My favorite grooming bag.

"A Standard Poodle? You're really jumping in with both feet!"

I heard this statement more times than I can count, when I first began showing my Standard Poodles in the AKC conformation ring. And, to be perfectly honest, there was a lot of truth to that statement!
Conformation dog shows have a bit of a learning curve for the novice. Add to that, all that comes with grooming and presenting a large size dog, dripping in hair... The dog show learning curve just increased about a billion percent!
So. Here I was, brand new to the world of dog shows, super green when it came to grooming and completely lost when trying to find the perfect bag for holding all the products I knew I needed to haul back and forth from shows. Not to mention, the ADDITIONAL products I didn't even know I needed, yet!

And so began my quest to find the perfect gear bag for my Poodles.

It took no time at all for me to become familiar with the great number of bags and totes made for the dog show and grooming rings. However, I soon came to realize that, while many different companies made dog show totes, they all tended to stick to the same types of molds. 
There was the plethora of soft sided totes, similar, in my experience, to various types of knitting totes I've collected over the years. And while I'm a gal who enjoys a bit of style flare, which the soft sided totes amply provided, the soft sided bags just didn't meet the requirement I had for a bag.
These soft sided bags can fit a lot of product. But what they have in general square footage, they lack in extra compartments, pockets and separate compartments for a wide variety of grooming products I haul around. And perhaps, most importantly, I was really looking forward to finding a bag that could also have safe storage for my scissors. 

The next style that caught my eye was the firm totes with a solid base and hard sides. These grooming totes met my critical need of having a tote that can stand on its own. The support from the solid bottom and sides of this style of bag, offered a great solution to stability when having to set my bag down during grooming sessions or when I'm rushing around at dog shows. 
Nearly all of the totes I examined, lacked the appropriate compartments I wanted to hold the variety of tools and products. 
I actually could have settled for these hard sided totes, but settling would mean giving up on a secure scissors compartment. And I really wanted a single bag for everything. I just didn't like the idea of having multiple bags or totes at dog shows, or as I was moving around in a grooming area. More bags means more opportunities for me to lose stuff. I can barely remember to do my hair for a dog show. Having to keep track of multiple grooming bags was going to be nearly impossible!

I really wanted an all-in-one grooming bag solution... And then I found it.

The perfect grooming bag for all my Poodle needs ended up being the Artero Tool Bag by Artero. The Artero Tool Bag came into my life by way of a grooming friend. She only had a couple of these bags in stock at her grooming shop, as the bags had just been released. Needless to say, after checking out the bag myself, I bought one of the two she had in stock, right there on the spot!
This Artero Tool Bag is sturdy. I can quickly pick it up, set it down, and not worry about appropriately balancing the bag so it won't topple if my grooming goodies get shifted during transport. 
There are also lots of pockets and bands to secure things like brushes, combs and provide places for the little important things, like poop bags, band cutters, and (my favorite) cotton balls. The two main compartments provide ample room for a variety of my grooming products. My sprays, conditioners, band containers, wraps and even a tennis ball or two, fit perfectly with no fear of falling out.
Perhaps my very favorite part of the Artero Tool Bag is... you guessed it! the scissor compartment. This compartment has a zipper closure and comfortably fits six of my shears, all snug, safe and NOT bumping into each other or other tools.
All of these pockets, pouches and compartments are topped with a large, sturdy handle that is easy to grab and comfortable to hold. What's more, the Artero Tool Bag also as an adjustable shoulder strap. This strap makes hauling the bag just that much easier.

In the time I've had this bag, I've taken it everywhere with me. All of my essential grooming products fit in this bag and there's still space left over!
I affectionately refer to this tool tote as my "go bag." The bag is always packed. Everything fits so easily inside, I rarely find a reason to unpack the bag. 
I often spend my evenings unwinding from a busy day, with a Poodle in my lap as I watch TV or listen to music. This is the most common time of day for me to brush my Poodles. Always by my side is my go bag, with everything I need at an arm's reach. 
I can honestly say that this Artero Tool Bag is almost as constantly near me as my Poodles... ALMOST! ;) 

If you want to get your hands on this amazing Artero Tool Bag for yourself, contact Primping Pooches at 907-441-6948. They will ship anywhere!
Or, if you want to go right to the source, head on over to the Artero website.

You're going to LOVE this bag!!