The Pomeranian breed has been around for a long time, having been recognized by the AKC in 1888. During the many years since then, these little dogs have climbed the AKC ranking list for most popular breeds, and it’s undoubtedly got a lot to do with their magnificent coats and lovely personalities. These perky canines are often seen in dog shows, where they shine in their obedience and agility activities. Their double coats also get a lot of attention, but they’re easier to maintain than many people realize, requiring a weekly brush and occasional wash.

Although bath time shouldn’t happen too frequently for the risk of stripping your dog’s skin of their natural oils, the right shampoo can hydrate and moisturize their skin and coat. Many Pomeranians struggle with skin problems and can often be sensitive to the products we use on them.

We want the best for your pup, so we’ve shared some reviews of the best shampoos for this little breed below to help you find the best one for their needs.

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The 10 Best Shampoos for Pomeranians

1. Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo – Best Overall

We’re starting off this list with our pick of the best overall shampoo for Pomeranians, which is the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo. We love that it has an oatmeal formula that is hypoallergenic and gentle on your dog’s skin while effectively ridding their coat of odors and dirt. It’s free from soap, gluten, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic dyes, to prevent their skin from drying out or becoming irritated.

The bottle has a disk top cap to help you pour out the amount of shampoo you need and protects against spillage and wastage. It has a long-lasting aloe and cucumber scent, which most dogs and people enjoy, but some might be sensitive to it and prefer a scent-free option instead. This shampoo can be used for both cats and dogs, perfect for a multi-pet household.

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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2. Buddy Wash Dog Shampoo & Conditioner – Budget Buy

Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner is so safe and gentle on your dog’s skin that they can be washed with it once a week without the risk of their skin drying out. It can even be used on dirty puppies, although it is not suitable for washing cats. What’s great is that this product is both a shampoo and conditioner, which saves you money overall. Therefore, it’s our pick as the best shampoo for Pomeranians for the money. It cleans, moisturizes, and leaves your dog’s coat soft and silky so that your Pomeranian can show off their thick coat proudly.

It has a lavender and mint scent that has a soothing effect on your anxious dog and can be used with flea treatment as long as you wash your dog 48 hours after applying the treatment. Unfortunately, this product is not biodegradable, nor is it a tearless formula, so be sure to avoid your dog’s eyes when you use it.

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3. Earthbath Dog & Cat Shampoo

For dogs that are sensitive to a variety of ingredients and smells, we recommend Earthbath Hypo-Allergenic Dog & Cat Shampoo for its hypoallergenic and fragrance-free properties. This shampoo can be used in a multi-pet household because it is safe for dogs, cats, and other small pets, such as rabbits that are older than 6 weeks. It is a tearless formula that won’t burn your dog’s eyes if you get some of the liquid into their eyes by accident.

It can be used with flea treatment and soothes your dog’s irritated flea-bitten skin. This formula is gentle, biodegradable, and trustworthy. What we like about this shampoo is that it doesn’t expire due to its use of natural preservatives. You may need to rinse your dog several times after using this shampoo because it doesn’t rinse off too easily and can leave a slimy residue.

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4. Zodiac Shampoo for Dogs & Puppies

If your puppy is struggling with fleas, their eggs, ticks, or lice, consider Zodiac Oatmeal Conditioning Flea & Tick Shampoo for Dogs & Puppies. This formula contains active ingredients that are fatal to parasites but harmless to puppies and dogs, and it continues to work for 28 days before needing to be re-applied. Although it’s strong and effective, it also moisturizes your pup’s skin and removes dandruff while washing out dirt and making their coats soft, shiny, and smelling fresh, thanks to the aloe, lanolin, coconut, and oatmeal ingredients.

This product is both a conditioner and shampoo, which keeps bath time to a minimum as you won’t have to repeat the shampoo process with conditioner. Unfortunately, this shampoo cannot be used on your cat as well because it has ingredients that are dangerous to them.

