How to Make Natural Puppy Shampoo

Your new puppy won't need a bath too often, but once in a while, she's bound to discover something stinky or dirty. You can get her soft, puppy fur clean again without harming that fragile young skin with this gentle homemade puppy shampoo. Regular shampoos and dog wash can be harsh and possibly over-dry her skin. With ingredients from home, this inexpensive mixture comes together in a snap.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of liquid castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner's)
  • 2 tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel
  • an empty bottle for storing and dispensing
Show More

Instructions

  1. Make your own puppy shampoo

    • 1

      Gather ingredients. Apple cider vinegar acts as a mild antibacterial agent. Castile soap will allow for some lather and gentle cleansing, and aloe vera gel will condition your puppy's skin and ensure that she doesn't become over-dry with her bath. You can find pure castile soap at most grocery or health food stores.

    • 2
      If you use a recycled soap bottle for your puppy shampoo, be sure to clean it thoroughly.

      Rinse out bottle well, if the bottle you are reusing is an old one. Use hot water to rinse any residue and run it through the dishwasher to disinfect.

    • 3

      Combine ingredients in bottle and shake until your puppy shampoo well mixed.

    • 4

      Test shampoo on a small area of your puppy's fur to be sure she doesn't have a reaction. Lather up one foot and rinse, then wait as long as possible before giving her a complete bath. Make sure she doesn't itch and that the area doesn't turn red.

    • 5

      Continue to shake bottle during your puppy's bath to make sure ingredients stay combined. You can save and reuse your puppy's shampoo for about one month, just keep it in a cool place. For especially sensitive puppy skin, cut the mixture further with water before use.