Dog Shampoo pH Level?

Dog Shampoo pH Level? I have just made my own soap with a pH of about 8; I have heard that the ideal pH for dog shampoos for most breeds is between 6.5 to 7.5. My question is whether a dog shampoo with a pH of 8 is alright for a dog?  

Hello!  The devil here is in the detail, and the detail I'm referring to is that word, 'alright.'  what does 'alright' mean specifically?   I don't think it will kill him, for example (although always check ingredients for toxins) but it's probably sub-optimal. For the most part, I don't reccommend shampoo for dogs.  Dogs in the wild don't wash their skin with any kind of soap - the skin has adapted to maintain itself and will, given the chance, achieve a good balance of pH and moisture, with a collection of commensal bacteria (ie the 'good' - or indifferent bacteria that live on the skin simply existing and taking up space).   Shampoos can alter the dryness, the pH and texture of the skin.  Making it drier makes it more likely to be scratched for example, creating micro-fissues (little microscopic tears) in the surface.  The commensal bacteria that normally populate the skin may decide to move into the cracks, causing skin infection.  With extremes of pH, the commensal 'safe' bacteria might be unable to exist and others may proliferate.   I'm not saying that any obvious, massive changes will happen because shampoo is used - rather that it can tend to alter the natural balance and local environment, especially if used regularly, and move the microenvironment away from the one that has evolved to be optimal for the dog. I do understand that sometimes it seems necessary to wash a dog in order to make them compatible with a household environment, especially if they are like my old dog, who could never resist a good roll in anything either smelly or dead.  But for this I would generally use water, or would boring advise you to speak to your vet about the shampoo most appropriate to your dog.  This is often one that most closely matches the pH of your dogs' skin, because the normal, commensal bacteria of the skin can survive in it, causing minimal disruption.