6 Best Dog Shampoos And Conditioners For Rottweilers in 2024

Researched & Written by

Sean Green

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At Pawster, we are committed to presenting the most accurate and up-to-date information to assist you in your pet care journey. When appropriate, we consult licensed and practicing veterinarians to fact-check our professionally written articles.

Rottweilers are well known for being a brave, proud, and strong breed. They’re a hardy kind of canine that’s exceptionally low maintenance, but when it comes to caring for their coat – there’s perhaps a little more work than expected involved. Picking the best shampoo for Rottweilers is one of the best ways to minimize this workload and make things a little easier for both you and your pooch.

With that in mind, today we’re going to be looking at the bathing requirements of Rottweilers in a huge amount of detail. We’ll talk about grooming tips, bathing tips, and we’ll be answering a few frequently asked questions about how to care for the coat of the breed.

The bulk of this article, however, will be looking at the various different properties a good Rottweiler shampoo should have and we will be giving a few tips on picking the proper product. We’ll also be conducting an extremely detailed (and completely impartial) Rottweiler shampoo review where we look at the results of countless hours of research into what we think are the best shampoos for Rottweilers on the market right now.

Let’s get started.

Popular Types Of Rottweiler Shampoos

As we quickly mentioned in the introduction to this article, the Rottweiler is a dog that’s very easy to care for compared to some other breeds. As such, there are very few specific requirements that you need to look out for in a good product – but here’s 2 that are worth bearing in mind.

Deshedding Shampoos

Rottweilers are one of the many breeds of dog that have a double coat. They have the normal top coat, and they also have an undercoat that’s denser, more water resistant, and it’s a better insulator.

Throughout most of the year, your Rottweiler isn’t going to shed all that much – they’re more or less on par with other “average” shedding dogs (because all dogs shed to some extent). However, there are potentially two times a year that your Rottweiler is going to shed lots – around winter and spring.

When winter comes along your Rottweiler’s body will subconsciously detect the change in seasonal temperature and begin to shed their hair. This is a completely natural process that makes way for a thicker, warmer coat to come through – which provides them insulation throughout the colder months. The same thing happens in reverse when spring comes along and the temperature begins to rise, the winter coat sheds and a lighter coat comes through.

Either way, it’s better to use a shampoo that has deshedding properties. Regardless of the intensity of your dog’s current shedding – it’s going to reduce the amount of hair you find scattered around your home.

2 In 1 Conditioner

Most products on the market these days will have some sort of conditioner in them, shampoo manufacturers realized a very long time ago that the hair on a dog needs nourishment in the same way as us humans.

The problem is that because almost every product contains some kind of a conditioner, it’s hard to separate the good stuff from the marketing fluff.

Before you purchase any 2 in 1 conditioner, make sure you do your research into the ingredients it contains. Look out for any artificial sounding chemicals, or wishy-washy marketing speak – and if possible, read impartial unbiased customer reviews.

We’ve done a lot of this hard work for you in our review section later on in this article, but the products we recommend here today are not the only good shampoos for Rottweilers on the market. Just know that if you’re going to go solo and try to find your own products – be prepared to put the proper amount of time and effort into researching the efficacy of them.

If you don’t you could easily end up with a dud.

2 Tips On Maintaining The Perfect Rottweiler Coat

Rottweilers have a stunning glossy coat that makes the breed instantly recognizable. While they are a reasonably low maintenance kind of dog when it comes to grooming, they still require a little bit of care and attention. Here are a few handy hints and tips that will make it easier for you to keep your dog’s coat looking better for longer.

Get Your Rottweiler Comfortable With Grooming From A Young Age

The amount of grooming required throughout the life of your Rottweiler is reasonably minimal compared to other higher maintenance, longer haired breeds. However, it’s still going to be a reasonably regular part of their life, and it’s going to be better for you and your pooch if the process is enjoyable – or at least tolerable for them.

