The best French bulldog shampoo is suitable for sensitive, allergy-prone skin.
It helps clean their wrinkles and facial folds, and also moisturizes, soothes, and eliminates odor.
A high-quality Frenchie shampoo is pH-balanced, hypoallergenic, and also reduces itching, flaking, dandruff, and shedding.
Different French bulldogs have different requirements in shampoos. Based on these needs, we have handpicked 5 great shampoos for your Frenchie.
Just in case you are in a hurry, click on our short summary below to view our Top reviewed products for the best French bulldog shampoo:
- Our Editor’s Pick: Healthy Breeds Mild and Gentle Oatmeal Shampoo
- Best Anti-Itch Shampoo for French Bulldogs: ARAVA Natural Antibacterial, Antifungal, Medicated Dog Shampoo
- Best Budget Shampoo: Oster Oatmeal Dog Shampoo
- Best French Bulldog Puppy Shampoo: Burt’s Bees Tear-Free Puppy Shampoo
- Best Shedding Control French Bulldog Shampoo: TropiClean Lime & Coconut Shed Control Shampoo
Also Read: Are Frenchies Hypoallergenic
Best French Bulldog Shampoo – 2022 Top 5 Picks
1. Our Editor’s Pick: Healthy Breeds Mild and Gentle Oatmeal Shampoo
Healthy Breeds shampoo is mild and gentle for all kinds of Frenchie coat conditions. It is gentle enough for regular use and won’t strip your Frenchie’s natural skin oils.
Healthy Breeds Shampoo is pH-balanced and hypoallergenic. It is especially suited for Frenchies with allergies or sensitive skin.
Your pet will have a nice and fresh lingering scent of pina colada after its bath!
This shampoo also suds up well and its colloidal oatmeal and vitamin-rich formula works hard to nourish, soothe, cleanse, and hydrate your Frenchie’s dry skin and coat.
The best part about this shampoo is that it even restores lost emollients or natural skin-oils on your pet’s coat leaving it soft, supple, and itch-free.
Healthy Breeds also makes two other French bulldog shampoos:
- Healthy Breeds French Bulldog Tear-Free Puppy Shampoo
- Healthy Breeds Dog Deodorizing Shampoo For French Bulldog
What we like about it
- Gentle, pH-balanced, hypoallergenic
- Made in USA
- Restores emollients, soothes, hydrates, controls itching
What we don’t like
- Scent does not last too long.
- Provides relief for itchy, scaling and sensitive skin with the mild oatmeal and aloe formula! A gentle shampoo is more suitable for dogs with sensitive skin or allergies!
- Hypoallergenic formula is safe for use with topical flea control treatments! Keep your dog fresh and clean with the delicious Pina Colada scent!
- pH balanced! Healthy Breeds offers a high-quality oatmeal shampoo that is gentle and soap-free! Help restore natural moisture and emollients in your dog’s skin and coat!
- MADE IN THE USA! Buy with confidence! All shampoos made in federally regulated manufacturing facilities! Excellent customer service and return policy. 100% satisfaction guaranteed!
- Healthy Breeds also offers a Deodorizing Shampoo and a Bright Whitening Shampoo for lighter/whiter coats to bring back the puppy shine! Search for your breed and product!
2. Best Anti-Itch Shampoo for French Bulldogs: ARAVA Natural Antibacterial, Antifungal, Medicated Dog Shampoo
We all want our Frenchies to be itch-free!
ARAVA anti-itch shampoo with its potent mix of 28 natural, antifungal, and antibacterial ingredients and 26 Dead Sea minerals soothe itchy skin, prevent and treat dandruff, and moisturize the coat and skin making it soft, hydrated, and supple.
It also eliminates skin issues commonly seen in Frenchies: ringworm lesions, scabies, and dermatological problems like hot spots, flaking, mange, scabies, and fungal and bacterial infections.
In short, ARAVA dog shampoo can soothe, hydrate, heal, nourish, cleanse, protect, and restore your pet’s skin to its healthy state.
Its gentle medicated formula deep cleans the coat and also kills bacteria and fungi from wounds, cuts, and scrapes.
It not only heals skin problems but also protects your pet from skin problems common to this breed.
What we like about it
- Anti-itch shampoo with 26 Dead sea minerals and 28 natural botanical ingredients
- Free from sulfates, dyes, parabens
- Cleans, protects, heals, soothes, and nourishes
- Pleasant scent
What we don’t like
- Not for pets with very sensitive skin.
