Boxer Shampoo: 8 Picks for the Best Dog Shampoo for Boxers in 2023

Your Boxer might have an easy to maintain short coat, but that doesn’t mean you get off easy. Short haired dogs don’t require frequent bathing and grooming, but their skin doesn’t have the amount of protection that you get from a dog with a long coat, so it needs to get the right amount of attention.

Boxers groom themselves by licking and chewing like the way cats do so grooming is usually taken care of. Skin irritations do arise when your dog experiences something called a hot spot which is essentially a sore from constant biting and licking in a specific area.

Helping your Boxer by bathing him every other month with a high-quality shampoo prevents the likelihood that he will develop hotspots or other painful skin irritations.

Things to Consider When Shopping for a Top-Rated Boxer Shampoo

Your Boxer has special needs, so there are a few essential things you want to consider when you look for a shampoo for your pup. Since your dog has some of the shortest furs in the canine world, we need to pay extra attention to the ingredients in the shampoo because they are coming in direct contact with your Boxers skin.

Chewy Online Dog Supplies


35% Off at Chewy.com

+ Free Shipping

Save Now

If your dog deals with any allergies or skin irritations due to household or dietary conditions they may develop sores or other open wounds that require immediate attention.

Of course, you want to limit the amount of exposure your Boxer has with chemicals around the house, but you also want to think carefully about the ingredients you use to wash her. There are so many things you want to avoid like artificial fragrances, colors, and even formaldehyde preservatives.

You’ll also find parabens as a common ingredient; these are disguised under other names and known to cause cancer and reproductive issues in your pup.

We could carry on all day about the ingredients you want to avoid but let’s talk now about the things you want to find on the back of the bottle.

  • Hypoallergenic – The best way to guarantee your Boxer will not have an adverse reaction to the shampoo you give him is to get something that is hypoallergenic.
  • Deodorizing – Boxers love to go outside and roll around in anything they can find so they can bring in some pesky odors. You want a shampoo that deodorizes but does not subject your pet to any artificial fragrances.
  • Antibacterial – Whenever possible going with an antibacterial shampoo is always a great idea. Skin infections from Boxers licking themselves are common so using an antibacterial shampoo can help prevent problems before they arise.
  • Anti-itch – It sounds obvious, but a lot of shampoos make itching worse on Boxers because of their short fur. You need a shampoo that is specifically designed to help relieve itching, so their sensitive skin stays clear of irritation.

The 8 Best Dog Shampoos for Boxers

Buddy Wash Lavender and Mint Shampoo and Conditioner

Best Overall – This two in one shampoo and conditioner contains lavender, mint, sage, and a bunch of other botanicals to help keep your Boxers skin fresh and soft. The shampoo is entirely alcohol-free, so you don’t have to worry about worsening their condition if they are dealing with hotspots.

The scent from this shampoo is mild so it may not improve the smell of a stinky Boxer, but it will help, and at least you know it will not irritate their skin. The shampoo contains wheat protein as the main deodorizer so you can use this as often as you need without causing flare-ups.

Pros:

  • Gentle on skin
  • Alcohol-free
  • Contains natural botanical oils
  • Affordable for all budgets

Cons:

  • Fragrance is weak
  • Only for use on adults

Zesty Paws Anti-Itch Dog Shampoo

Best Anti-Itch – This anti-itch shampoo contains oatmeal and aloe vera to deodorize and relieve itchy skin. We love this shampoo because the oatmeal does a great job of moisturizing your Boxers skin, and you can rub this right in to help relieve itchy and scratchy skin.

The manufacturer claims this shampoo is excellent for treating hot spots and other Boxer specific issues, so it works well for dogs that over groom.

You can also use this shampoo on any age from puppies to seniors, and it contains a light scent of vanilla.

A significant problem we do have with this shampoo is that the fragrance comes from an artificial perfume which is known to irritate Boxer skin, but we have not observed any adverse reactions from the shampoo.

Pros:

  • Great for hotspots
  • Can use on puppies and adults
  • Anti-itch formula
  • Lathers up nicely

Cons:

  • Contains artificial perfume
  • Scent is mild

Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Dog Shampoo

Best Budget – If you need a dog shampoo on a budget to give Earthbath a look; their shampoo contains a soap-free formula with oatmeal and organic aloe which is great for itchy skin. Since this shampoo is soap free and contains all natural ingredients, you can rub it right into your pup’s skin to help moisturize and heal dry, cracked skin.

The formula is 100% biodegradable and contains no parabens or artificial perfumes. One thing we did notice is that the manufacturer warns you to keep it away from your Boxers eyes and mouth because it can be harmful if ingested.

The shampoo also does not have any antifungal properties so it will not help Boxers dealing with hotspots.