It’s much easier to make this happen when they are still young puppies, and when you first get your puppy Rottweiler home, you should start to groom them almost daily within the first few days. There’s no need to groom them this often in terms of the benefits that grooming provides – it’s just a way for them to get used to the idea of being brushed.

If your pup isn’t too keen on the idea of being groomed at first, then try and tempt them with a treat or two. If the brush is causing issues, then try a little desensitizing training by brushing them with your hand first – once they’re comfortable with that, re-introduce the brush.

Keep On Top Of The Grooming

Rottweilers don’t need a lot of grooming when they are not in a molting period, however, you should still try to groom your pooch at least once a week. This will help remove any hair that has fallen out and stop it from being scattered around your home – but it will also spread out the essential natural oils that your dog creates.

These natural oils are the best conditioner for your dog’s skin and fur on the entire planet, they nourish better than any artificial chemical ever could, and they keep the famously hardy skin of the breed in tip-top shape. The only issue with these oils is that they can sometimes fail to cover all your of your dog’s coat on their own.

By giving them regular grooming sessions you’re going to be spreading the oils around, ensuring complete coverage and total protection.

Overall Best Shampoo for Rottweilers

Our 2024 Picks: Best Shampoo for Rottweiler
	Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo Soap-free shampoo and conditioner Made with pure botanical extracts Price: $0.43/oz	CHECK PRICE
	4-Legger’s Organic, Hypo-Allergenic, Lemongrass Holistic, essential oil blend gently cleans Eco-friendly, non-toxic shampoo Price:  $0.93/oz	CHECK PRICE
	Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Natural Puppy Gentle, tearless, no dyes or perfumes Made in the USA Price:  $0.33/oz	CHECK PRICE
	Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea & Awapuhi Dog Shampoo Promotes healthy skin and coat For topical use on dogs and cats Price:  $0.26/oz	CHECK PRICE
	FURminator DeShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo For Dogs Promotes healthy skin and coat Enriched with Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids Price:  $0.26/oz	CHECK PRICE
	Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo With Colloidal Oat Flour Gentle cleanser featuring colloidal oat flour Colloidal oat flour helps itchiness Price:  $0.30/oz	CHECK PRICE

Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

We’re now going to start looking at a few product-specific recommendations that we think represent the best Rottweiler shampoos on the market right now. We’ve done a huge amount of research for this part of the article, and due to the reasonably low maintenance requirements of the Rottweiler, it was reasonably easy for us to find several products we would be comfortable recommending.

However, that caused us a new problem, it was difficult for us to narrow it down to just a handful of products we wanted to review and recommend – but we think that we managed it.

If we had to pick an overall product that we would be comfortable recommending as the best shampoo for Rottweilers on the market right now, we’d pick the Buddy Wash Original Lavender & Mint Dog Shampoo & Conditioner.

As we imagine some of you already know, Buddy Wash is one of the most respected brands in the world of natural dog shampoos. They create super gentle products that have been made from the ground up to be as powerful as possible without using harmful chemicals, and most importantly, without breaking the bank.

There were honestly a few Buddy Wash shampoos that we were looking at for our overall recommendation (they make several excellent other products) but this one was the best for Rottweilers in our opinion.

Like all good shampoos for dogs, this product is completely alcohol and soap free – so it’s not going to dry your dog’s skin or cause uncomfortable irritations after usage. Instead, the bulk of this product is made from a coconut-based formula which gently cleans your pooch leaving them fresher than ever.

The bulk of the deodorizing power in this product comes from a healthy infusion of wheat protein – which is one of the best sanitizing agents mother nature has to offer. It’s a completely natural compound that destroys the bacteria and fungi that cause the stinky “dog” smell that we all love to hate with ease.

Unlike other lower quality soap-free shampoos, this product generates a thick luxurious lather when it’s applied and allows you to ensure that you clean and cleanse every single hair on your dog’s body with minimal effort required on your part.

