When keeping your dog clean, the usual brushing and bathing are essential. However, bathing takes on a more significant meaning if you own a Cocker Spaniel. That’s because, with amazingly long and luxurious coats that need attention, you’ll likely be giving your Cocker a bath every 2 weeks.

Cocker Spaniels have issues with dry skin, to begin with, so you need a shampoo that doesn’t dry it out further. Also, some Cockers have oily skin, which demands even more care when selecting a shampoo. To help, we’ll examine the best Cocker Spaniel shampoos.

 

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The 10 Best Shampoos for Cocker Spaniels

1. Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs – Best Overall

Burt’s Bees has many excellent products, and their Oatmeal Shampoo is ideal for Cocker Spaniels. This shampoo will moisturize your Cocker’s dry skin and, thanks to the colloidal oat flour and honey, will reduce itchiness if your pet has eczema. It’s pH balanced to prevent your pet’s skin from drying out after washing and is also made with 97% natural ingredients.

Another ingredient in our choice for best overall dog shampoo, green tea extract, strengthens your Cocker’s hair follicles so that their coat stays healthy and strong. It’s made in the United States and has no artificial ingredients. Lastly, this quality dog shampoo is very gentle and can be used frequently.

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2. Giovanni Professional Waterless Dog Shampoo – Budget Buy

We chose the best shampoo for the money, Giovanni Professional Waterless Foaming Oatmeal & Coconut Dog Shampoo, because it’s economical and can be used on the go. This is a waterless shampoo made with organic ingredients, including several botanicals. You can use it practically anywhere, which makes it an excellent choice for Cockers that love to travel.

Even without water, this quality dog shampoo leaves your Cocker Spaniel’s coat looking beautiful. Aloe vera in the formula helps moisturize your dog’s skin, including its nose and paws. Lastly, you won’t find harsh chemicals in this dog shampoo, so you can feel great using it.

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3. Hepper Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs

The Hepper Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs is our third choice of shampoo. It is a soap-free dog shampoo that’s perfect for Cocker Spaniels and is specially made for those with sensitive skin. It’s free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic dyes and is made with all-natural ingredients.

We really like the fresh scent of Hepper’s dog shampoo, although some find it a bit strong. Since many Cocker Spaniels have a pungent odor, a strong, natural fragrance is necessary. This exceptional dog shampoo won’t cause skin irritation or dryness and will provide exactly the opposite: moisturized, hydrated skin that feels terrific!

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!

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4. Oster Oatmeal Essentials Gentle Puppy Shampoo

Like all dogs, Cocker Spaniel puppies demand a dog shampoo that’s gentle on their sensitive puppy skin. Oster’s Oatmeal Essentials Gentle Puppy Shampoo is perfect for Cocker Spaniel puppies as it protects their skin while keeping their coat fresh and clean. Oster’s dog shampoo is extra-mild to ensure your puppy’s eyes and nose aren’t irritated when bathing.

Like most of the dog shampoos on our list, this one contains oatmeal, which vets recommend for the soothing protection it provides. It’s also balanced and has extra surfactants to gently lift out dirt when your Cocker Spaniel pup gets messy. For most Cocker pups, Oster Oatmeal Essentials will be an excellent choice of shampoo.

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5. Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Fragrance Free Dog Shampoo

For Cocker Spaniels who truly have skin issues, Earthbath’s Oatmeal and Aloe Fragrance-Free Dog and Cat is a good choice. It’s fragrance-free, which is good since some Cockers don’t like strong odors. It’s also soap-free, so it won’t make skin issues worse. With organic aloe vera and oatmeal, this quality dog shampoo will moisturize your pup’s skin and protect it from drying out.

Earthbath can be used without washing off flea and tick medications. Also, it’s 100% biodegradable, something you don’t see in many dog shampoos. If your Cocker Spaniel suffers from ongoing skin issues, this top-quality dog shampoo from Earthbath might be your best choice.

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6. PetHonesty Allergy Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo

Many Cocker Spaniels have issues with dry skin. If yours has dry skin, this quality dog shampoo from PetHonesty is a good choice. It contains several ingredients known for skin-moisturizing traits, including coconut oil, jojoba oil, aloe, Vitamin E, and oatmeal extract. You won’t find alcohol in the formula since it is one of the worst things for a Cocker Spaniel’s skin.

