The Truth About Pet Shampoos & Conditioners

Insider tips every dog owner should know.

Image via Freepik

Written by: Rosemary Sutton

If you’ve ever stood in front of shelves of pet shampoos and conditioners wondering which one is “the good one,” you’re not alone. With so many bottles promising shine, softness, or “all natural,” it can be hard to know what really works — and what’s just clever packaging

After decades of raising, showing, and grooming dogs, I can tell you this: not all products are created equal. Some only make the coat look good for a day, while others truly keep it healthy for the long haul. Let’s pull back the curtain.

Cosmetic vs. Functional Grooming Products

Here’s the real difference:

• Cosmetic products are like makeup. They give you instant shine and softness by coating the hair with silicones, waxes, or residues. The problem? That buildup dulls the coat, attracts dirt, and does nothing to support long-term coat health.

• Functional products are more like nutrition for the coat. They strengthen from within, using proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins to restore elasticity, manageability, and natural beauty.

 In other words, cosmetic products mask. Functional products repair.

That’s why I trust SummerWinds® Fine-L-Shine Cream Rinse — it detangles, adds elasticity, and controls static without leaving behind a greasy or heavy coating.

Why pH Balance Makes or Breaks a Coat

This is one of the biggest secrets in coat care. Dogs don’t have the same skin pH as people. Human shampoos are more acidic (around 4.5–5.5), while dogs are closer to neutral (6.5–7.5). If you use the wrong product, you’re stripping away natural oils, creating dry, itchy skin, and making the coat harder to manage.

That’s why SummerWinds® Shine-Onnn Shampoo is formulated to match a dog’s pH — it cleans thoroughly without stripping. Think of it as cleansing and protecting at the same time.

Ingredients to Watch Out For

Not all “pet shampoos” are safe or gentle. Here are a few red flags I always tell people to look for on the label:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Lots of foam, but it strips away the natural moisture dogs need for a healthy coat.

• Urea Hydroxyethyl / Iminol: Used as a humectant, but can irritate dogs with dry, sensitive, or itchy skin.

• Sorbic Acid (Sorbates): A preservative that often triggers irritation or worsens dryness.

These ingredients are inexpensive fillers that may make the product look, smell, or lather “better,” but they work against coat and skin health.

 Instead, look for nutrient-rich botanicals, proteins, and oils that feed the coat. For example, SummerWinds Protect-A-Coat Oil protects, restores, and conditions without harsh chemicals — a real difference you can feel in the coat.

A Quick Comparison

Cosmetic Products	Functional Products (SummerWinds)
Use harsh detergents & silicones	Use gentle, pH-balanced cleansers
Short-term shine, long-term buildup	Long-term coat health & manageability
Can irritate skin with preservatives	Nourish with vitamins, proteins, EFAs
Mask damage with residue	Repair, restore, and protect naturally

Final Word

Here’s the bottom line: a beautiful show coat (or a healthy pet coat at home) isn’t built on quick fixes. It’s built on using products that respect the biology of the coat and skin.

That’s why I always say — don’t just wash your dog. Condition, protect, and nourish the coat. It’s the difference between a coat that just looks nice, and one that truly thrives.

And that’s exactly where SummerWinds® stands apart.