The conditioner in this product is equally as good as the shampoo we’ve just talked about. Again, it’s all natural and uses a complex blend of essential oils, vitamins, and other compounds to keep your dog’s coat looking better than ever. The infusions of sage, rosemary, and green tea work hand in hand to nourish each and every hair on your pooch (while working with your dog’s naturally produced oils) and leaves them with a glossy shine that’s noticeable after the first application.

The aloe vera in this product is another nice touch that we like to see. Even though the Rottweiler doesn’t need a huge amount of care and attention when it comes to skin (unlike other breeds) every little helps. Any rashes, redness, irritation, or itching that your pooch may temporarily be suffering from will be soothed and supported by the huge amount of aloe vera in this product.

The final feature we liked about this product was the infusion of mint and lavender. These two compounds have been included to create an aromatherapy style treatment for your pooch that will soothe and calm them down during bath time. Rottweilers are brave dogs already, and other breeds will benefit from these infusions much more than our fearless Rotties – but it’s still a nice little addition that turns bath time into a spa day for them.

All this cleaning, cleansing, and conditioning power sound like it should be expensive – but it’s not. Buddy Wash creates premium products without the premium price tag, and at roughly $7 for a long lasting 16oz bottle – it’s great value for money too.

There are other excellent products we’re going to talk about in a moment, but honestly, this shampoo should be at the very top of your shortlist.

Runner Up

4-Legger Hypo-Allergenic, Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo

The Buddy Wash product above had some serious competition for the top spot, the excellent Hypo-Allergenic, Lemongrass & Aloe Dog Shampoo by 4-Legger was very nearly our overall recommendation. If you liked the sound of the product above, then you should also seriously give this awesome shampoo your consideration too.

Again, this is an all natural shampoo that has been made from the highest quality ingredients. There’s not a single chemical in this product that hasn’t come directly from mother nature – it’s so natural that the USDA has officially certified it as a product that is “Organic to exceptional standards”.

As you’d expect this is a soap and alcohol-free formula, but the way it cleans your pooch is a little different to the Buddy Wash product we mentioned above. Instead of using a coconut base for their shampoo, they use lemongrass – one of the best natural cleansers on the planet. This isn’t a cheap ingredient, and it’s only found in the highest quality products – but it’s worth every single cent as it’s antibacterial, antifungal, and it has mild pest deterrent properties too.

The conditioner in this product is also excellent and uses a blend of essential oils to nourish your dog’s coat and keep them looking better for longer in-between bathing sessions. There’s not a whole heap of skincare related infusions in this product, which is a little disappointing – but because our Rottweilers are made from tough stuff and don’t suffer from serious skin issues (usually) then this isn’t really an issue.

The only problem we have with this product (and we use the word problem very lightly) is the price. It’s around $15 for a 16oz bottle, which isn’t exactly expensive – but it costs more than our overall pick.

However, this is a super concentrated formula, and you’re going to need to use less product per application than many other shampoos on the market. We don’t think this extra concentrated power entirely compensates for the price increase when compared to our overall pick – but it’s certainly going to help.

If you don’t mind paying the additional cost, then this is a great product, from a great brand, and it’s more than worthy of your consideration.

Best Rottweiler Puppy Shampoo

Nature’s Miracle Supreme Odor Control Natural Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner

Puppy Rottweilers have slightly different needs than their older mothers and fathers. They are still a hardy breed, and by puppy standards, they can withstand quite strong compounds in shampoos and conditioners, but despite this, they still need a dedicated puppy shampoo.

We mentioned earlier on in this article the importance of getting your puppy used to grooming at a young age so they enjoy it (or tolerate it) during their adult life. The same is true with bathing too – and that’s why it’s super important to use a tearless shampoo for the first few bathing sessions of their lives.

We’re sure everyone reading this has had shampoo in their eyes at some point or another, it’s not a pleasant feeling for us humans, and it’s not a pleasant feeling for our dogs either. By using a dedicated puppy shampoo that’s entirely tearless – you eliminate the risk of your puppy Rotty associating bath time with painful eyes.

