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With its elegant, long hair and hard-to-miss ears, the Papillon dog is one of the most popular and well-known toy breeds amongst dog owners today.
And when it comes to owning a Papillon, there are many advantages. Apart from being a small dog that isn’t going to take up too much space in your home, it’s also pretty low maintenance – especially in the grooming department.
In fact, as we learned in our recent article, Do Papillons Shed?‘, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort at all to take care of Papillon. And a big reason for that is because the Papillon only has a single coat.
However, just because the Papillon doesn’t take a great deal of dog grooming, it’s still essential that you invest the right amount of time and effort into grooming your Pap. By using the best shampoo for Papillons, you’ll be able to make sure its skin and coat remain in tip-top condition.
And the two most important things you should do to ensure your Pap has a healthy coat and skin is to brush them and bathe them as part of a regular grooming routine.
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How Often Should you Bathe a Papillon?
When it comes to brushing your Papillon, you should aim to do it at least two or three times a week – or even daily if you can find the time. To make brushing an enjoyable experience for both you and your Pap, why not check out our latest article to help you find the best dog brush for Papillons?
But what about bathing your Papillon? Does that need to be done as frequently as brushing?
In short, no. You don’t need to bathe your Pap that often. Ideally, you should bathe your Papillon once a month on average.
However, once a month should be used as more of a general guide rather than an exact science. Because it really does depend on your Pap and its lifestyle.
You see, although Papillons are dainty dogs, they are actually pretty high energy compared to other breeds of a similar size. And as an energetic dog that loves the great outdoors, your Pap might be the type that loves to roll around in the mud whenever it gets the opportunity.
So, if your Pap does enjoy a good old mud bath whenever it can get one, you might need to give your Papillon an excellent old dip in the tub a little more often than once a month.
When the time comes to bathe your Papillon, it’s essential to give their coat a brush first – especially if you notice any mats in their hair.
Once you’re satisfied that your Pap’s coat is matt and tangle-free, go ahead and place them in a lukewarm bath. And, don’t forget to use a damp cloth to gently wet and wipe your pup’s face before thoroughly wetting the entire coat.
Next, apply a small amount of shampoo into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together to start the lathering process.
Now apply it to your dog’s body – starting on its back. Gently work in the shampoo and spread it around your dog’s body, underside and legs, being careful not to get any of the suds in your dog’s eyes or mouth.
Once you’re satisfied that you’ve shampooed the entire coat and given it a good clean, gently rinse the shampoo away with clean, lukewarm water. Keep rinsing until the water runs clean and completely sud free.
When you’ve taken your Pap out of the bath, go ahead and either towel dry or use a hairdryer on a cool setting – but only if your Pap is comfortable with the hairdryer.
When your Papillon is completely dry, give the coat one last brush – and your Pap should be looking, feeling, and smelling as good as new!
Which Type of Shampoo is Best for Papillons?
Before we take a closer look at the best type of dog shampoo for your Papillon, let’s look at three things you should try to avoid:
Never use Human Shampoo
First thing’s first. Never use human shampoo on your Papillon. Just because a shampoo is good for humans doesn’t mean it’s also suitable for dogs. It isn’t.
Avoid Products with Toxic or Harmful Ingredients
When it comes to choosing the best shampoo for your Papillon, there are some ingredients you should try to avoid if you can, including:
- Artificial colorings
- Cocamide DEA/MEA
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Formaldehyde
- Fragrances
- Isopropyl alcohol/SD-40
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone
- Methylparaben
- Mineral Oils
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Polyethylene/Propylene glycol
- Polysorbates
- Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
- Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALS)
Don’t be Greenwashed into Buying a Product
And last but not least, beware of greenwashing.
Now, I’m not trying to be the eternal pessimist here, but it’s a well-known fact that us dog lovers will do anything to keep our pooches healthy and happy.
And sometimes that means spending considerable amounts of our hard-earned dollars on the very best dog products.
This is where greenwashing comes in. Greenwashing is a term used for those brands that claim their products are 100% natural when, in fact, they are not. This is a marketing tool used by some companies whose sole aim is to increase sales by telling white lies.
The best way to avoid being greenwashed is to do your homework before making your final buying decision. Do your research, read the labels, and check out other buyer reviews before selecting the right dog shampoo for your Papillon.
Ok, so we’ve taken a look at what things to avoid when it comes to dog shampoo.
But what should you be looking for in a good shampoo for your Papillon?
Look Out for Allergy-Tested Products
Although most dog shampoos available on today’s market are allergy tested, it’s always worth checking before you buy just to be on the safe side.
