A French Bulldog Life

The most popular shampoo for Frenchies

Choosing the best shampoo for your frenchie

We have compiled a list of the top 9 Shampoos as recommended by our Frenchie readers

Taking a look in a pet store on even worse, online for a good dog shampoo can be, in the least, somewhat overwhelming! With so many influences & opinions – from the store assistants personal opinion, to your vet, to the know-it-all dog lovin’ neighbour next door, who do you trust? We thought it was only sensible to reach out and ask the Frenchie community what they have tried and now trust to keep their own frenchie not only smelling good but also feeling good (ie no itching or sensitivities here!). We have compiled a list of the top 9 Shampoos as recommended by our Frenchie readers. The results will leave you surprised! Let’s read on…

For smelly frenchies & itchy skin

There is a wide and varied mix of shampoos on the market for our beloved French bulldogs (and every other dog!). So which one should you choose? We did a survey with our readers and found out what they recommend, with many having tried a variety before settling on one type. It’s all very good to wash your frenchie but it’s important to look at the reason why you want to so you can combat any issue you may be having and why you think they need a shampoo to begin with.

I love my clean frenchie

Reasons to wash your Frenchie

Taking a closer look at the variety of reasons you want to wash your French Bulldog will help narrow down the choices of shampoo and how often. People washed their frenchies because they: were dirty, they smelt, they were irritated, they were itchy, they had rolled in something stinky (I mean how many times have we seen that happen?!!) or they just felt that perhaps it’s been a while and it was time for a clean. Some owners declared they didn’t wash their frenchies very often at all, perhaps every 6 months. Which leads me to the next question:

How many times should you wash your Frenchie?

This will depend. Our readers also varied their regularity depending on the Frenchie. Not all frenchies are out and about rolling in the dirt or goodness knows what (or is that just mine??!). Many spend a lot of time indoors so they don’t get too dirty. As the Frenchie coat is short and smooth they don’t require a lot of grooming and over washing may result in the removal of natural oils in their skin. Fortunately by brushing them regularly you will help to keep the shedding down, promote the natural oils that should keep their skin happy. Depending on the environment & climate in which you live, the rule of thumb is you can wash them as needed.

So what is the favourite shampoo of the frenchie gang

We asked our readers to let us know their preferred doggy shampoo they had tried and tested on their Frenchie. The results were mixed and a little surprising but then again, maybe not so surprising. Each breed has their own differences despite being the same breed! So I’d expect the same when it comes to Frenchies too. As you will see from our pretty pie chart there is a big range. We have some of the shampoos listed below in further detail.

Favourite shampoo used by Frenchie owners

The Top 9 Dog Shampoos as recommended by our readers

9. Earth Bath Oatmeal Shampoo & Conditioner

Starting out from the least popular, this wasn’t the most popular shampoo – Earth Bath Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner. We found it to be okay but didn’t love it (personally for our own Frenchie). It did smell nice however with a more natural smell, which I’m a big fan of.

8. Dawn

Interestingly the 8th least popular shampoo used was Dawn but honestly this is meant for dishes not dogs. So no more information on this product as we do not recommend it in alignment with loads of vets and breeders! Please do not use this on your beautiful Frenchie.

7. Coatex

At number 7 on the list, in the same low level of popularity was Coatex a vet preferred shampoo. Currently it is available in Australia only.

Coatex Shampoo for Frenchies

6. Scouts Honour Shampoo for Frenchies

We loved SKOUT’S HONOR Puppermint Probiotic Dog Shampoo. Okay, so maybe we’re a sucker for a cute name like Puppermint but honestly the smell is gorgeous and whilst I’m all for natural smells, and the peppermint is a refreshing change for Max (and my nose!). They tell us helps to naturally Balance their skin thus making it look healthier and provide itchy skin relief. The avocado oil also helps with looking after one itchy pupp

5. Various Human Shampoos

Whilst disappointing to read, we aren’t surprised really that many people resort to a human shampoo for their frenchie. We are strong advocators for pet shampoo as animals are very different and have different needs to humans. Please do your research before using a human shampoo on your beloved Frenchie.

4. Burts Bees Oatmeal Shampoo

We loved this one as much as the Skouts Honour one it was a little thicker but we also felt that Burts Bees really have a good point about a dogs skin pH level is different to a human so it needs to be treated so. It is a low lather formula and at first it kind of felt not bubbly enough because we are so used to getting a good lather up with normal (probably harmful) shampoo but it felt like it did the trick! So we were happy.

3. Douxo Shampoo

Coming in at 3rd, DOUXO Skin & Coat Spa – Ultra-Safe Dog Shed Control Shampoo, claims to reduce excessive shedding, cleans and hydrates the skin, leaving the Coat Soft, Strengthened and Radiant. Whilst we can’t personally attest to all of these claims, it did do a lovely job and didn’t irritate our Frenchie. With just under 10% of owners claiming they use this one, I think you could safely give it a go and judge it for yourself.

Douxo Ultra Safe Shampoo

2. Baby Shampoo

At number 2 you won’t believe how many people use a human baby shampoo on their Frenchie. Whilst many vets do not recommend it (due to the difference in ph level of a French Bulldog skin vs a human) this shampoo was sworn by to improve and keep their Frenchies skin beautiful. Nearly 18% of our respondents use it and love it.

No 2 Shampoo for Frenchies_Baby shampoo

1. Coat Defense Shampoo

Our number 1 recommendation (well as voted by the Frenchie Community) was Coat Defense. As one of the most popular voted shampoos on our page there was a whopping 39% use rate. It is suitable for a sensitive skin Frenchie and all those using it raved about the impact of keeping their Frenchies skin calm and clean. That’s not far off from half of our owners voting for something they truly believe in!

The results may have surprised you, we certainly were but as they say the proof is in the pudding. Keep in mind that your Frenchie may have different needs throughout their lifetime and pending level of activity, the environment they are exposed to etc. Drop us a line with your preferred choice of dog shampoo that worked well for your own Frenchie!


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