Short answer: choose a Bugalugs shampoo for the skin first and only then for the coat: for dry or itchy skin – Oatmeal or Medi Fresh; for a white coat – Maxi White; for long, tangle-prone coats – 3-in-1 or Tangle Tame; for strong odours – Stinky Dog. Most of the brand's shampoos can be used neat or diluted up to 10:1, and Baby Fresh up to 20:1. For long, curly or dry coats, finish with a conditioner.
What all Bugalugs shampoos have in common
Bugalugs is a British brand that makes its products in the UK with soft water from the Lake District. The shampoos are vegan, pH balanced, paraben-free and never tested on animals. All are suitable for puppies over 8 weeks, and the difference between them lies in their purpose – skin, coat colour, tangles or odour – and in the fragrance. If you would like to see the whole brand range by range, start with our complete Bugalugs guide.
Which shampoo for which coat and skin
The table summarises the main dog shampoos. The dilution shown is the maximum stated by the manufacturer: “up to 10:1” means up to 10 parts water to 1 part shampoo. Where the manufacturer does not publish a ratio, follow the label.
| Shampoo | Coat and skin | Dilution |
|---|---|---|
| Oatmeal | dry, sensitive, itchy skin; with colloidal oatmeal | up to 10:1 |
| Aloe & Kiwi | dry coat and sensitive skin; with aloe vera and pro-vitamin B5 | up to 10:1 |
| Mango & Banana | all coat types, dry and sensitive skin; dogs only | up to 10:1 |
| Medi Fresh | irritated, itchy skin, greasiness and stubborn odour; with tea tree and oatmeal | per label |
| Maxi White | white and light coats with yellowish tones | up to 10:1 |
| 3-in-1 Raspberry & Lemon | long, curly, easily tangled coats; shampoo, conditioner and detangler in one step | up to 10:1 |
| Tangle Tame 3in1 | long and curly coats; with avocado and coconut oils | up to 10:1 |
| Luxury 2-in-1 Papaya & Coconut | any coat type when you want softness and shine in one step | up to 10:1 |
| Zingy 2-in-1 | active dogs and quick baths; fresh citrus scent | up to 10:1 |
| All-in-1 | all coat types; cleans, deodorises and eases brushing; with wild lemongrass | up to 10:1 |
| 4-in-1 Lavender & Chamomile | sensitive skin and dogs that are nervous at bath time | up to 10:1 |
| Stinky Dog | strong odours after mud, wet coats and rolling | up to 10:1 |
| Baby Fresh | all coat types; an all-rounder with a baby powder scent | up to 20:1 |
| One in a Million | all coat types; a rich, perfume-style scent | per label |
| Flea & Tick | washing fleas and ticks out of the coat; with neem oil | per label |
| Wrinkle Shampoo | skin folds in the French Bulldog, the Pug and the Shar Pei; hypoallergenic | per label |
The 3-in-1 shampoos are made for long and curly coats – for example the Yorkshire Terrier, the Shih Tzu and the Poodle – while Maxi White suits white breeds such as the Maltese and the West Highland White Terrier. Seasonal editions are not in the table – for example the autumn Pumpkin Latte, which also dilutes up to 10:1.
If your dog has both a skin problem and a cosmetic need (a white-coated dog that keeps scratching, say), the skin comes first. Flea & Tick washes parasites out of the coat but does not replace the prevention your vet recommends. Not sure where to start? Answer a few questions in our “Which shampoo” finder.
How to dilute
You do not have to dilute the concentrate – the shampoos can also be used neat. Diluted shampoo, however, spreads down to the skin more easily in a dense coat, rinses out better and lasts for more baths.
- Mix the shampoo with water in a separate bottle or bowl just before the bath.
- For 10:1, use 1 part shampoo to 10 parts water – for example 25 ml shampoo and 250 ml water.
- Baby Fresh can be diluted up to 20:1 – for example 25 ml shampoo and 500 ml water.