Pros:

  • All natural ingredients
  • No artificial perfumes
  • Moisturizes skin
  • Deodorizes your pup

Cons:

  • No antifungal ingredients
  • Dangerous if ingested

TropiClean Gentle Puppy Shampoo

Best for Puppies – Many shampoos are made for adult dogs so if you need a specific formula for your puppy you might want to look into this shampoo from TropiClean. The blend is hypoallergenic and gentle on puppies’ skin. It’s especially important to be careful with your Boxer pups’ skin because their coat requires extra attention during their first year.

The formula is all natural and soap-free, so you can use it alongside any other medicine or wash you might be using for fleas or worms. As puppies, Boxers typically get bathed more than they are do adults, so you want something that is gentle enough to use more frequently.

Pros:

  • Great for puppies
  • Gentle and mild
  • All natural ingredients
  • Helps prevent itchy and scratchy skin

Cons:

  • Shipping issues
  • Overpowering scent

Vet’s Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo

 

Best for Allergies – If you feel like you are out of options and everything makes your Boxer itchy, you might want to try a shampoo specifically made to help dogs with sensitive allergies. This shampoo helps relieve itchy skin through the use of essential oils and oatmeal.

The primary goal you want to achieve is to wash away any allergens that might be on your dog’s skin without drying them out. As your Boxer goes through their day, they pick up a lot of things from your carpet, grass, and other areas so using a low-quality shampoo will only push those allergens deeper into their skin.

Something we love is that Vet’s Best offers a wide array of other options to help with ear, eye, and dental care as well. If your pup has a hard time with baths, you can also try their waterless dog shampoo which works excellent for anxious bathers.

Pros:

  • Great for dogs with allergies
  • Relieves itchy skin
  • The company has a lot of other products
  • Can be used alongside other washes and medicines

Cons:

  • Limited formula information
  • No antifungal properties

3 More Top Rated Boxer Shampoos

If the options listed above don’t appeal to you, maybe you would be interested in checking out a few of these Boxer shampoos.

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic and Antiseborrheic Shampoo

If you want a shampoo for your Boxer that treats anything and everything, he may have then you want to go with this one. This shampoo treats a wide array of skin conditions, seborrhea, and bacterial infections. This shampoo would work great on hotspots, and it contains oatmeal and allantoin to moisturize and heal skin.

 

Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Shampoo

What if your Boxer is a stinky pup and always seems to roll around in the most undesirable piles in your yard. You need a soap-free deodorizing shampoo that’s gentle enough on the skin but strong enough to leave your dog smelling fresh for weeks. This shampoo contains no artificial dyes, parabens, and you can continue using it with whatever you already use on your dog.

Malaseb Medicated Shampoo for Dogs

This medicated shampoo is our choice for the best option for hotspots and other skin infections. It contains medically tested ingredients that help kill skin pathogens without being too harsh on the skin. Something we love about this one is that it continues working for weeks after you use it, so you don’t have to worry about twice weekly bathing during the healing process.

 

6 Tips for Bathing a Boxer

If you’ve decided on a shampoo but are unsure on how to specifically bathe your Boxer, here are a few tips to help get you started.

  1. Since Boxers have a short coat, they do not need to get bathed more than once every one to two months. Overall, they are one of the easiest breeds to groom, but if you choose the right shampoo that does not irritate their skin, you can bathe them as often as you need.
  2. Because of folds and flaps around their nose, they require extra attention in this area. The space around the nose gets moist and causes infection if it’s not cleaned properly, so you want to use a unique face cleanser in this area.
  3. Experts recommend a two-part bathing process for Boxers, one to help clear up their fur and remove any pesky allergens from their skin; the second to deodorize and make sure they look and smell nice
  4. If you live in a hot and dry area Boxers, fur can flake and cause excessive dandruff, so you want to make sure you’re using a shampoo that hydrates and moisturizes their skin when you are bathing.
  5. Short coat dogs shed throughout the entire year, so you want to brush them weekly with a shedding blade to help prevent a buildup of old fur.
  6. Boxer’s ears require a lot of attention since infection is known to happen in this area when dirt and grease build up under the flaps on the ears. Ear solution and other cleaning products can be used to keep this area clean. Do not use regular shampoo or soap inside your dog’s ears because it does not typically contain the right pH.

FAQ

Q: Do Boxers shed a lot?

A: Boxers are moderate shedders, so they do not shed as much as a lot of other breeds, but they require brushing at least once a week.

Q: How do I prevent my Boxer from licking so much and causing hotspots?

A: Your dog licks a specific area for so long because it is irritating her, to prevent over grooming you need to make sure her skin is free from irritants and feels comfortable, so she doesn’t feel the need to pick at it.

Q: How do I clean around the folds and wrinkles in my Boxer’s face?

A: If you have a sensitive shampoo that is antiseptic you can gently rub it into this area, but it’s often best to use a specialized cleaning solution for high moisture areas to prevent infection.

Q: When can I start bathing my Boxer puppy?

A: The key is to wait for your Boxer to receive their vaccinations; once your pup is vaccinated, give them a week or two to kick in, and then you can bathe him. You do not want to leave your dog susceptible to anything that may make him sick in the shampoo.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *