Miniature Schnauzer Shampoo: Our 6 Picks For The Best Shampoo for Miniature Schnauzer

If you’ve ever seen a dog walking the streets with a better beard than any hipster you know of, then you’ve probably seen a Miniature Schnauzer. These dogs are known for their trademark beard and eyebrows, along with their small frames and prominent personalities. Like all dogs, Mini Schnauzers have specialized needs that you’ll want to consider, especially at bath time.

Miniature Schnauzers are particularly susceptible to skin irritants and allergies, which means that they need shampoos that will not only avoid irritating them further but also calm any current hot spots. There are Schnauzer-specific shampoos that help to maintain healthy skin for these pups, but there are plenty of non-specific hypoallergenic shampoos that do the same.

Schnauzers also tend to carry a bit of an odor. The common odor problem is because they are predisposed to having excessively oily skin. Fortunately, the right shampoo can combat the sometimes unpleasant aroma of these pups, and also tame their oils in a way that doesn’t dry them out or encourage skin irritation. Shampoo-conditioner combos are excellent, for example.

Some Miniature Schnauzer owners want to enhance the look of their dog’s fur by using whitening or brightening shampoos, which is completely fine. Several shampoos on the market can help enhance your Schnauzer’s salt and pepper or white coat without irritating their skin or increasing their likelihood to smell bad.

Finding the right shampoo can seem daunting at first, but we’ve come up with six excellent options to fit any Schnauzer owner’s lifestyle.

Things To Consider When Shopping For A Top-Rated Miniature Schnauzer Shampoo

Miniature Schnauzers are loving, playful, and devoted dogs that make excellent pets, but they aren’t without issues. These pups often suffer from atopy, or skin itching resulting from allergies. Dogs don’t react to allergies as humans do with itchy eyes or runny noses. Instead, their skin gets itchy and irritated, and this requires special care, especially when you choose a shampoo.

Avoid Perfumes and Fragrances

As a general rule, dogs do not appreciate heavy scents in their shampoos. The fragrances in shampoos and lotions cover a dog’s natural scent, which is a big deal to your furry friend. The smells can also cause severe skin irritations, which is even more vital to avoid in a dog like the Miniature Schnauzer that is already susceptible to skin issues and allergies.

If you want a scented shampoo because of the greasy smell some Schnauzers carry, then you should consider shampoos that utilize dog-friendly essential oils versus chemical fragrances. Research shows that natural scents like the essential oils can have positive effects on dogs.

Keep Natural Oils

Although Miniature Schnauzers are known for their abundantly oily skin, those oils aren’t all bad. Natural oils help keep a dog’s coat shiny and soft and also hold their skin from getting too dry and irritated. You’ll need to find a shampoo that works with your dog’s natural oils, or at least that doesn’t dry them out too much if you want to ensure a healthy, happy pup.

Promote the Coat

There are plenty of different color combinations of Schnauzers out there, but probably the most famous Miniature Schnauzer color is salt and pepper. Unfortunately, many Minis that have white in their fur wind up looking extra dirty because the white color fades, yellows, or reddens over time. To fix this problem, you might want to consider a whitening shampoo.

You might be wondering how a whitening shampoo wouldn’t irritate your dog’s sensitive skin, and that’s a fair reaction. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural ways to whiten fur without the risk of irritations or allergies developing. Look for ingredients like baking soda, coconut oil, and aloe for whitening without the harsh effects of chemical whiteners.

If your specific dog doesn’t seem to have the skin issues that are common with Schnauzers, then you could always opt for bleach or a bluing formula that utilizes a couple of dog-friendly chemicals to get the job done.

Antibacterial or Antifungal Shampoos

Miniature Schnauzers are very susceptible to yeast and bacterial infections. To avoid a significant vet bill from antibiotics or pricey procedures to correct these issues, you may want to consider an antibacterial or antifungal shampoo. There are plenty of shampoos out there that bill themselves as antibacterial or antifungal right on the bottle, but you can also check ingredients.

Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial, as are calendula, manuka honey, and plantain. Coconut oil and Aloe Vera are especially wonderful because they both have antifungal properties as well, which will help with yeast infections that are common in Miniature Schnauzers.

The 6 Best Dog Shampoos for Miniature Schnauzer

Our 2023 Picks: Miniature Schnauzer Shampoo Recommendations:
Rank	Shampoo	Price	Rating
#1	Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo and Conditioner Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A+
#2	Thomas Labs MicoChlor Plus Antibacterial & Antifungal Dog & Cat Shampoo Buy Online Customer Reviews	$$	A
#3	Paws and Pals Oatmeal, Shea Butter, and Aloe Vera Dog Shampoo Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A
#4	Buddy Wash Original Lavender and Mint Dog Shampoo and Conditioner Buy Online Customer Reviews	$	A-
#5	4-Legger Organic Hypo-Allergenic Lemongrass and Aloe Dog Shampoo Buy Online Customer Reviews	$$	B+
#6	Ethique Shampooch Dog Shampoo Bar Buy Online Customer Reviews	$$	B+

Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

Best Overall

Not only is Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control great for dogs with skin allergies, but it’s also ideal for dogs with white in their coats since it doesn’t contain dyes like many shampoos. This product works with your dog’s body to remove odor while maintaining healthy natural oils. As a shampoo and conditioner in one, it helps to keep your pups coat shiny with less work too!

Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control is not scented, which is ideal since most dogs don’t like strong perfumes anyway. It deodorizes by neutralizing odors rather than masking them. It is also a soap-free shampoo, which means that you can use it even if you’re using topical flea treatments.

Another huge benefit of Nature’s Miracle is that it softens fur, which is important to most Schnauzer owners. Keeping Schnauzer hair soft can be quite the task, so a shampoo that can help you to achieve soft hair without extra steps is wonderful.

Thomas Labs MicoChlor Plus Antibacterial & Antifungal Dog & Cat Shampoo

Help treat your miniature schnauzer’s skin issues with Thomas Labs MicoChlor Plus Medicated Dog & Cat Shampoo. This veterinary-strength shampoo helps with ringworm, dermatitis, hot spots, irritations and itching while also gently removing dirt, debris and excess lipids.

It helps soothe, enrich and moisturize your miniature schnauzer’s skin and coat with ingredients like aloe, oatmeal, essential fatty acids and vitamin E. Thomas Labs MicoChlor Plus also descales and degreases the hair coat without stripping it. You can ease the symptoms of skin conditions associated with bacterial and fungal infections and keep your dog feeling comfortable and happy.

Paws and Pals Oatmeal, Shea Butter, and Aloe Vera Dog Shampoo

Specially formulated for dry, brittle coats and sensitive skin, Paws and Pals Oatmeal, Shea Butter and Aloe Vera shampoo is ideal for Miniature Schnauzers. It keeps moisture in a while, calming any potential hot spots and promoting a softer, healthier coat. It does contain fragrance, which might not work for your dog, but this shampoo is an overall excellent choice.

Paws and Pals are soap and paraben-free. It contains organic, vegan, and all-natural ingredients to give you peace of mind when bathing your furry friend. It is also a tear-free formula, which is excellent when you need to provide a good scrub to your Mini’s signature eyebrows or beard. Paws and Pals are naturally antifungal and antibacterial as well.

Buddy Wash Original Lavender and Mint Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

If you wanted to share a shampoo with your Miniature Schnauzer but didn’t want to risk using human shampoo on them, then Buddy Wash might be your dream come true! This shampoo is safe for humans and dogs, but it’s particularly well suited to Mini’s because it is naturally deodorizing, calming, and great for sensitive skin.