- Very expensive.
- Dead Sea Minerals – Formulated with premium Dead Sea minerals, Arava Therapeutic shampoo is perfect for corrective skin problems and irritations. Contains 28 natural ingredients.
- Deep, Powerful Cleanse– The Arava Bio-Care formula is a pet-friendly formula that gently cleanses deep within your dog’s undercoat to enrich the follicles, making the fur shinier.
- Reduces Skin Infections – Designed to specifically nurse dermatological conditions, this pet medicated shampoo helps restore health after all kinds of skin problems.
- Natural, Active Ingredients – Arava Pet shampoo contains 28 active ingredients including potent botanical oils that help fight against most of the skin issues that indoor and outdoor pets can pick up. Do not use shampoo if the dog has an allergy to one of the natural ingredients.
- Light, Fresh Scent – A silky, moisturizing formula that’s safe for dogs and puppies. Warning: don't use shampoo in case of allergy to one of the natural ingredients.Light, Fresh Scent – A silky, moisturizing formula that’s safe for dogs and puppies. Warning: don't use shampoo in case of allergy to one of the natural ingredients.
3. Best Budget Shampoo: Oster Oatmeal Dog Shampoo
Oster oatmeal shampoo takes care of dry, itchy, and malodorous skin in Frenchies in the following ways:
One, its oatmeal-based formula soothes, hydrates, nourishes, and softens dry coats.
Two, this shampoo, being pH-balanced and gentle, doesn’t cause any adverse skin issues in sensitive Frenchies.
The fact that it is free from alcohol, parabens, and dyes also makes it perfect for dry and sensitive coats.
Last but not the least, Oster Oatmeal shampoo contains aloe vera, chamomile, and natural colloidal oatmeal that combine to remove odor and also leave a pleasant baby-powder-like scent on your little furbaby’s skin.
What we like about it
- Lathers up well
- Has an amazing scent – like baby powder
- Ideal for sensitive, dry, and itchy skin and coat
What we don’t like
- Some users and their pets found the scent too strong.
- Oatmeal shampoo for dogs effectively moisturizes and softens skin
- Ideal for dogs with dry, itchy skin
- Enriched with 100% natural oatmeal extract, aloe vera, and chamomile extract
- Long-lasting Country Apple scent keeps your pet smelling fresh
- Made with natural, pH-balanced, and biodegradable ingredients; contains no alcohol, parabens, or dyes
4. Best French Bulldog Puppy Shampoo: Burt’s Bees Tear-Free Puppy Shampoo
Burt’s Bees Buttermilk and Linseed shampoo gently cleanse your little Frenchie’s skin while its conditioner softens its coat.
This shampoo uses high-quality ingredients including buttermilk and linseed oil that hydrate, soothe, and nourish your Frenchie puppy’s skin. It also gets rid of common skin conditions in the breed: dandruff, odor, itching, flaking, fungal problems, etc.
Vets also recommend this puppy shampoo as it is tear-free and free from harsh chemicals like sulfates, parabens, colorants, etc.
Last but not the least, it is pH-balanced too.
What we like about it
- Gentle and tear-free, ideal for puppy’s sensitive skin
- Leaves fur soft and clean
- pH-balanced
- Chemical-free
What we don’t like
- No scent.
- Did You Know Dog Skin Differs from Human's - Dogs' skin is less acidic, so human shampoos can be harmful. This tearless puppy shampoo and conditioner keeps their coat healthy and irritation-free, making it an essential part of your puppy bathing supplies.
- No. 1 Pet Grooming Brand in the USA - Trusted by millions, Burt's Bees for Pets offers natural dog shampoo and conditioner. This moisturizing puppy wash keeps your puppy’s coat clean, soft, and healthy. A must-have for irritation-free grooming.
- Tearless Formula with Buttermilk for Puppies - This tearless puppy shampoo with natural buttermilk soothes and softens, while flaxseed oil conditions. Essential for keeping your puppy's coat healthy and soft, a must-have in your puppy bathing supplies.
- No Sulfates, Colorants, Fragrance, or Harsh Chemicals - This natural dog shampoo and conditioner is free from sulfates, colorants, fragrances, and harsh chemicals. Burt's Bees offer a gentle dog shampoo, pH-balanced formula for safe, effective cleaning.
