Shampoos for LONG AND FLOWING Hair Dogs

Why a long coat needs a different shampoo

A long coat is not a short coat made bigger. It takes longer to dry, it holds more dust and more bad odours, and above all it knots as soon as it loses its suppleness. A degreasing shampoo that is too strong strips the protective film from the hair, which turns rough, and the knots form the same day.

What you are looking for on a long coat comes down to three words: glide, hydration, easy rinsing. A formula rich in oil lets the hair slide over itself and prevents matting. A product that hydrates keeps the fibre supple. A shampoo that rinses out quickly avoids the residue that weighs the coat down and dulls it.

Three types of long coat call for three different answers. The silky hair of the Yorkshire or the Shih Tzu breaks easily and needs hydration. The dense coat of the Belgian Shepherd has an undercoat that must dry, so it needs a fast rinse. The wavy hair of the Cavalier King Charles flattens and needs lightness.

Which shampoo to choose for a long-haired dog

The table below gives the product to take according to the state of the coat, not according to the breed. Prices are shown on each product sheet, just above, and so are the reviews of the customers who have already used them.

How to look after a long-haired dog

A long-haired dog is brushed several times a week and washed far more rarely. Brushing does most of the work, the bath only does the rest. Washing too often removes the natural sebum that protects the hair.

Order matters, and this is where most pet owners get it wrong: you detangle before the bath, never after. A wet knot tightens and becomes impossible to open without cutting. Run the brush over a dry dog, lock by lock, starting from the tips.

Drying is the second step that gets neglected. A coat left damp at the base ferments, and that is what creates the matted patches on the back and behind the ears. Dry thoroughly, including the undercoat. This is the grooming step that separates a coat that is looked after from a coat that is merely endured.

For the full routine, from brushing to drying, we have a page dedicated to the complete care of long coats.

What is the best detangler for a long-haired dog

The best detangler is the one you do not have to use, because the coat has stayed supple. A detangler rescues hair that has already knotted, a good shampoo stops the knot from forming.

That said, on a dog that has spent a week outdoors, the detangler is necessary. You will find the detanglers and coat care products in their own aisle: they are useful grooming products, but they do not belong to the same step as washing.

Which shampoo is recommended for a dog that scratches

A dog that scratches after the bath is most often reacting to an incomplete rinse, not to the ingredients of the product. Rinse twice as long as you think necessary, especially on a long coat where the shampoo lodges at the base.

If the itching persists outside bath time, take a care shampoo such as Lady Traital and space out the washes. And if the skin is red, crusty or if the animal is losing hair in patches, no shampoo will replace veterinary advice. A shampoo washes, it does not treat a skin condition.

What is the best brand of dog shampoo

The question has no universal answer, and be wary of anyone who claims otherwise. A good dog shampoo respects the pH of canine skin, which is not that of human skin, rinses out easily, and states its ingredients clearly.

What we can say about Ladybel products is verifiable. They are made in France, formulated in a laboratory under the supervision of veterinarians, ethologists and biochemists, and compliant with the European and American pharmacopoeias. Our shampoos for dogs and cats are used in professional grooming, which remains the best test a formula can pass. Our customers' reviews appear on each product sheet, and we invite you to read them before choosing.

The shampoo for your breed

If your dog belongs to one of these breeds, its page gives you the selection of products already made for its coat type.

And if you are looking more broadly, our full range of dog shampoos covers every coat type. Our cat shampoos exist too: a long-haired cat such as the Maine Coon raises the same questions as the dogs on this page.

Prices, volumes and reviews for each Ladybel product are shown on its sheet. If you are still hesitating between two formulas, the Ladybel team answers pet owners' questions from Monday to Friday.