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5. Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs

Vet’s Best Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Dogs is veterinarian formulated with natural ingredients that are ideal for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies, such as aloe, vitamin E, and allantoin. These ingredients soothe dry and itchy skin by adding moisture back into it. It is a tearless, soap-free formula, so your dog’s eyes won’t become irritated during bath time.

Although it is not as effective after about 3 years, this shampoo does not expire thanks to its use of natural preservatives. Unfortunately, it doesn’t lather or rinse off well, but a little does go a long way. This shampoo doesn’t have any particular scent, but many customers like the post-bath smell it leaves on their dogs.

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6. Frisco Brightening Cat & Dog Shampoo with Aloe

If your Pomeranian has stains on their coat that aren’t being washed out with regular shampoos, they may need the Frisco Brightening Cat & Dog Shampoo with Aloe. This shampoo brightens and restores light-colored coats back to what they once looked like, before drool, tears, poop, food, and urine left their ugly mark.

This shampoo is safe for cats and dogs and hydrates the skin with ingredients such as aloe vera. However, it is not a tearless formula and will irritate your dog’s eyes if it comes into contact with them. It has a cucumber crème scent that is long-lasting and smells good on your washed dog.

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7. Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea & Tick Dog Shampoo

Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea & Tick Dog Shampoo is an affordable dog shampoo that is effective at killing flea eggs for 30 days. It also kills fleas and brown dog ticks upon contact, making it a great product for dogs that go to dog parks often. It can be used on puppies that are older than 12 weeks but cannot be used on cats. You can use this shampoo on your Pomeranian as well as short-haired dogs because this conditioning formula works on all breeds and coat types.

Although it has ingredients that are effective at killing parasites, it doesn’t leave a chemical smell in your dog’s coat but instead smells good. You will need to use quite a bit of the shampoo to get it to lather well, but it’s a great addition to add to your dog’s grooming routine.

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8. Veterinary Formula Solutions Whitening Shampoo

Veterinary Formula Solutions Snow White Whitening Shampoo is another brightening shampoo option that is great for Pomeranians with light coats. It’s gentle on the skin and doesn’t contain harmful ingredients such as bleach, peroxide, sulfate, and parabens. Instead, this shampoo contains vitamin E and green tea extract to soften, boost, and restore dull, dry coats.

This product has a blue coral and citrus fragrance to it, which some people love, and some people hate. However, it might be overwhelming for sensitive dogs, so keep that in mind if your dog reacts badly to fragrances. It’s pH balanced to ensure that it’s gentle on your dog’s skin while lightening your dog’s coat to its original color. It can be used on many types of white pets, such as dogs, cats, and even horses.

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9. Ark Naturals Waterless Dog & Cat Shampoo

If you started bathing your dog later in their life or rescued a dog from a shelter, you might find that they have a fear of water, which will make bath time quite a struggle for you both. You can extend the period between bath times by using Ark Naturals Don’t Worry Don’t Rinse Me Waterless Dog & Cat Shampoo, which requires no water. This shampoo is easy and quick to use because you just need to pump some of it into your hands and rub it into your dog’s coat.

The shampoo cleans your dog’s smelly and dirty coat and moisturizes their skin. However, it should only be used on pups that are older than 3 months. The fragrance is quite strong and not suitable for people or pets with allergies.

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10. Dog Whisperer Lavender Spearmint Dog Shampoo

Another waterless shampoo option to consider is the Dog Whisperer No Rinse Waterless Lavender Spearmint Dog Shampoo, which conditions your dog’s skin, cleans their coat, and deodorizes them to smell like they’ve just had a full bath.

This shampoo comes in a 7.1-oz bottle and is quite expensive, but it is a convenient and hassle-free way to clean your dog. It includes natural ingredients such as vitamin E, pro-V B5, aloe vera, and rosemary leaf extract and is safe for the environment. You can feel happy knowing that this formula is free from phosphates, parabens, dyes, and synthetic fragrances. However, the odor control isn’t long-lasting.

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Shampoo For Pomeranians

As with a lot of products on the market, you might be struggling to determine which shampoo is best for your dog. Pomeranians have thick double coats, with the undercoat being soft, dense, and short and the outer coat being longer and harder. Their skin has natural oils that you want to protect while making sure the shampoo you use is safe for your dog and any skin conditions they may have.

