It was 1995, and Jennifer Aniston was in the throes of filming her second season of “Friends” when she fell head over heels in love. Despite what the tabloids might suggest, though, it wasn’t one of the many Hollywood heartthrobs she regularly worked alongside who captured her attention this time around. Rather, it was a small dog named Norman.
Although the actress had always loved animals, it wasn’t until she met this sweet terrier mix, who was on the set of “Friends” to film a scene with Joey and Chandler, that her connection with dogs was truly cemented. After learning that Norman wouldn’t be hired by the show since he wasn’t hitting his mark for the scene, Aniston jokingly chimed in that she would take him. Minutes later, he was hers. “He completely stole my heart and showed me how truly special the bond between humans and dogs is,” Aniston recalls. “From that point on, it was game over—I was a dog person for life.”
In the roughly three decades since, Aniston’s love of dogs has only deepened. Through every movie and television project, every relationship, every ad campaign, and every business pursuit, her dogs have been by her side, a true bedrock in her rapidly evolving life. “They are my emotional support, a constant source of unconditional love,” she explains, “and the best reality show in town.”
With all the love, comfort, and support her dogs bring her, Aniston believes the least she can do was return the favor by giving them the best life possible. “Just like us, they need mental stimulation, physical activity, and love,” she says. “It’s also crucial to keep them healthy, happy, and safe.”
It was this mindset that inspired the actress to create a clean dog shampoo, the latest launch from her award-winning haircare brand, LolaVie. “When I was first thinking about a hair care line, it was automatically one of the products I wanted to develop,” Aniston explains. “It just made sense to create a product that could benefit not only my own dogs, but others too.”
The dog shampoo would need to not only be safe, effective, and made from the best naturally-derived ingredients, but it would also need to exude the high quality that LolaVie has become known for since its 2021 launch. This meant it would need to be enjoyable for both the humans administering the bath and the dogs receiving it—and Aniston knew the only true way to ensure canine satisfaction would be to win her dogs Clyde and Chesterfield’s stamp of approval.
The pups were more than happy to oblige, the actress says, especially Clyde, who is the star of his mom’s children’s book, “Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life,” published in September. “Ever since Clyde’s book came out, he won’t go anywhere without a shampoo and a blowdry,” Aniston jokes. “I’ve created an adorable diva.” After several months of careful testing and deliberation, Clyde and Chesterfield finally settled on a gentle, pH-balanced formula that met all of Aniston’s criteria, plus a few of their own, and Puppy Love Dog Shampoo officially launched on the LolaVie site and Ulta November 20.
The shampoo joins a growing number of elevated dog grooming products to hit the market in recent years, including some from other human haircare brands. This boom follows a significant rise in pet ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic but shows no sign of slowing, as dog parents seem more and more willing to spend big on their four-legged family members. “People are realizing that dogs aren’t just pets; they’re part of the family,” Aniston says of the trend. “As we become more conscious of what we put in and on our own bodies, we’re extending that care to our dogs.”
And unlike many of its competitors, LolaVie’s dog shampoo takes its love of pups far beyond the bottle by donating 100% of the profits to the Clydeo Fund, the organization Aniston started earlier this year to help support animal rescues around the world. “Animal rescue is incredibly close to my heart, and I’ve seen first-hand the difference these organizations make in giving animals a second chance at life,” the actress says. “By directing all the profits to the Clydeo Fund, I can help give back to causes that really matter and support organizations that are on the front lines of rescue and rehabilitation efforts.” The profit donation is a way to make a tangible impact and help animals in need, something Aniston has done on a personal level for years. “The Clydeo Fund is a way to extend that reach and create a way for other people who also want to give back,” she adds.
With the launch of the LolaVie dog shampoo, it seems it may no longer be just Aniston whose gorgeous locks are used as inspiration in hair salons everywhere but her dogs’ too. The actress hopes the shampoo will bring joy to millions of pups, whether they use it on their own fur or benefit from its donations to the Clydeo Fund. But more importantly, Aniston encourages her fellow dog lovers to adopt when you can, love unconditionally, and take the time to really understand your dog’s needs. “Dogs are incredible beings, and they teach us so much,” she says. “They give their hearts to us, and the least we can do is give them the best care and love we possibly can.”