Made in the USA in a GMP-certified facility, you can rest assured that this shampoo will help your Cocker’s dry skin improve and keep it hydrated and moisturized between baths. Your precious pet will smell fantastic, too, thanks to the formula’s refreshing verbena and coconut lime scent!

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7. Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo

Vetnique Labs Dermabliss Medicated Anti-Itch & Allergy Relief Soothing Oatmeal Medicated Dog & Cat Shampoo is made for Cocker Spaniels and other canines suffering from really dry and itchy skin. This is a medicated dog shampoo that uses Pramoxine, and you can contact your veterinarian to ensure it’s suitable for your dog’s coat.

Vetnique Labs’ shampoo is soap-free, which is recommended for dogs with dry and itchy skin. The manufacturer claims it can be used regularly, but once their skin is better, you might consider switching back to a non-medicated dog shampoo. (Again, ask your vet first.)

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8. CHI Gentle 2 in1 Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

From CHI comes this gentle 2-in-1 dog shampoo and conditioner that’s very gentle. It is a mild dog shampoo that’s okay to use on Cocker Spaniel puppies and has mild surfactants to protect their delicate eyes and noses. Like similar products on our list, CHI’s formula is pH balanced, sulfate and paraben-free, and will leave your Cocker looking beautiful and smelling fresh and clean.

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9. Skout’s Honor Dog of the Woods Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can balance the microbiome, including on a dog’s skin and coat. Skout’s Honor offers their probiotic formula, Dog of the Woods, with the claim that it will help your Cocker Spaniel fend off many common skin issues, including itching, dryness, dandruff, excessive shedding, and yeast infections. It’s free of harsh chemicals, also, and can be helpful for Cockers with skin allergies.

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10. Isle of Dogs Deep Cleaning Shampoo

Depending on your Cocker Spaniel and how dirty they get on a regular basis, Isle of Dogs Deep Cleaning Shampoo might be your best choice. Active Cockers can get filthy, it’s true, and this deep-cleaning shampoo will easily remove deep-seated grime, dirt, and gunk. It will also leave your Spaniel smelling like a rose or, more specifically, like the red berries and champagne Isle of Dogs use in their formula.

 

Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Shampoo for Cocker Spaniels

Choosing the correct dog shampoo is critical if you want your dog to look good and feel good, with no itchiness, hot spots, or other coat issues. The American Kennel Club recommends you look for several characteristics when choosing a shampoo for your dog. They include the following:

Choose a Shampoo Made With All-Natural Ingredients

Your dog deserves a shampoo with no artificial dyes, fragrances, harsh ingredients, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), among others.

Never Use Human Shampoo for Your Dog

Dogs have much different skin than humans, with different pH levels. Using shampoo made for humans can cause skin irritation, itching, and other issues.

Choose a Shampoo That’s Not Made With Soap

Soap can dry out your dog’s skin and cause it to itch. Several of the brands on our list don’t have soap to avoid this issue. You should also note that some dogs won’t be affected by soap, so knowing how yours reacts to it is a must.

If You’re Not Sure, Ask Your Veterinarian

If you’re unsure which shampoo is best for your canine companion, ask your trusted veterinarian for their advice. Your vet can determine your Cocker Spaniel’s skin type and make an excellent recommendation.

Choose a Shampoo Based on Important Skin and Coat Factors

Several factors impact the type of dog shampoo you should buy, especially for a Cocker Spaniel. They include:

Choose a Dog Shampoo Made in America

While not all dog shampoos made outside of the United States are bad, per se, the laws and regulations where they’re manufactured can be. Some countries simply don’t put safety first when it comes to pets and use ingredients that can be harmful. In the U.S., however, safety regulations prohibit the use of many ingredients and also ensure the manufacturing process is top-notch. For those reasons, choosing a dog shampoo made in the USA is highly recommended.

 

Final Thoughts

Finding the best shampoo for your Cocker Spaniel will make grooming easier, faster, and less stressful for you and your dog. Our choice for best overall dog shampoo, Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey, is a great moisturizing shampoo for Cocker Spaniels. Giovanni Professional Waterless Foaming Oatmeal & Coconut Dog Shampoo, our budget buy choice, will leave your Spaniel looking splendid without breaking your bank account.

Hepper’s Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs, our third choice, is an excellent product made with natural ingredients. Best of luck selecting the dog shampoo that leaves your Cocker Spaniel looking like it’s ready to compete in a dog show!

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Featured Image Credit: andriano.cz, Shutterstock