Finding A Good Dog Shampoo For Your Min Pin

It may be a minefield given all the choice out there as with most pet products. However buying a good dog shampoo is very important. What does good mean? In our book it means one that has a natural ingredients profile. Or the least amount of chemicals and synthetic ingredients as possible. It is perhaps even more important to find a natural dog shampoo than it is to find ones for our own hair. This is because dog’s have sensitive skin on the whole and Min Pins are prone to skin problems such as drying, flakiness and dandruff. A dog’s skin has a low pH level which means it’s the opposite of acidic (our skin has a higher pH level). This means that a good dog shampoo should be as suitable for a dog’s skin as it can be.

Natural doesn’t necessarily mean good however natural shampoos are likely to be free of harsh chemicals. You should never use human shampoos, conditioners or those formulated for babies. If a dog’s pH level is disrupted by using the improper products for bathing, the skin will become dry and flaky, possibly leading to sores and requiring treatment. As a discerning dog owner, you should already know that the market is flooded with products that claim they do everything under the sun while probably using cheap quality ingredients that will damage your Min Pin’s skin. Don’t be fooled by words such as ‘for dry or sensitive skin’ or ‘gentle formula’-because all dogs have sensitive skin. Remember that in nature animals don’t bathe themselves in soapy water! You should look at the ingredients on the back and become familiar with which ones are safe for a dog’s skin though. And although we fully support natural ingredients as the sole base for any pet product we want you to be aware of the trickery used by companies. You should look for a dog shampoo that claims it is;

• Soap-free, paraben-free, dye-free
• Fragrance-free (from artificial sources) or at least ensure that it’s in a very small amount and not listed as a main ingredient
• pH balanced
• Coconut and essential oil ingredients are generally safe
• Derived from botanicals such as ‘fruit extract’

A shampoo that has a light, inoffensive scent is best for your dog.

Why We Love Tropiclean Shampoos

Tropiclean offer very good shampoos because their ingredient list shows that they are safe and natural (see photo below). They also have an exciting variety of scents to try but we chose to go for the papaya and coconut. Tropiclean says their 2-in-1 Luxury Papaya & Coconut Pet Shampoo & Conditioner is “naturally derived” and that “cleanses, moisturises and conditions your pet’s skin and coat in a luxurious lather, leaving their coat soft and healthy”. It is also;

• Safe to use on pets who’ve had flea and tick treatments
• It’s packaging is made from 50% recycled material

Frangrance is listed as an ingredient under 0.7% as the photo shows so this product is definitely one of the safer offerings. So far this brand is a winner with us.

Our Experience

The scent of this dog shampoo was incomparable to any other we’ve tried out in the past. Seriously. It’s one of those smells that make you want to eat the product (you know what we mean) and the scent stayed on Mikki for about 48 hours afterwards. Now we’re not saying the scent is overpowering or ‘fake-smelling’ but Tropiclean has done a great job of balancing the extracts to get it right. Another thing we noticed is the sheer softness of Mikki’s coat after bathing. Definitely a noticeable difference from other shampoos we’ve used where his coat is actually hard afterwards-meaning harsh chemicals and the coat’s oils were stripped out completely. A little of the Tropiclean Luxury 2-in-1 Papaya & Coconut Pet Shampoo And Conditioner goes a long way and you needn’t use too much for one bathing session.

Price-wise this shampoo was excellent value for money, coming in a large 592ml bottle.

Beware Of..

Mikki had a bad eye each time after using this shampoo. We know it’s because he got some of the product in his eye and we didn’t wash it out properly. So we then had to wash it out with water and a rag which was uncomfortable for him. He had his eye closed until the next day when it finally cleared up. We didn’t have this issue with previous shampoos, even the lower quality offerings. Always ensure that you are being careful when you use the shampoo round your Min Pin’s face and rinse well even if you cannot see any shampoo residue.

Getting Your Min Pin Into Good Clean Fun

Much like whenever you are introducing any other new routine, your Min Pin should ideally should be in a relaxed state as possible meaning he has had his energy expended and maybe even have had a meal. This is so he’s as unreactive as he can be. Always give him lots of praise along with a food reward if your dog is the anxious type. Do not introduce a shower head at this stage even if the water pressure is low. Dogs tend to be spooked by this if they’re not used to it.

Introducing The Bathtub

1. Bring your dog to the bath. Without any water in it, you may want to coax him to go inside with some food rewards while praising him each time he shows interest in it. Don’t force him if he is looking ‘confused’. When he’s in this state the last you want to do is put him in any state of alarm. If your dog has never been in the bathroom or near the bath, then the mere fact that it’s a new room to him may make him feel aroused.
2. When you see that your Min Pin is relaxed being in the bathroom, you can get in the tub with him and give him some rewards, praise, cuddles and even play sessions. Do the same with only him in the bath.

Introducing The Water, Washing Technique And Shampoo

1. Fill the tub up with a 3 or 4 inches of plain water before you bring your dog into the bathroom. Get in the bath with him (in a suitable state of dress of course!).
2. Use the same methods of reward and praise while gently cupping water in your hands and spreading it over your dog’s body. Use a jug to do this ensuring you gently stroke him at the same time.
3. Once he is making progress, introduce the shampoo to the water and use as directed on the back of the bottle. We like to start from the head and massage gently and carefully, avoiding the eyes, then progress to neck, chest, back, sides, underbelly, hind legs, tail (and underneath tail), finally front legs and all four paws.
4. To rinse him, use a jug with clean water that you fill up from the tap. Ensure that you unplug the bath.
5. When all the water is out, use a large towel to dry him while he’s in the bath.
6. Only when your dog has built up confidence with the whole bathing process can you introduce the shower head if you have one. It should be detachable and at a low pressure so you can use it to pre-wet your Min Pin’s body and rinse.

Invest In A Quality Dog Shampoo For Your Min Pin Today

This is an excellent product to start bathing your dog with. You need not make mistakes and buy other shampoos that may be unsuitable. Tropiclean offers a natural, great-smelling way to clean your beloved pooch and it’s a cost-effective option as well.