Best Waterless Dog Shampoos

Updated September 2020
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Pawstruck Dry Dog Shampoo, Waterless, Safe for Puppies and Adults
Pawstruck
Dry Dog Shampoo, Waterless, Safe for Puppies and Adults
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Bottom Line

A little of this formula goes a long way, even on dogs with longer hair. It may not replace baths in your home, but it will help you reduce their frequency. No toxic ingredients, and does a great job of deodorizing your dog as well.

Pros

Rosemary-derived, all natural formula. Mild, safe, and beneficial for sensitive skin. Does not contain any harsh chemicals or laureth sulfate. Does not interfere with topical flea treatments. Deodorizes; removes odor rather than masking it. Cruelty-free. Quick drying. Seems to work on longer hair. Does not stain white hair.

Cons

May not replace a bath, especially if the dog is very dirty, but it makes his coat shiny and gets rid of the "wet dog" smell. Some users complain the scent is stronger than they prefer.

Best Bang for the Buck
Miracle Coat Spray-on Waterless Dog Shampoo
Miracle Coat
Spray-on Waterless Dog Shampoo
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Bottom Line

Made with pharmaceutical grade ingredients, this formula helps remove stubborn mats from many dogs' coats. And it comes in a noiseless spray bottle to keep your pup calm.

Pros

Made from natural, pharmaceutical grade ingredients. Fresh, clean scent. Noiseless sprayer keeps dogs calm. Rinse-free. Helps to get matting out of hair. Temporarily helps with many skin irritations. Helps to cut down on smells.

Cons

Do not spray near the eyes. Relieves itching only for very short periods.

Wahl Pet-Friendly No Rinse Waterless Shampoo
Wahl
Pet-Friendly No Rinse Waterless Shampoo
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Bottom Line

This plant-based formulation cleans short hair well and even leaves longer hair silky. The scent doesn't last very long, though.

Pros

Waterless, no-rinse shampoo. Derived from plants. Conditioning ingredients moisturize hair. Seals in natural sugars and proteins. Choice of lavender, chamomile, or coconut lime verbana. Free from PEG-80, alcohol and parabens. Cleans short coats; leaves longer coats silky.

Cons

A good temporary deodorizer, but it mostly masks dog smell rather than eliminating it.

Bodhi Dog New Waterless Dog Shampoo
Bodhi Dog
New Waterless Dog Shampoo
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Bottom Line

Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this plant-based shampoo leaves your dog looking and smelling fresh.

Pros

Plant-based. Gentle. Excellent for animals with allergies and sensitive skin. No detergents, alcohol, parabens, or sulfates. Non-toxic. Choice of lavender or lemongrass. Light scent.

Cons

Be sure not to get the product in pet's eyes.

Bio-Groom Waterless Cat and Dog Bath Shampoo
Bio-Groom
Waterless Cat and Dog Bath Shampoo
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Bottom Line

This pH-balanced shampoo is tearless, so it's a good choice for pets who struggle at bath time.

Pros

Tearless, pH-balanced waterless shampoo. Cleans gently, removes stains, and adds luster to coats. No alcohol. Scent-free. Quick drying. Made with neutral henna, hyacinth, clove, vitamin E, and tea tree oil.

Cons

No artificial scent, but Tea tree oil may give this formula a noticeable odor.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

15 Models Considered
6 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
207 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

Waterless dog shampoo absorbs excess oil from a dog's skin and coat. By doing so, it helps restore a dog's shiny, soft coat and makes it easy for him or her to maintain it for an extended period of time. Waterless dog shampoo often contains natural ingredients that are safe for use on all dogs. It helps minimize the risk of dry, flaky skin that otherwise causes itching and irritation. Waterless dog shampoo generally won't take long to administer, too. A typical bath with waterless dog shampoo takes just a few minutes to complete, and the results may last for several weeks.

Other Products We Considered
The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.
Begley's
Natural No Rinse Waterless Pet Shampoo
Vet Recommended
Waterless Dog Shampoo
TropiClean
Waterless Shampoo for Pets
John Paul Pet
Waterless Foam Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs and Cats
Paw Choice
Waterless, No Rinse Foam Mousse Dry Dog Shampoo
The team that worked on this review
  • Kristin Yarbrough
    Kristin Yarbrough
    Writer
  • Melinda Snowden
    Melinda Snowden
    Web Producer
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Pawstruck

Dry Dog Shampoo, Waterless, Safe for Puppies and Adults

Pawstruck

Dry Dog Shampoo, Waterless, Safe for Puppies and Adults

A little of this formula goes a long way, even on dogs with longer hair. It may not replace baths in your home, but it will help you reduce their frequency. No toxic ingredients, and does a great job of deodorizing your dog as well.
$15
×

Wahl

Pet-Friendly No Rinse Waterless Shampoo

Wahl

Pet-Friendly No Rinse Waterless Shampoo

This plant-based formulation cleans short hair well and even leaves longer hair silky. The scent doesn't last very long, though.

$5
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Miracle Coat

Spray-on Waterless Dog Shampoo

Miracle Coat

Spray-on Waterless Dog Shampoo

Made with pharmaceutical grade ingredients, this formula helps remove stubborn mats from many dogs' coats. And it comes in a noiseless spray bottle to keep your pup calm.

$20
×

Bodhi Dog

New Waterless Dog Shampoo

Bodhi Dog

New Waterless Dog Shampoo

Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this plant-based shampoo leaves your dog looking and smelling fresh.

$13
×

Bio-Groom

Waterless Cat and Dog Bath Shampoo

Bio-Groom

Waterless Cat and Dog Bath Shampoo

This pH-balanced shampoo is tearless, so it's a good choice for pets who struggle at bath time.

$15

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