For the most part, Papillons don’t tend to suffer significantly from allergies. But, if yours does, check the shampoo label before you buy to make sure it’s not going to trigger any allergies your Papillon might have.
And while we’re on the subject of allergies, why not take a few minutes to read our recent article, which seeks to answer the question: Are Papillons Hypoallergenic?’
Purchase Products with Genuine Natural Ingredients
Although there are some naughty brands out there that will try and greenwash you, there are also some highly reputable brands out there that can and do sell natural and organic products.
If you can find a good dog shampoo that has natural derivatives right there on the label, you’re on to a winner.
Natural ingredients and derivatives that are regularly found in good dog shampoos include:
- almond oil
- aloe vera
- avocado
- beeswax
- cedar
- chamomile
- coconut
- honey
- kelp syrup
- lavender
- lemon peel
- lemongrass
- lime
- mint
- oatmeal
- olive oil
- rosemary
- sage
- shea butter
- thyme
- vanilla bean
Look Out for Products that Help to Minimize Shedding
As luck would have it, Papillons don’t shed a great deal – and that’s great news. But even so, there are some dog shampoo products out there that are specifically designed to minimize shedding. And that’s great news for any dog owner!
Best Shampoo for Papillons
Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog Shampoo
This soap-free dog shampoo by Earthbath was made specifically to aid pets that suffer from dry and itchy skin. The combination of natural ingredients like aloe and oatmeal not only helps to heal skin that’s irritated from scratching. They also help to deodorize and moisturize healthy skin and coats.
Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog Shampoo
Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog & Cat Shampoo was designed to help soothe external and even severe skin conditions with its antiseptic solution. The lipacid shampoo formula also helps restore your dog’s skin barrier and prevent future skin conditions from occurring while effectively tackling bacterial and fungal skin conditions. If your furry friend suffers from pre-existing skin conditions that you’re looking to tackle and prevent in the future, then Douxo’s vet recommended Chlorhexidine PS Dog Shampoo could be the ideal pet product for you.
PetHonesty Chlorhexidine Antibacterial Cleansing & Odor Remover Dog Shampoo
PetHonesty’s Chlorhexidine Antibacterial Cleansing and Odor Remover Dog Shampoo has a long list of benefits for your dog’s skin and coat. Some of these include helping to tackle fungus and bacteria, soothing itchy skin, healing rashes, wounds, and skin infections. Containing natural ingredients like aloe, PetHonesty’s dog shampoo will help to soothe and revitalize your pooch’s damaged skin.
Paws & Pals Oatmeal, Shea Butter & Aloe Vera Shampoo
Paws & Pals Oatmeal, Shea Butter & Aloe Vera Shampoo is packed full of natural ingredients that will gently clean and moisturize your dog’s skin and coat, leaving it looking silky, shiny, and as good as new! Whether your furry friend has a healthy coat that’s just in need of a good clean, or whether your pooch is suffering from pre-existing skin conditions, this Paws & Pals dog shampoo could be pawfect for you!
4-Legger Organic, Hypo-Allergenic, Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo
4-Legger Organic, Hypo-Allergenic, Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo is a completely natural formula that features absolutely no artificial or synthetic chemical ingredients. Containing natural cleansing ingredients like lemongrass and skin-soothing ingredients like aloe vera, this is the ideal shampoo for dogs with healthy skin and coats and those who suffer from pre-existing skin conditions.
Conclusion
We’ve reviewed five highly effective dog shampoos, and each of them could easily be named the best shampoo for your Papillon. But we have to choose a winner.
And the winner is Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog Shampoo!
This totally natural pet shampoo is ideal not just for dogs with healthy skin and coats, but it’s equally as fantastic for those pups out there who’s coat needs that extra bit of tender loving care.
Natural ingredients such as vanilla and almond will not only help to relieve any itching or dry skin conditions – but they’ll also leave your dog smelling delicious afterward.
But perhaps more importantly, Earthbath’s Oatmeal and Aloe Dog Shampoo is completely free of any products or ingredients that could cause harm to your pooch or the environment.
So you can rest assured that it’s completely free of soap, parabens, DEA, SLS, gluten, and any synthetic dyes, perfumes, or artificial colorings.
And if that wasn’t enough, Earthbath’s Oatmeal and Aloe Dog Shampoo is also 100% animal cruelty-free. Oh, and one more thing. The suds it does produce are completely safe for plants and animals alike.
What more could you ask for from a perfect pooch shampoo for your perky Papillon?
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