- For heavy dirt, use less water: “up to 10:1” is the upper limit, not a required ratio.
You can work out what a single bath costs with a given shampoo after dilution using our bath-cost calculator.
Conditioners: when and which
A conditioner moisturises the hair after shampooing and makes brushing easier. It matters most for long, curly, dry or tangle-prone coats; short, smooth coats can often do without. Bugalugs conditioners are ready to use: apply after rinsing out the shampoo, leave for a few minutes and rinse.
- Oatmeal conditioner – for dry and sensitive skin; with oat flour, aloe vera and almond oil. A natural follow-up to Oatmeal shampoo or to Medi Fresh.
- Luxury Papaya & Coconut conditioner – for deep moisture and shine, especially on longer coats that are brushed often.
- Lavender & Chamomile conditioner – with almond oil and chamomile extract, after the 4-in-1 shampoo from the same range.
- Baby Fresh conditioner – softens the coat and complements the Baby Fresh shampoo scent.
If you would rather skip a separate step, the 2-in-1 shampoos (Luxury Papaya & Coconut, Zingy) and the 3-in-1s (Raspberry & Lemon, Tangle Tame) clean and condition in one go. For badly matted coats, the manufacturer advises spraying a detangler before the bath – more in our guide to detangling sprays and foams.
250 or 500 ml
Most Bugalugs shampoos come in two sizes, and the conditioners in 500 ml.
- 250 ml – for trying a new scent or formula, for a small dog or for travel.
- 500 ml – for regular use, for medium and large dogs or for a home with several dogs. The shampoo is concentrated, so a diluted bottle lasts a long time.
How to bathe so the shampoo works
- Brush the coat before the bath to remove loose hair, dirt and knots.
- Wet the coat thoroughly with lukewarm to warm water.
- Apply the shampoo and massage it in from the neck towards the tail so that it reaches the skin. Keep it away from the eyes, ears and mouth.
- With Oatmeal and Medi Fresh, leave the lather on for a few minutes.
- Rinse until the water runs clear and no shampoo is left in the coat.
- If needed, apply conditioner and rinse again.
- Towel dry, and dry dense or long coats with a dryer on a moderate setting, keeping it away from the skin. Brush again once the coat is dry.
So you do not miss the next bath, add it to the care plan in your profile (My Pets). To see how often it makes sense to bathe each coat type, read how often to bathe your dog, and for the days between baths, our article on dry shampoo.
When shampoo is not enough
Shampoos support the skin, but they do not replace a check-up. Medi Fresh and Oatmeal can soothe mild irritation, but see a vet if:
- the itching lasts more than a few days or gets worse;
- there are red, moist or bleeding patches, crusts or bald spots;
- the odour comes back a day or two after a bath;
- your dog is lethargic or the skin is painful to the touch.
For the most common causes of itching, read why your dog is scratching.
Suitable products
All the brand's shampoos and conditioners are in the Bugalugs Shampoos and Conditioners collection, and conditioners from every brand are in Dogs – conditioners and masks. To start with sensitive skin, pair Oatmeal shampoo and conditioner; for an all-round bath, choose Baby Fresh.
Read more: how to choose a dog shampoo by coat type and dog perfume: colognes and deodorising sprays.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Bugalugs dog shampoo on my cat?
No. The shampoos in the table are made for dogs, and for some, such as Mango & Banana, the manufacturer states explicitly that they are not for cats. Bugalugs has separate products for cats – see Bugalugs for cats.
From what age can I bathe a puppy with Bugalugs?
The brand's shampoos are suitable for puppies over 8 weeks. For the first baths, choose a gentle formula such as Baby Fresh or Oatmeal, use lukewarm water and keep the puppy in the bath only briefly.
Do I have to dilute the shampoo?
No. The concentrates can be used neat, but diluting to the stated ratio makes application easier in a dense coat and makes the bottle go further. For shampoos without a published ratio, follow the label.
