Best Shampoo for Shih Tzus (2026)
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Quick picks
Best overall
Nature’s Specialties Plum Silky shampoo
Long, silky coats like the Shih Tzu.
Worth knowing: Noticeably scented, and only mix what you use that day.
Check price on AmazonBest for the face
BioSilk for Dogs Puppy Tearless shampoo
Flat faced dogs and puppies, for the face and beard.
Worth knowing: Made for gentleness rather than deep cleaning a dirty coat.
Check price on AmazonBest for white coats
Healthy Breeds Shih Tzu Bright Whitening shampoo
White and parti colored coats that yellow around the face and feet.
Worth knowing: Brightening formulas can dry the coat, so condition afterwards.
Check price on Amazon
A Shih Tzu in full coat has long, fine, silky hair over a soft undercoat, and that combination tangles faster than almost any other coat. Even in a short puppy cut, the face, beard and ears need regular washing, and many Shih Tzus are white or parti colored, which shows staining.
Our picks are research based: we compared what each maker publishes about its product and who it is made for. We do not claim to have run our own side by side tests.
At a glance
Our Top Picks
Best for long, silky coats
Nature’s Specialties Plum Silky, Best Overall
Plum Silky is a groomer favorite for silky coats, made in the USA with silk proteins to leave long hair smooth and easier to comb. It is a concentrate: Nature’s Specialties rates it at up to 24 to 1, so one 16 ounce bottle makes up to three gallons of working shampoo. Mix only what you need each bath, since the maker says not to store it diluted. It carries a noticeable plum fragrance, so skip it for a dog with scent sensitive skin.
Check price on Amazon →Best for the face, beard and puppies
BioSilk for Dogs Puppy Tearless Shampoo, Best for the Face
A Shih Tzu’s eyes sit right at the front of a flat face, so the face wash needs to be tearless. BioSilk’s puppy formula is made for exactly that, and it is gentle enough for a puppy’s first baths. Use it on the face and beard even if you use another shampoo on the body.
Check price on Amazon →Best for dry or itchy skin
earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Shampoo, Best for Itchy Skin
Shih Tzus are prone to dry, itchy skin under all that hair. earthbath’s oatmeal and aloe formula is soap free and pH balanced for dogs, lightly scented, and gentle enough for regular baths. Follow it with a conditioner on a long coat, since it conditions less than a silky coat shampoo.
Check price on Amazon →Best for white and light coats
Healthy Breeds Shih Tzu Bright Whitening Shampoo, Best for White Coats
For white and parti colored Shih Tzus whose coat yellows around the face and feet, a brightening shampoo lifts dullness between grooms. The Shih Tzu label describes the coat it is aimed at; any white coated small dog can use it. Brightening shampoos can be drying, so use it every other bath and condition afterwards.
Check price on Amazon →Conditioner is not optional on a long coat
Shampoo strips some oil from the hair. On a long Shih Tzu coat that is the difference between smooth and tangled, so always follow with a conditioner or a light leave in detangler. Our detangler guide covers sprays that work on silky coats, and our Shih Tzu brush guide covers the brushing that matters more than any bottle.
When to see a groomer or a vet
A coat matted close to the skin should be clipped by a groomer rather than washed. See your vet for persistent itching, redness, a yeasty smell, hair loss or eyes that suddenly run more than usual. Many Shih Tzu owners book a professional groom every four to six weeks and wash the face in between. Salons that run on GroomBoard keep notes on each dog’s coat and the products that suit it, so the routine stays the same every visit.