A trained detection dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs inside a recliner frame, behind baseboards or deep in a closet. For Pinole apartment buildings, senior housing and larger family homes, a K9 team can cover many rooms quickly.
When a Dog Helps Most
- Apartment and senior buildings where several units need checking.
- Homes where a neighbor across the wall has bed bugs.
- Ongoing bites with nothing visible.
- Old Town houses with lots of trim and floor gaps.
- Confirming that a treatment worked.
How the Search Works
- StartThe dog is trained to respond only to live bugs and viable eggs.
- SearchOn a leash, the dog works along each mattress, chair, baseboard run and outlet while the handler watches for a change in behavior.
- SignalThe dog sits or points its nose at the source.
- VerifyThe handler checks every alert by sight.
Questions to Ask a K9 Team
Find out where the dog trained, which group certifies it, how often it practices and how the handler confirms alerts. Be wary of any company that wants to treat a whole building after one alert nobody has confirmed.
Before the Dog Arrives
- Put the family dog or cat in the yard or a closed room so the working dog can focus.
- Avoid scented candles, sprays and strong cooking odors that day.
- Hold off on any insect spray during the week leading up to the search.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can one visit cover several apartments?
Yes. Property managers often have a dog team sweep a row of units in one trip to see how far the bugs have spread.
If the dog alerts, do I definitely have bed bugs?
Not by itself. A Pinole company should have the handler find the actual bug or egg at each alerted spot before any treatment gets scheduled.
What happens when you reach out: Bed Bug Control CA is a licensed California bed bug service. Our team sets a visit time with you in Pinole. We quote in writing, then treat once you say yes.