A trained detection dog smells live bed bugs and viable eggs hiding in bed frames, couch seams and cracks along the wall. In San Joaquin houses with many sleepers, and in rental rooms that change hands with the harvest, a K9 team can check a lot of beds in one short visit.
Good Times to Use a Dog
- Houses with several bedrooms, bunks or couches used as beds.
- Rental rooms between one occupant and the next.
- Bites continue after a visual check found nothing.
- Worker housing checked before a new group moves in.
- Making sure an earlier treatment finished the job.
How a K9 Search Runs
- BriefingThe handler explains that the dog is trained on live bed bugs and viable eggs only.
- SweepThe dog is led past every mattress, bunk, sofa and baseboard in the home.
- AlertThe dog signals a spot by sitting or pointing with its nose.
- ConfirmThe handler checks each alert by sight for bugs or eggs.
Questions for the Handler
Ask where the dog was trained and certified, how often it is tested and how alerts are confirmed. Be wary of any offer to treat a whole house based on one unconfirmed alert. San Joaquin summers get very hot, so an early morning search is easier on the dog and the family.
Before the Team Shows Up
- Keep your own pets outside or shut in one room.
- Skip strong cooking smells, candles and air fresheners that day.
- Do not spray for bugs in the days before the search.
K9 Inspection Questions
Can a dog cover a house with lots of beds in one visit?
Yes. A trained dog works quickly, so bunk beds, cribs, couches and a back room can all be searched on the same trip.
Does a dog alert mean we treat right away?
Not yet. The handler must find live bugs or eggs by eye at each marked spot before anyone plans a treatment.
How your call is handled: Bed Bug Control CA is a free referral service. When you call or send the form, you are connected with an independent, licensed pest control company that serves San Joaquin. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.