a hypoallergenic formula is vital for Yorkies. They have a tendency toward skin allergies, so making sure there are no allergens in their shampoo is crucial. It will minimize your dog’s risk of a reaction.
- Ingredients — Natural ingredients are preferable to artificial chemical ones. They are less likely to trigger allergies, for one thing. Plant-based ingredients and essential oils are gentle on the skin and offer other benefits.
- pH balance — Your Yorkie’s skin pH is between 6.5 and 7.5, right around neutral on the pH scale. Using a shampoo that is too acidic (pH less than 6.5) or one that is too basic (pH greater than 7.5) will upset the skin’s natural protective barrier and leave your dog prone to dry skin and itchiness.
- Moisturizer — Dogs that struggle with dry skin will benefit from moisturizing ingredients like almond oil, aloe vera, and oatmeal.
- Soothing qualities — Ingredients that “cool down” areas of irritated skin help reduce irritation. Colloidal oatmeal and coconut oil are known for this property.
- Ability to remove dirt and body oil — If a shampoo doesn’t remove old, dead skin, oils, and dirt, it can cause skin rashes and clogged pores. Soap-free cleansers are best because they don’t leave behind residue.
- Fragrance — Natural fragrances are preferable to chemicals and perfumes because the latter can be irritating to the skin.
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 an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Ingredients to Avoid in Yorkie Shampoos
If you want to improve your Yorkie’s skin health, certain ingredients should be avoided in their shampoo. Chemicals that can be harsh, irritating, and sometimes even dangerous for your dog do wind up in certain pet shampoos. These are the worst culprits:
- Parabens — Parabens are chemicals known to mimic estrogen. Since Yorkies are tiny and already prone to hormone imbalances, this ingredient is best avoided.
- Petroleum — Petrochemicals and other petroleum products are common in cosmetic products, mineral oil, and many baby products. They can also be present in pet grooming products have been associated with health concerns.
- Sodium lauryl sulfate — This ingredient isn’t as dangerous as some others on this list, but it can contribute to skin irritation. It can also cause eye stinging.
Different Types of Shampoo
Depending on your dog and what skin issues you may be trying to resolve, different kinds of shampoos are available. Each has various benefits, so it’s important that you buy the right one for your dog.
- All-purpose — If your Yorkie has healthy skin and coat, you can use an all-purpose product.
- Puppy shampoo — Yorkie puppies have extra sensitive skin, so gentle ingredients are important. Soap-free and tear-free are two features to look for in a puppy shampoo.
- Sensitive or dry skin — If your dog has sensitive or dry skin, look for a shampoo with ingredients meant to tackle this problem.
- Medicated shampoo — Medicated shampoos have specific ingredients to target fungi, bacteria, or yeast skin infections.
- Pest repellant — Some Yorkies suffer from flea infestations or flea bite allergies. A quality flea shampoo will help stop these critters in their tracks in combination with flea-and-tick medications.
- Conditioner — This isn’t necessary to keep your dog healthy, but you may choose to invest in a conditioner to add extra moisture to your dog’s coat.
How Often Should You Bathe a Yorkie?
Healthy Yorkies should be bathed regularly every 3 to 4 weeks. If your dog has underlying skin conditions, you may need to bathe more frequently until the issue is resolved. To keep it healthy, you should thoroughly brush your dog’s coat every 3 to 4 days.
The Best Way to Bathe a Yorkie
Due to their size, the best place to bathe your Yorkie is in the sink. Before you begin bathing, brush out your pup’s coat. A double-sided brush with a slicker will help smooth out their coat and get rid of tangles while also removing loose hair, dirt, and dead skin cells.
Next, add a bit of shampoo to the sink, and fill it with enough warm water to soak your Yorkie’s feet. Wet the rest of your dog using a cup. To wipe their face, put soapy water on your hands and gently wet around the eyes.
Shampoo your dog by scrubbing the shampoo and water mixtures into their coat, creating a lather. If your shampoo requires contact time (how long it needs to sit on your dog before you rinse it off), wait for the amount of time indicated on the bottle. A treat or Kong can be used to keep your dog busy.
Rinse your dog thoroughly with clean water. If you’re using a conditioner, now is the time to apply it. After rinsing the conditioner, your Yorkie’s bath is complete!
Gently comb through your dog’s hair to remove any tangles. Remove any eye goop, then towel dry your dog. Once your dog’s hair is dry, you can trim off any overgrown hair or add deodorizing spray for freshness.
Conclusion
Among all the products on this list, we recommend Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo as the best overall shampoo for Yorkies. It has all-natural ingredients and is pH-balanced for your dog’s comfort. It’s also soothing and gentle, which is important for a Yorkie’s sensitive skin. The best value for the money is TropiClean Luxury 2 in 1 Papaya & Coconut Pet Shampoo & Conditioner. It’s free of harmful ingredients and hypoallergenic and contains oatmeal to soothe your tiny pup’s irritated skin.
Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock
Contents
- A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
- The 10 Best Dog Shampoos for Yorkies
- 1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Dog Shampoo — Best Overall
- 2. TropiClean Dog Shampoo & Conditioner — Best Value
- 3. Veterinary Formula Solutions Shampoo for Dogs
- 4. Pet Head Puppy Fun!! Tearless Shampoo — Best for Puppies
- 5. Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs
- 6. Bobbi Panter Soothing Dog Shampoo
- 7. Buddy Wash Refreshing Dog Shampoo & Conditioner
- 8. Nature’s Specialties Plum Silky Dog Shampoo
- 9. Zesty Paws Oatmeal Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo
- 10. 4-Legger Organic Hypo-Allergenic Dog Shampoo
- Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Shampoo for Your Yorkie
- Features of a High-Quality Yorkie Shampoo
- Ingredients to Avoid in Yorkie Shampoos
- Different Types of Shampoo
- How Often Should You Bathe a Yorkie?
- The Best Way to Bathe a Yorkie
- Conclusion
