You could rightly think we’ve gone mad when we say the Husky dog is like a cat.
However, this isn’t quite as bonkers as it sounds because Huskies do like to keep a clean coat and groom themselves in a cat-like way.
Fair enough. End of analogy.
Huskies are huskies, and pretty unique even in the dog world.
However, it’s important to know the best shampoo for Husky for those times when your dog needs a helping paw to keep his fur in good order.
Top 5 Best Shampoos for Huskies
As always, keeping your dog’s coat in top condition requires an understanding of the breed’s needs.
With this in mind let’s have a quick comb through Husky coat care to sort the fluff from the outer coat.
The Husky dog is bred to thrive in extreme cold.
To this end, they have an extremely efficient double coat.
That thick, thick undercoat is a top-notch insulator (think “dog wrapped in a 15-tog duvet”) whilst the longer outer guard hairs protect the dog and also help to keep in the heat.
The Husky dog does shed…big time…twice a year.
This shed is so dramatic that it even has its own name “Husky blow.”
Alternatively, Huskies that live in warmer areas such as California and Florida may shed all year round.
Never make the mistake of clipping your Husky.
That thick coat helps to keep the heat out as well as stopping the cold.
To shave your Husky in the summer deprives them of a primary way of keeping cool and also places them at risk of sunburn.
Taking good care of a Husky coat involves regular grooming.
The best brushes for a Husky include a de-shedding tool, a pin brush or slicker, and a comb.
From time to time your dog may also need bathing, but here it pays to know the best shampoo for Husky.
This is so you don’t strip out those vital natural oils which do such a good job at conditioning and protecting your Husky.
With this in mind, here is our guide to the best Husky shampoo to meet your dog’s needs.
1. Rocco & Roxie
The temptation when faced with a thick impenetrable coat is to reach for a harsh astringent shampoo.
However, this would be a mistake.
It’s easy to see why a harsh shampoo is tempting: After all the dog hasn’t had a bath for six months so he must be really dirty and there’s all that natural oil to cleanse and refresh.
However, Huskies are largely self-cleaning and those natural oils have a job to do.
Don’t upset Mother Nature’s balance by washing away all her hard work.
We chose Rocco & Roxie amongst other reasons because it contains lemongrass oil.
In other words, it cleanses what needs to be cleansed, but doesn’t strip away vital oils needed to protect and condition.
So what’s so good about Rocco & Roxie?
It leaves the dog clean, soft and smelling great, and what’s more it’s well tolerated by sensitive skins that are prone to allergies.
That said the scent is clean and light, so it won’t leave your all-action Husky smelling like a basket of roses.
Another major plus point in its’ favor is that it rinses out easily.
This is of major importance with such a thick coat as a Husky, because you need to rinse and rinse and rinse again, to be certain there’s no shampoo trapped in that undercoat.
A definite paw’s up to Rocco & Roxie.
2. Professional Pet Products
Huskies are active dogs.
Running around they’re liable to get burs and twigs caught in their coat.
With the best will in the world, it’s not always possible for even the most conscientious of owners to check over every inch of their dog, every day.
This can result in undetected tangles forming in the undercoat, which can then knit together to form mats.
A good grooming rake can help breakdown the tangles to comb them out.
After that, it’s helpful to use a detangling shampoo which helps make the undercoat soft and spring so that it’s less likely to knot up.
The opposite is to go back to the idea of a strong astringent shampoo – which strips out oil, makes the hair dry, wiry, and less springy so it’s more likely (not less) to knot up.
We chose Professional Pet Products for a Husky because of its multi-purpose action (and let’s face it, we all love something that’s multi-functional.)
The product gets off to a good start by being made from all-natural ingredients without the need for harsh chemicals.
It uses plant-based moisturizers and does everything you could wish for a cleansing product to do which includes cleaning the coat, getting rid of bad odors, moisturizing, conditioning, and detangling.
We loved the light fragrance, which wasn’t overpowering, and how soothing it was on sensitive skin.
We recommend this shampoo for Husky owners who aren’t sure what type of coat or skin their dog has.
Because the Professional Pet Products is super gentle and yet effective, it’s a ‘can’t go wrong’ type of product that will your Husky’s coat gleaming and you with a smile on your face.
3. Particular Paws
Let’s end at the beginning by taking a look at what is the best option for a Siberian husky puppy.
That Husky pup may be adorable but he also has a lot of exploring to do, which inevitably means getting muddy …or worse.
