A detection dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs inside a sofa, behind a dresser or under baseboard trim. For a Beckwourth house with several bedrooms that sit empty much of the year, a K9 team can check them all in a single visit.
Good Times to Use a Dog
- Opening a summer place after a long winter.
- Bites with no visible bug.
- Small, early infestations.
- Checking results before the crew heads back down Hwy 70.
- Screening a used bed or couch before it comes indoors.
How the Search Works
- PlanThe handler walks the house and picks a search route.
- SniffThe dog works beds, furniture, trim and outlets.
- AlertThe dog sits or points its nose at a scent source.
- ConfirmThe handler inspects each alert and verifies it by sight.
Questions Worth Asking
Ask where the dog trained and certified, how often the team practices with live bed bug samples and how alerts are confirmed. Be wary of anyone who wants to treat rooms based on dog alerts that no one has backed up with a visual find.
Getting Ready for the Team
- Keep your own pets shut in a room, a truck or a kennel during the search.
- Avoid air fresheners, candles and strong cooking smells that day.
- Do not spray any insecticide for several days before.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Is a dog search a good idea before family arrives for summer?
It often is. A K9 team can clear a whole house in one trip, so you know the guest beds are safe before anyone sleeps in them.
Does treatment begin as soon as the dog alerts?
No. The handler needs to find live bugs or eggs where the dog pointed before any treatment is planned.
What happens when you reach out: Bed Bug Control CA handles bed bug work from the first inspection to the final check. A licensed technician comes out to your Beckwourth address to look for signs. Nothing is treated until you approve the price in writing.