Shell & Katy Pretty Fluffy Editors

Katy and Shell are two style-savvy dog mums celebrating the best in pet-friendly living. A professional pet photographer and dog lifestyle writer, together they share dog-friendly inspiration, pet product reviews, dog treat recipes, expert pet advice and on-trend dog brands with discerning pet parents around the world.

So the inevitable has finally happened…Ziggy’s things are now officially nicer than ours! Case in point: his new artisanal, all-natural dog shampoo and conditioner from The Hound Lab.

If you’ve been scouring the internet for the best dog shampoo for sensitive skin, made in Australia from 100% natural ingredients, we’re going to go right ahead and say ‘you’re welcome’ – because you need not look further.

The Hound Lab is a boutique Australian range of cruelty-free, vegan, all-natural dog care products. From their gentle, natural dog grooming and wellbeing collection, to their commitment to cruelty-free and sustainable practices, there is just so much to love.

We’ll be straight up honest – it was the beautiful minimal branding of The Hound Lab that first caught our eye (are we suckers for gorgeous branding? Guilty!) 

But boy are we glad their label grabbed our attention, because The Hound Lab is now one of ours and Ziggy’s favourite dog grooming ranges on the market. 

BEHIND THE BRAND: THE HOUND LAB

Beautiful branding and product range aside for just a min, there’s something else that makes The Hound Lab really special – something you don’t come across too often in the small business world.   

The Hound Lab is actually a heartfelt collaboration…between a mother and son! Bonded by a shared love of their family dogs, the two set out on taking a holistic approach to dog grooming products by creating a simple, natural dog wash, particularly for dogs with sensitive skin.

Based in Byron Bay, this mother-and-son duo take inspiration from their idyllic natural surroundings – rolling hinterland hills, pristine coastline, fresh air – to guide the Hound Lab natural dog grooming range. Health and happiness in simplicity and nature – a philosophy many of us already live by. And now our pups can too!

Side note: Byron Bay is also a super special place for us (it’s where we took Ziggy on his first ever interstate holiday, where we got engaged, and where we plan to live in the not-too distant future!) so we already knew this range would find a special place in our home. 

NATURAL DOG CARE: GENTLE ON DOGS & THE PLANET 

What we love about The Hound Lab is their focus on alleviating uncomfortable scratching and itching in dogs, naturally. Using only 100% natural ingredients (including Aloe, Geranium, Bees Wax and Jojoba Oil to name a few) The Hound Lab range will clean your dog gently and without the harsh chemicals you commonly find in other dog shampoos. On their website you’ll even find a useful warning list of acronyms to look for in other dog grooming products, including SLS, SLES and EDTA, which are telltale signs of chemical ingredients (check out their ‘Free From’ page for the full list). 

While The Hound Lab natural dog grooming range will cleanse and nourish your pup’s skin, coat and paws gently, so too does their brand tread gently on the Earth. Their commitment to sustainable practices means a minimal approach is taken to every aspect of the business, from batches being produced in small quantities, to eco-conscious packaging (including the stylish cotton cloth bag the below set comes in!)

Review: The Hound Lab Calming 01 Nose To Tail Dog Grooming Set 

The Nose To Tail Grooming Set comes in two types: Calming or Balanced.

We chose the Calming range as Ziggy has very sensitive skin, and we always need to be extra careful when choosing his dog grooming products. In the past, unfortunately Ziggy’s been left itchy with dry, flakey skin after his bath time. Something we definitely want to avoid in future! 

And after having used this complete grooming set, we can thankfully now say that worry is a thing of the past.

CALMING WASH 01 

Ingredients: Aloe, Hemp, Lavender, Chamomile

Made from 100% natural ingredients that bring together a range of soothing, analgesic and skin-healing properties, this natural dog shampoo is designed to gently clean and nourish your dog’s coat, while also leaving them smelling nice and fresh.

We found the Calming Wash to be easy to apply, and smoothed over Ziggy’s fur beautifully. The shampoo lathered up well, minus the foamy bubble clouds which usually end up all over the ceiling and walls when Ziggy shakes his head! The shampoo washed off quickly and easily too, which is great for fussy bathers like Ziggy that just want out of that bath ASAP.

Now, let’s talk about that gorgeous scent (we’re big sniffers, it’s true – we have a strong appreciation of frankly anything that smells nice!) Made with natural oils, the fragrance of this dog shampoo is gentle and delicate, with a lovely combined calming scent of lavender and chamomile. Bliss.

CALMING CONDITIONER 01

Ingredients: Argan, Hemp, Lavender, Chamomile

True to the Hound Lab philosophy and just like its dog shampoo partner above, this vegan and organic dog conditioner contains carefully chosen natural ingredients to gently moisturise and soothe skin and coats. 

We found the Calming Conditioner to have a thick, smooth and creamy texture that once again, was easily applied to Ziggy’s coat, while also being quick and easy to rinse off.

Not only did the combination of the Calming Wash and Conditioner leave Ziggy’s coat feeling soft and looking shiny, the conditioner was nourishing on his dry skin too. And as a cocker spaniel with a thick, wavy and curly coat, it’s so important for us to find a dog conditioner that nourishes Ziggy’s coat without leaving any oily residue behind.

And as mentioned above, Ziggy has been prone to skin itchiness in the past. And we are pleased to report that after this bath we are yet to see any signs of irritation or any scratching. A win all round!

Did we already gush over the stylish bottles and labelling? Talk about AESTHETIC. The Hound Lab’s vintage-meets-contemporary-meets-minimal branding means your dog’s shampoo and conditioner can easily sit alongside your own in the bathroom, without fear of judgement from guests (take it from us – we proudly keep The Hound Lab on display in our own bathroom!) 

ORGANIC PAW, NOSE & ELBOW BALM FOR DOGS

Ingredients: Shea Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil, Raw Hemp Seed Oil, Beeswax, Lavender & Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Dog paw balms really are a must-buy for all dog parents. If your dog already suffers from dry elbows, a dry nose, or rough or cracked paw pads, this natural paw soothing balm will be a hit in your home.

As Ziggy isn’t a huge fan of his paws being touched, what we loved about this natural dog balm was its smooth, easy-to-apply texture, which allowed us to quickly blend the balm into our hands, and then rub it onto his paws (which meant avoiding the usual paw-fussing dramas – a win for both us and Ziggy!)

We were also surprised that even the paw balm has a beautiful yet gentle scent, leaving Ziggy’s pads and nose being soothed and nourished while smelling lovely and fresh too.

From their natural dog care philosophy and gentle ingredients to their minimal and timeless branding, it’s easy to see The Hound Lab range is made with so much love and care. 

To learn more and shop the range, visit The Hound Lab.