This shampoo is full of botanical extracts that will help to calm hot spots on your dog’s skin. It utilizes wheat protein to reduce odor naturally. It is a soap-free shampoo and conditioner combo product, which is ideal for both you and your dog. You won’t see your dog running to roll in the grass and get the scent of this shampoo off after bath time either; it’s a light and pleasant smell.

4-Legger Organic Hypo-Allergenic Lemongrass and Aloe Dog Shampoo

If you’re looking for a simple, to the point, organic shampoo for your Miniature Schnauzer, then you’ve come to the right place. 4-Legger’s organic and hypoallergenic shampoo has only six ingredients in total. It uses coconut, olive, and jojoba oils to keep your dog’s natural oils right where they belong to ensure skin irritation is a thing of the past.

4-Legger’s shampoo utilizes essential oils and extracts to add a calming scent to their shampoo. The lemongrass in this product is naturally antibacterial and antifungal. As a bonus, lemongrass can also deter pests like fleas from hopping on for a ride. Additionally, this shampoo is GMO-free and full of sustainably sourced, organic ingredients.

Ethique Shampooch Dog Shampoo Bar

Although you probably don’t think of bar soap when you think of washing your dog, the Ethique Shampooch Dog Shampoo Bar is a perfect match for your Miniature Schnauzer. Not only is the bar small like your dog, but it’s also vegan and packed with great ingredients such as flax seed and coconut oil to keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy.

The shampoo bar has the perfect pH to clean sensitive skin and is cruelty-free and tested on humans, so you know it will be safe for your furry friend. Equivalent to three 12-ounce bottles of liquid shampoo, Ethique Shampooch Dog Shampoo Bar is a long-lasting way to help your companion keep the dirt away.

3 Tips for Bathing a Miniature Schnauzer

As with any dog, there are some tricks of the trade that will help you to manage bath time for your Miniature Schnauzer.

1. Brush your Mini Schnauzer before you wash to prevent knots from tightening during the bathing process. You can also utilize a high-powered dryer, where one is available, to discourage knots and debris if you’d rather.
2. Clean your Miniature Schnauzer’s ears before bathing him to ensure no excess debris ends up in the tub, but you should also place cotton balls in its ears during the bath to avoid getting water in them. If you get shampoo in your Schnauzer’s ears, you’ll need to rinse them thoroughly and apply an ear treatment as soon as possible to avoid injuring the ears.
3. Utilize an applicator tool or small brush to wash your Miniature Schnauzer’s signature beard– this will help you to avoid getting shampoo in her eyes. You can even spot clean the beard more often than you bathe your dog if you’d like to keep her looking fresh.

FAQ

How often should I bathe my Miniature Schnauzer?

You should only bathe these pups once every couple of weeks at maximum. We talked earlier about how sensitive a Mini Schnauzer’s skin can be, and that sensitivity gets worse with excess washes. We would recommend only bathing once every three to four weeks, if possible.

How do I keep my Miniature Schnauzer’s beard looking regal?

You can do a spot clean on your Schnauzer’s beard using an applicator bottle and a toothbrush as often as you need. Use the applicator to wet down the beard only where you need to clean, then put a small amount of shampoo on the toothbrush and apply it to those spots. Finally, you’ll rinse the beard with the applicator and pat dry with a towel.

Can I use human shampoos and soaps on my Miniature Schnauzer?

The overarching answer to this question, regardless of breed, is no. Manufacturers think of things like skin pH and common allergens when they create shampoos irrespective of the species they make them for. That means you’d be doing your dog a disservice by using human shampoo on him—sticking to doggy shampoo ups your chances of having a happy, healthy, and allergy-free dog.

Do I need to use a tear-free shampoo on my dog?

You don’t absolutely need a tear-free shampoo. Many shampoos on this list don’t fall into that category, but if you find that you need to wash your dog’s head extra thoroughly it might not be a bad plan to go tear-free. Typically you should just avoid getting shampoo near her eyes and ears to keep irritation at bay.