- Safe for All Dogs and Puppies - pH balanced for all ages, this tearless puppy shampoo is essential for your puppy supplies. Ideal for small breeds like Yorkies, it works as a gentle dog face shampoo or a puppy conditioner for a complete grooming routine.
5. Best Shedding Control French Bulldog Shampoo: TropiClean Lime & Coconut Shed Control Shampoo
TropiClean exfoliates and moisturizes your Frenchie’s skin and coat.
Its exfoliating action removes the dead undercoat in one go which, in turn, reduces the amount of pet hair you find on your carpets and furniture.
Furthermore, it deeply nourishes the fur and strengthens the hair roots to minimize abnormalorunseasonal shedding.
The best part about this shampoo is that it uses natural ingredients and is free from SLS, parabens, soap, and dyes. It also has a refreshing lime and coconut scent.
TropiClean Shed Control Shampoo is proudly made in the USA itself.
What we like about it
- Reduces shedding – exfoliates, cleanses, nourishes, moisturizes
- Minimizes further shedding by strengthening the roots
- All-natural, completely free from chemicals
- Refreshing scent
- Made in USA
What we don’t like
- Not tear-free
- Might be too harsh for sensitive pets.
- REDUCES SHEDDING – Deshedding shampoo for dogs and cats help control unwanted shedding while exfoliating and moisturizing the skin.
- ELIMINATES DOG SMELL – Reduce smelly pet odor with the tropical lime & coconut scent of our good smelling dog shampoo.
- FEEL-GOOD INGREDIENTS – Our moisturizing dog shampoo is derived from natural ingredients such as coconut and vitamin E for a silky soft coat.
- PET PARENT APPROVED – A gentle dog wash that's paraben, dye, soap and cruelty free and suitable for use on dogs and cats 12 weeks or older.
- TROPICLEAN – For a tropical experience, pair this with our Lime and Coconut Deshedding Conditioner and Deodorizing Spray.
How to Select the Best French Bulldog Shampoo?
French bulldogs often have skin and coat-related issues. Their skin is prone to dryness, accumulation of dirt and grime in the facial folds, hot spots, dandruff, and itchiness.
Due to these issues, it often acquires a stinky odor.
To reduce these problems, the best French bulldog shampoo should ideally have the following features:
1. Should be gentle-yet-effective
Look for a soap-free shampoo that cleanses your Frenchie’s skin and removes accumulated dirt and grime from its skin folds without stripping off its natural oils.
It should ideally be free from harsh chemicals, fragrances, parabens, sulfates, and dyes. A good French bulldog shampoo is also hypoallergenic and pH-balanced – meaning it helps balance the pH of your pet’s skin (a value between 6.5 and 7.5).
2. Should moisturize, heal, and protect
Frenchies are often prone to dry skin, hot spots, redness, scabies, fungal and bacterial skin conditions.
Many Frenchies have very sensitive skin that easily becomes red, irritated, and flaky.
A high-quality Frenchie shampoo can clean, heal, and protect the skin and also soothe away redness, moisturize the dry skin, and make it soft, smooth, and supple.
That is why, many Frenchie shampoos contain oatmeal as it soothes, moisturizes, and protects your Frenchie’s skin from harsh weather elements and also creates a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss.
3. Gently exfoliates and de-sheds dead hair
Frenchies, like all dogs, undergo seasonal shedding of fur.
Their coats are tightly wrapped around their frame and their short hairs may not be seen easily. Nevertheless, they do shed and you need to exfoliate their skin and coat from time to time.
Look for a de-shedding shampoo that controls abnormal shedding, exfoliates dead skin and hair, and minimizes shedding by strengthening the hair.
4. Has a mild-yet-pleasant-scent
Look for a top-rated shampoo that won’t overwhelm your Frenchie’s sense of smell.
Ideally, a good shampoo will deodorize your pet’s skin and it may or may not leave a scent or fragrance.
If you want your buddy to smell great, then look for a delicately scented shampoo instead of a strong or harsh product that is packed with dyes or fragrances.
Also Read: How to Potty Train a French Bulldog
Can I Use Baby Shampoo on My French Bulldog?
Ideally speaking, you should never use human shampoos on your dog’s skin. This is because there is a difference in the pH values of human skin and dog-skin.
