Kennel Grooming Setup: Tools and Accessories to Store
By Howling Dog Alaska | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Tips & Care
Build a kennel grooming setup that keeps tools clean, contained, and ready. Steps for choosing storage, placement, and a weatherproof kit for travel days.
Quick answer
Set up a kennel grooming kit in three zones: a sealed brush box, a leakproof wash caddy, and a weatherproof tote that stays with the kennel. Keep tools within arm's reach of the kennel door so grooming happens in the same spot every time, and choose kennel accessories that close securely when the kennel moves. A crate cover such as Mud River Dakota 283 Crate Covers can keep a stored kit warmer and more contained in chilly weather.
Choose storage that survives kennel life
Kennel storage takes more abuse than a bathroom shelf: it gets bumped, stacked, and loaded into vehicles. Pick containers with a positive latch, a wipe-clean interior, and a lid that stays attached. Soft-sided bags work for brushes, but wet towels and shampoo need a rigid, leakproof caddy so moisture does not soak the rest of your kit. If your kennel sits in an unheated space, an insulated cover over the crate area can also keep a stored grooming bag from getting damp and cold between uses.
Place tools where grooming actually happens
Most kennel grooming problems are placement problems, not tool problems. Store the kit at the kennel door, not across the yard. Keep the brush box on top of the kennel or on a wall hook, and keep the wash caddy on the floor beside the entry. That way you can reach a towel or comb without stepping away from a wet or muddy dog. Avoid storing clippers and blades in a closed, humid kennel cabinet; let them air-dry fully before they go back in the box.
Build a travel kit that stays packed
A kennel grooming kit only helps if it is already packed when you leave. Keep a duplicate set of the basics in a small tote that lives with the kennel: a slicker brush, a metal comb, nail clippers, styptic powder, ear wipes, a quick-dry towel, and waste bags. Because kennels get loaded and unloaded, choose a tote with a handle and a flat base so it does not tip. If your dog travels in a covered crate, the cover doubles as a place to tuck the tote so it does not slide around.
Clean and reset the kit after every session
Grooming tools fail quietly: hair packs into brush bristles, shampoo dries in caps, and clipper blades dull against dirty coats. After each session, pull hair out of brushes, rinse the caddy, and wipe clipper blades before storage. Check that lids and latches still close. This two-minute reset is the difference between a kit that is ready next time and one you have to rebuild from scratch.
Your kennel grooming setup, step by step
- 1. Sort tools into three groups: Separate dry tools (brushes, combs, clippers), wet supplies (shampoo, towels, rinse cup), and health items (ear wipes, styptic powder, paw balm). Common mistake: mixing wet and dry items in one bag, which rusts blades and sours towels.
- 2. Match each group to the right container: Use a lidded brush box for dry tools, a rigid leakproof caddy for wet supplies, and a small handled tote for health items and waste bags. Checkpoint: every container closes on its own and can be carried one-handed.
- 3. Stage the kit at the kennel door: Place the brush box at kennel height, the caddy on the floor beside the entry, and the health tote on a hook or shelf within reach. Common mistake: storing the kit in a house closet, which turns a five-minute groom into a trip back and forth.
- 4. Add a weather layer for cold or damp kennels: If your kennel sits in a garage, trailer, or unheated room, use a crate cover to shield the stored kit and the dog from drafts and damp air. Checkpoint: the cover fits your crate size and still allows airflow.
- 5. Pack a duplicate travel tote: Keep a second, smaller kit packed with the kennel so grooming does not depend on remembering to grab supplies before a trip. Common mistake: packing the travel tote only when you leave, which leads to forgotten clippers and wet towels.
- 6. Reset the kit after each session: Remove hair from brushes, rinse and dry the caddy, wipe blades, and confirm every lid and latch still closes before the kit goes back in place. Checkpoint: if a latch is loose or a towel is still damp, fix it now instead of storing the problem.
Kennel accessories that support a grooming setup
- Mud River Dakota 283 Crate Covers: Mud River Dakota 283 Crate Covers are heavy duty crate covers sold separately from the crate, and the catalog notes they are an excellent accessory if you need extra storage or want to keep your dog warm in chilly weather. A cover adds a storage-friendly layer and warmth around the crate, which helps when a grooming kit is stored in a cold garage or vehicle between sessions.
- 2D Side Entry: The 2D Side Entry kennel is described as the most versatile kennel, created for ease of entry, able to fit into any space, and accessible from two sides; it is created in one solid piece and is molded and assembled in the USA. Two-sided access means you can reach a dog from the side while keeping grooming tools staged at the other opening, which reduces wrestling during nail trims and towel-drying.
- G3 Large Framed Kennel: The G3 Large Framed Kennel is created in one solid piece with an ultra-secure lock, and is molded and assembled in the USA. A single-piece kennel with a secure lock gives you a stable surface to set a grooming caddy beside, and less risk of a dog pushing a door open mid-session.