However, it’s important that your impressionable youngster enjoys his bath time, that he doesn’t grow up resenting getting a wash.
Made from all-natural ingredients the Particular Paws formulation is mild enough for everyday use, whilst effectively cleansing away whatever unsavory substance your pup rolled in.
Those natural ingredients include cleansing rosemary, soothing chamomile, and moisturizing aloe vera, all topped off with the sweet smell of honey extract.
This all adds up to a hypo-allergenic experience and doesn’t leave your precious pups coated in chemicals.
As for the heads up as to why we placed this as the best shampoo for Husky puppies is that it has the texture of silk and spreads nicely in a wet coat without over-lathering.
The lack of bubble explosion means it’s easier to keep under control and stop it getting in the pup’s eyes.
We found a little of this shampoo goes a long way.
For the dog that regularly jumps in the creek, you can use Particular Paws every day and yet the bottle will last a long time.
4. Healthy Breeds
Healthy Breeds
We’re realistic about the things a Husky dog gets up to.
In all honesty, we think getting muddy and jumping in dirty ponds is no bad thing as it means the dog is out and about doing things that make him happy.
However, this can leave you with a persistent problem that follows him around like a bad smell…Oh, wait!
It is a bad smell!
For those times when your Husky rolls in something he shouldn’t, and you want to get him fresh as a daisy so he doesn’t offend the nose, then you need something deodorizing.
The trick is to also find a product that gets rid of the stink but without stripping out the natural oils.
This is why Healthy Breeds gets our vote with their deodorizing shampoo designed specifically for Huskies.
It contains natural emollients that cleanse and nourish the skin, which helps reduce flaking and dandruff.
It’s easy to lather up (a bonus in a thick Husky coat) and easy to rinse away (essential!)
The formulation is soap-free and hypoallergenic.
The secret to its effectiveness is a unique deodorizing extract which is tantalizingly called Sweet Pea Infusion.
So with Healthy Breeds, you can have it all: Gentle but effective cleansing, hypoallergenic, decreased flakiness, and a flower power scent.
Heck, with a shopping list like that your Husky will be waiting by the bath with the bottle in his mouth.
5. BioSilk
Indulge us with our next choice because it isn’t shampoo at all.
However, it is a grooming product that will achieve a similar end in that it helps make coat care so much easier.
It’s helpful to think of BioSilk Detangling spray as a pre-treatment.
The idea being your part the Husky’s coat and spritz each area prior to working through it with a comb or pin brush.
The sprays conditions the undercoat which makes it silky and supple enough for those tangles to slide out.
This spray ticks a lot of boxes, such as being suitable for delicate and sensitive skins (just because you have a rough-toughie dog doesn’t mean their skin is equally robust).
Indeed, it is also suitable for a puppy’s delicate skin.
The not-so-secret ingredient is cactus aloe, which is well-known for gentle but effective moisturizer.
We listened to pet parents who sang the praises of PPP Detangling spray, proclaiming it to be the answer to their dog’s knotty problems.
It also leaves the dog with a soft, pleasant odor that isn’t overpowering.
So if you opt for twice-yearly shampooing, then this makes for a great freshen up and detangling between times.
Just because you bathe the dog twice a year, doesn’t mean that it’s hands-off coat care for the rest of the year.
BioSilk makes regular brushing through a doddle, which saves you time and from having to wrestle with a bored dog that doesn’t like you tugging on knots.
Go on. Give it a go!
Bottom Line
And finally, caring for a Husky coat takes a special kind of knowledge.
Whilst they are a breed designed to cope with harsh weather conditions, this doesn’t mean they don’t need any grooming or coat care.
What is does mean is you need to select products carefully, so that you don’t strip out natural oils and disadvantage the dog’s coat after the wash.
Choose your products carefully, looking for qualities such as mild but effective, and preferably with natural ingredients. If you are looking to buy a product that can also be used on different breeds check here for the best universal products.
Also, don’t overlook regular brushing, and to take the work out of this consider using an effective detangling spray.
A little work on a regular basis means a coat in beautiful condition and insure yourself from the fur storms that are “Husky blow.”
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Sarah Robinson
Dr Sarah Robinson attended veterinary school at Oklahoma State University receiving a D.V.M. in 2008. Sarah’s longtime interest is to help people to better communicate with their pet companions, and in doing so, to help them to strengthen their relationships with their dogs and cats. Sarah has published numerous articles on canine feeding in pet related magazines, veterinary journals and leading natural health web sites.