For this, we recommend the Supreme Odor Control Natural Puppy Shampoo & Conditioner by Nature’s Miracle. It’s an excellent organic, tearless product that provides great cleaning power without breaking the bank. It’s soap free, alcohol-free, and it conditions your pup at the same time as cleansing them from head to tail.

An excellent product, designed for puppies, from a reputable brand, at a great price.

What more could you want?

3 More Top Rated Dog Shampoos For Rottweilers

To finish this review section, we’re going to quickly talk about a few of the other excellent products that we came across in our research that we wanted to give a special shout out to. The products above are our overall recommendations, but the ones below are more than worthy of your consideration too.

Earthbath Shed Control Green Tea & Awapuhi Dog & Cat Shampoo

When your Rottweiler is shedding heavily it’s a good idea to invest in a dedicated deshedding shampoo, and this excellent product from Earthbath should be at the very top of your shortlist.

The cleaning and cleansing powers of this product are second to none, it’s all natural, it contains no soap, and it deodorizes exceptionally well. However, it’s the special de-shedding conditioner that we really like the look of here. The combination of ginseng, green tea extract, omega 6 fatty acids, and other natural infusions all work together to nourish and enhance your dog’s coat. The aloe vera in the formula complements the conditioning power of the above compounds to create a product that’s going to reduce shedding, and keep your home cleaner at the same time.

FURminator DeShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo For Dogs

We quickly wanted to point out this decent product from FURminator as an alternative to the de-shedding shampoo from Earthbath above. It has a reasonably similar ingredient list – albeit much smaller and much less effective. They’re marketing this as an “Ultra Premium” product – but it’s not.

Instead what you’ll get for your money is an effective shampoo that cleans and conditions your pooch while reducing the amount that they shed. It’s honestly less effective than the Earthbath product above – but it’s also less than half the price.

Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey

The final recommendation we’re going to make today is Burt’s Bees Oatmeal Shampoo with Colloidal Oat Flour & Honey. It’s an all-natural product that uses the supercharged cleaning power of oatmeal to deodorize and sanitize your pooch without resorting to soap. The honey and green tea extract in the formula conditions the coat, and the aloe vera soothes and nourishes the skin.

It’s one of the cheapest products we’ve recommended today at around $5 for a 16oz bottle, and if you want to keep your pooch fresh, clean, and happy on a budget – it’s an excellent option that’s not going to break the bank.

5 Tips On Bathing Your Rottweiler

So now we know what kinds of shampoo you should be using with your Rottweiler, and we’ve given you 6 excellent product recommendations that are going to make bathing and grooming better for you and your pooch. In this section, we’re going to talk about a few little hints and tips that are going to further improve the bathing experience.

Brush Before Bathing

Even for short-haired breeds like the Rottweiler, bathing your pooch before soaking them with water is one of the best things you can do to make your grooming routine a little easier (and your home a little cleaner).

Many of the hairs that fall out of your pooch don’t make it all the way out of their coat, some of them get caught up in the remaining healthy hair and get attached to their body. It’s only a matter of time before these hairs fall out, and unless you catch them during a grooming session, they’re going to be all over your home instead of in the trash.

Put A Towel Down

This is one of the simplest and most effective ways you can reduce the stress levels of your pooch during bath time. Even our brave Rottweilers can get a little anxious during bathing sessions, and anything you can do to make things easier for them is going to be appreciated – even if they can’t express it.

The bottom of a bathtub is super slippery, especially when it’s been covered in soap and water. The paws of our Rottweilers aren’t well suited to maintaining grip on these kinds of surfaces (as they’re completely unnatural and man-made). While it’s unlikely that your pooch is going to be slipping and sliding in the bathtub, there’s a good chance that maintaining their balance requires some level of concentration.

By simply putting a towel down inside the bath before your pooch gets in, you’re making this problem disappear in an instant. It provides a much larger amount of grip, and your pooch will have a much easier time maintaining their balance.

