Known as a Greyhound in miniature, Italian Greyhounds stand with all the athletic grace and sturdy elegance of their taller counterparts – in a more compact size.
Their slender and muscular build boasts sleek lines, deep chests, and long legs. Striking looks combined with a playful, sweet personality that has them begging for affection at nearly all times make them beloved canine companions.
Italian greyhound owners know that as far as grooming goes, these coursing dogs are fairly low-maintenance due to their short coats. That said, Italian greyhounds still need regular bathing to keep their hair clean, soft, and satin-smooth.
The key to achieving this is to find the right shampoo for this beautiful dog, and we’re here to help you do just that. We’ve put together a list of the 5 best shampoos for Italian greyhounds based on experts’ recommendations and customer reviews that will allow you to maintain proper hygiene for your pup!
1. Healthy Breeds Hypoallergenic Shampoo: Specially Designed For Italian Greyhounds
Healthy Breeds offers a wide selection of shampoos specifically formulated for certain breeds, including Italian greyhounds. This mild, soap-free shampoo is designed to clean your pup’s coat gently and thoroughly without stripping it of natural oils that are vital for skin and coat health.
If your Italian greyhound has a dry and dull coat, this shampoo may help improve his coat’s condition. With a deep cleansing and moisturizing effect, this shampoo leaves your pup’s coat fresh, soft, and smooth to the touch.
Better yet, its hypoallergenic formulation ensures that it’s safe for dogs with sensitive, itchy, or flaky skin – no dryness or hair loss! It can also promote the strengthening of hair follicles to help keep your pup’s lush and healthy fur.
- Tear-free formula makes baths more pleasant
- Free of fragrances and additives
- Mild and gentle cleansing action makes it ideal for regular use
2. Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo: Gentle & Natural Formula
As one of the leading brands in the pet grooming industry, Burt’s Bees is trusted and beloved by many pet parents, including Italian greyhound owners. It’s made with high-quality natural ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, honey, and beeswax, creating a formula designed to nourish dry skin.
The Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo cleanses and moisturizes your dog’s skin and coat without strong or harmful ingredients. It can help restore shine to dull and dry hair and remove odor, leaving your dog’s coat clean, soft, and glossy.
Not only does this gentle shampoo boost skin and coat health, but it also soothes itch, redness, and irritation. If your pup has skin conditions such as eczema or dermatitis, this is the shampoo for him.
- 97% natural shampoo with moisturizing & nourishing ingredients
- Gentle & pH-balanced formula
- Suitable for both puppies and dogs
3. Natural Dog Company Itchy Dog Shampoo: Relieves Itch & Irritation
Allergies, rashes, and bug bites may lead to excessive scratching in your Italian greyhound, making his skin red and irritated. The Natural Dog Company Itchy Dog Shampoo is specially formulated to provide relief and promote healing for these issues!
With natural ingredients that make up its hypoallergenic, soothing formula, this shampoo offers deep cleansing that washes away irritants on the skin. It features aloe vera, eucalyptus oil, jojoba oil, and lavender oil that soothes and hydrates itchy skin, leaving a cool and fresh feeling your pup will love.
If your Italian greyhound suffers from any form of skin irritation, this shampoo is ideal for him – it’ll leave him clean, silky, and itch-free.
- Promotes skin and coat health, hydration, and healing
- Free of alcohols, parabens, sulfates, and artificial fragrances
- Can also work on yeast infections
4. John Paul Pet Oatmeal Shampoo: All-Around Shampoo
Made with all-natural botanical extracts, the John Paul Pet Oatmeal Shampoo gently and deeply cleanses your Italian greyhound’s skin and coat without irritants that can leave him red and itchy. It’s formulated for sensitive skin, providing relief for itchy skin and helping reduce flaking.
This shampoo’s moisturizing ingredients target dry and dull coats, helping restore their glossy shine and bring back their plush texture. Plus, this shampoo leaves a light yet pleasant almond scent on your pup’s coat, leaving him smelling nice and fresh for longer!