Human skin has a pH-value between 4.8 and 6.0. This means that it is acidic in nature. Therefore, shampoos made for humans are also mildly acidic.
Dogs, on the other hand, have a pH-value of the skin between 6.5 and 7.5. This means that their skin has more of a neutral pH
If you use an acidic shampoo (which is what most human shampoos are) to bathe your Frenchie, you might end up stripping its natural oils. This could lead to:
- Dryness
- Dandruff
- Redness
- Irritation
- Flaking
- Itching
- Scabs
- Hot spots
Coming back to the question: Can you use baby shampoo to bathe your Frenchie?
Some mild baby shampoos in the market have a pH of about 7 – meaning almost water-like consistency and neutral pH
These are relatively safe to use on your Frenchie.
However, as far as possible, please only use vet-approved dog shampoos to bathe your Frenchie. This way, you can maintain their skin’s natural pH-mantle and leave it healthy and balanced.
To summarize: only in an emergency – if you have run out of your Frenchie’s dog shampoo – then you could use a mild baby shampoo to cleanse your buddy.
But, as soon as you can, please re-order the best French bulldog shampoo to bathe your pet.
Also read: Can You use Baby Shampoo on Dogs & Can I Use Human Conditioner on my Dog
How Often Should I Bathe My Frenchie?
Vets recommend bathing your dog at least once a month.
Over-bathing can strip your Frenchie’s coat and skin of natural oils. This could lead to dry and itchy skin, dandruff etc.
That is why, once a month is good enough to bathe your pet.
However, if your Frenchie plays in puddles or gets very grimy and stinky, then you could opt to bathe it more frequently.
Also, some Frenchies are prone to recurrent skin issues, fungal problems, ringworm, scabies, mange, bacterial infections, etc. For these, it is best to follow a vet-approved schedule for bathing.
You might also want to use special medicated shampoos for treating these issues.
Also Read: Do French Bulldogs Shed
FAQs on Best French Bulldog Shampoo
1. Why does my Frenchie stink?
French bulldogs often stink due to accumulation of oil, dirt, sweat, and their dog food in their facial skin folds. This can lead to an odor if the folds are not cleaned regularly.
Also, poor diets can lead to a foul odor. If your Frenchie is allergic to a certain ingredient in its dog food, then it could develop a stinky coat too.
Check out our guide on the Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs with Sensitive Stomach and Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs with Skin Allergies.
2. How do I keep my French bulldog’s coat shiny?
In addition to using the best French bulldog shampoo for bathing your buddy, also feed it a healthy diet rich in omega essential fatty acids.
You could speak to your vet and feed your pet skin and coat supplements .
Furthermore, brush your pet regularly to distribute natural skin oils. If needed, use Bulldog wrinkle wipes to keep its facial wrinkle folds clean and healthy.
3. Do I need to cut my French bulldog’s hair?
No, Frenchies do not need any special haircuts.
You can always use a de-shedding shampoo to exfoliate its dead skin and hairs. Also, brush your buddy from time to time to maintain its skin’s natural gloss and shine.
Don’t forget to wipe its facial folds regularly and bathe it about once a month.
4. How often should French bulldogs be groomed?
Bathe your lively and energetic Frenchie once a month – or more frequently if its coat gets too stinky or dirty.
Brush your buddy once every 2-3 days. This will help redistribute the natural skin oils and keep your pet’s fur shiny.
We recommend Furminator De-shedding tool that removes dead hair and keeps your pet’s coat healthy and parasite-free.
5. How to stop excess shedding in Frenchies?
There are many things you can do to stop abnormal shedding in your French bulldog:
- Use a de-shedding shampoo (recommended above)
- Brush and groom your pet regularly.
- Feed it a healthy diet
- Minimize the stress in your pet’s daily life.
- Get rid of underlying health issues, allergies, food intolerances, etc.
- Feed it an omega essential fatty acid supplement.
Conclusion
The best French bulldog shampoo cleans, heals, moisturizes, and protects your Frenchie’s sensitive skin. It is pH-balanced and hypoallergenic.
It can help eliminate odor, reduce dryness, and prevent hot spots and itching by moisturizing its skin.
We recommend Healthy Breeds Mild and Gentle Oatmeal Shampoo as it checks all of the above boxes and is specially made for the French bulldog breed.