Prepare 2 Towels For Drying

All dogs have a natural instinct to shake themselves dry after being saturated with water. It’s an uncontrollable urge, and while they may realize that you’re not going to be happy with water all over the place – there’s nothing they can do to stop it.

Instead of trying to stop your pooch from shaking, we recommend you use two towels for the drying session after you’ve finished bathing your pooch. As soon as you turn off the water, throw a towel over their back and wait for the inevitable shaking to start. It’s probably not going to catch all the water, but it’s certainly going to make a difference.

After that, switch to a completely fresh and dry towel to do your normal post bathing drying ritual, and complete the job,

Ensure You Have Everything You Need To Complete The Job Within Arms Reach

With a breed as excitable and large as the Rottweiler, it’s very important that you don’t leave them unattended in the bath. If you suddenly realize that you’ve left the shampoo or the towels in a different room after already getting your pooch wet the chances of them staying in the tub voluntarily while you retrieve the forgotten items are very slim indeed.

The undesirable consequences of a completely soaked Rottweiler excitedly running around your home shaking water everywhere while you leave the room need no introduction – and this is a mistake you’ll only make once.

Ensure that you’ve got everything you need to complete the bathing session from start to finish within arms reach before you call your dog into the bathroom and start cleaning them.

Put Steel Wool In The Drain

Hair of any kind (dog or human) is bad news for most drainage systems. Even the small reasonably short hairs of the Rottweiler can cause issues in large enough quantities over time. Hair falling off your pooch while bathing them is a fact of life, you can groom them all you want before putting them in the bath, but some hair is still going to make its way towards your drain.

The simplest way to prevent this from happening is to place a little bit of steel wool in the plug hole before you turn the water on. This will catch the vast majority of the hair and will keep your plumbing system in tip-top condition – regardless of how much hair your pooch loses during the bathing session.

FAQ Regarding Bathing a Rottweiler

In this final section of the article we are going to answer some of the most commonly asked questions we receive from our readers about bathing a Rottweiler.

How Often Should I Bathe A Rottweiler?

Rottweilers are a reasonably clean breed, and they’re not known for the odor issues that some other kinds of dogs can suffer from. Due to this a reasonably infrequent bathing schedule is required. Bathing your pooch around once a month should usually suffice.

If your Rottweiler is a working dog or lives outdoors, then you may want to increase the bathing frequency a little – as they have inherently dirtier (and smellier) lives. Overbathing Rottweilers is an issue, but it’s not as big of a problem as it once was with the huge range of gentle organic shampoos that are currently on the market (like all the ones we have recommended above).

Bathing your pooch more than once a week is not recommended, regardless of how gentle the shampoo you use is (unless you’re using a very specific product, always follow the recommendations on the bottle).

If I Have Run Out Of Dedicated Dog Shampoo, Can I Use Human Shampoo?

Absolutely not, this is a terrible idea. While Rottweilers have reasonably strong skin compared to some more sensitive breeds, they’re still dogs – and dogs have very different skin compared to us humans.

The PH levels and compounds that are present in human shampoo are designed for use on human skin. The products that nourish and cleanse us can harm and irritate dogs – and they should never be used on any kind of canine.

Even ones that are as robust as the Rottweiler.

Conclusion

So there you have it, that’s about all there is to know about the world of bathing and grooming Rottweilers. If you follow the advice we’ve given above – you’re going to make things much quicker, easier, and more enjoyable for both you and your pooch.

As we mentioned earlier, the shampoos we have recommended in our review section are not the only good shampoos for Rottweilers on the market – there were several others we came across that could have been included but weren’t due to the already long nature of this article.

There are many brands out there that put more money into their marketing than their products, and unless you’re pet nerds like us, there’s a good chance you’re going to pick a dud without doing your research.

Take advantage of the hard work that we have done for you in the review section and pick one of those products instead – they’re all winners to have been mentioned here today.