Pet parents also love this brand for its cruelty-free products and dedication to animal causes, with a portion of the company’s sales going to animal and wildlife organizations.
- Cleanses, soothes, deodorizes, and moisturizes
- Made with high-quality natural ingredients including hydrolyzed oat protein, aloe, and chamomile
- Suitable for both cats and dogs – perfect for parents of multiple pets
5. Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic & Antifungal Shampoo: Relieves Bacterial & Fungal Infections
Short-haired breeds like Italian greyhounds may be prone to certain bacterial or fungal infections. If your Italian greyhound suffers from these infections, that cause redness, irritation, pustules, hyperpigmentation, hair loss, scaly skin, and foul-smelling discharge, he may need a medicated shampoo to address these issues.
The Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic & Antifungal Shampoo is designed to help treat and promote healing for these infections. It features lanolin and aloe vera that provides instant relief for itch and irritation, along with benzethonium chloride that fights bacteria and fungi. It also contains ketoconazole, which aids in the treatment of infections.
This shampoo can also help remove dandruff and relieve dryness. In addition, it can deodorize your dog’s coat and leave him fresh and itch-free.
- Promotes healing and aids treatment of skin infections at an affordable price
- Provides fast-acting relief from irritation
- Can be used with topical treatments
Bathing Tips For Italian Greyhounds
Now that you know which shampoos are best for your Italian greyhound, it’s time to bathe him! The good news for busy pet parents is that because of their short coats and the general absence of “doggy smells” on their coats, Italian greyhounds don’t need frequent baths.
However, it’s still important to create a regular bathing schedule for your pup to ensure he maintains good hygiene. Make the most of your Italian greyhound’s regular baths by following these tips:
Bathe your pup every four to six weeks
A bath once every four to six weeks should suffice in keeping your Italian greyhound clean and healthy. You can bathe him more frequently if you prefer, but keep in mind that weekly or twice-a-week baths may strip his coat of natural oils and leave it dry and dull.
Of course, if your Italian greyhound gets dirty from rolling around in dirt or mud, you’ll need to bathe him as soon as possible.
Use a high-velocity dryer before bathing your dog
This tool will help loosen dirt or dander all throughout his body, making cleansing him later on with shampoo more efficient and thorough.
Place an anti-slip mat on the bathtub’s surface
If you’re bathing your Italian greyhound in the bathroom, it’s a good idea to use an anti-slip mat to prevent him from slipping and injuring himself. This will come in handy for particularly stubborn pups who try to run away from the tub.
Introduce water gently
Some Italian greyhounds may not take too well to baths, so it’s important to start slowly. Get his head a little wet first, all the while speaking to him and encouraging him to stay put in a soft and reassuring tone. Make sure as well to use only warm water.
Start by washing your pup’s head
Other pet parents tend to leave the head for last when bathing their dogs to keep them from shaking all the water off and getting their clothes all wet, but since Italian greyhounds have short hair, this won’t be much of a problem.
Dilute your shampoo in water and apply a small amount of the mixture to your dog’s head. Massage it into his fur and work up a lather, rubbing generously all the way to his neck.
Wash your pup’s body in sections
While Italian greyhounds are small in size which makes cleaning them thoroughly easier, it’s still ideal to wash them in sections. This way, you can be sure every part of your pup’s body is clean, including hard-to-reach areas.
You can start with the back, then work your way towards the chest, stomach, legs, and tail.
Rinse the shampoo out and dry your pup off
After vigorously cleaning every part of your Italian greyhound’s body, you can rinse the shampoo out with water. Then, you can dry him off with a towel or a hair dryer.
Groom your pup
If your pup is calm enough after the bath, you can take advantage of the time allocated for his bathing and grooming routine and perform other grooming activities, such as cutting his nails and brushing his teeth.
In Closing
A high-quality shampoo that meets your Italian greyhound’s specific needs is crucial to his hygiene and health. You can choose between the options we’ve laid out above to help you find the best shampoo that keeps your beloved dog’s skin and coat clean, fresh, soft, and in amazing condition!