What’s the Purpose of Shampoo for Dogs?

Dog shampoo has the same purpose as human shampoo. It’s designed to clean your dog’s skin and coat to make them feel and smell nice and remove dead skin cells, bacteria, and other dirt that might be trapped inside. It’s also intended to hydrate and moisturize your dog’s skin. As you lather the shampoo in, you massage the skin and encourage blood circulation.

Can I Use Human Shampoo on My Pomeranian’s Coat?

Dog shampoo has been formulated specifically for dogs and is pH balanced for their skin. Human shampoo has been pH balanced for a human scalp, and the two are very different from each other. Due to this, human shampoo is very harsh on dog skin and can strip it from their natural oils, which will cause the skin to become dry, flaky, and itchy. As your dog scratches or bites their irritated skin, it can break and become vulnerable to infections.

Human hair and skin have different needs and characteristics to a dog’s coat and skin, preventing the shampoo designed for your hair from being able to clean your dog’s coat effectively. It is also filled with ingredients that could be toxic to your dog, and if your shampoo has been lathered all over your dog’s body, there is a high chance that they may ingest some of it, which could be harmful to them.

However, if you’ve used your shampoo to wash your dog before, you don’t need to stress or take them to a vet—just make sure you don’t do it again. Your dog’s skin will likely only react negatively to your human shampoo if they’ve been washed with it a number of different times.

Types of Shampoos

If your dog doesn’t have any skin conditions, allergies, parasites, or a fear of water, you can use a standard dog shampoo. However, many Pomeranians have skin issues and need a special type of dog shampoo. Chat with your vet about the type of shampoo that will be best for your dog and how frequently they should be bathed to ensure that they get the care they need. Below are a few different types to consider:

Hypoallergenic Shampoo

Hypoallergenic shampoos are used for dogs that are allergic to common ingredients in regular dog shampoo. It is gentle and helps soothe itchy and dry skin. There are fragrance and fragrance-free options depending on whether your dog or you are sensitive to smells. Hypoallergenic shampoos are often recommended for Pomeranians because of their dry skin.

Flea and Tick Shampoos

If your Pomeranian has fleas or ticks, you should consider washing them with a flea and tick shampoo. It is designed to quickly kill the parasites in your dog’s coat with the use of certain active ingredients that are fatal to fleas and ticks but harmless to your dog.

Brightening Shampoo

If your Pomeranian has an all-white coat that has become stained from food and urine, regular shampoos may not be strong enough to get them back to how they once looked. However, brightening shampoos are designed to get the stains out and leave your dog’s coat looking brand new.

Waterless Shampoos

Some people like to use waterless shampoos to lightly clean their dogs between baths to keep them smelling good without having to wash them too frequently. This product is easy to use because you don’t have to use any water. While they’re a good option for dogs that are scared of water or are too frail for a bath, they’re not as effective as regular dog shampoo. However, they do remove dirt, deodorize your dog, and absorb excess sebum.

Deodorizing Shampoo

Deodorizing shampoos are a good option to have in your cupboard for when your dog becomes particularly smelly and dirty after encountering a dead rodent or rolling in poop. This type of shampoo is the best for eliminating bad odors.

How To Wash a Pomeranian’s Coat

With all the fur that a Pomeranian has, bath time may not be your favorite activity. However, it is necessary, and it should be done properly from puppyhood.

Conclusion

There are many types of shampoos that you can use on your dog, depending on their needs. Our top pick is the Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo for its use of oatmeal, which is gentle and soothes dry, itchy, and sensitive skin. Our budget buy option is the Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner, which is a 2-in-1 designed to cleanse and condition your dog’s coat and skin. Lastly, we have Earthbath Hypo-Allergenic Dog & Cat Shampoo, which is an excellent option for dogs that are sensitive to fragrances.

With all the reviews listed above, we hope you’ll be able to find the shampoo best suited for your dog.

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Featured Image Credit: Leeyakorn06, Shutterstock