A trained dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs tucked inside a recliner frame, behind loose trim or along a wall gap. On a Descanso property with a main house, a loft and a spare room, a K9 team can cover all of it in one fairly short visit.
Where a Dog Earns Its Keep
- Parcels with several buildings where people sleep.
- Guest spaces used only now and then, where bites are rare.
- Bites with nothing found by a visual search.
- Older houses with plenty of trim and floor gaps.
- A final check after treatment.
How the Search Runs
- StartScent training teaches the dog to react to live bed bugs and viable eggs, nothing else.
- SweepThe handler leads it along beds, sofas, trim and outlets, room by room and building by building.
- AlertThe dog sits or points its nose at the spot.
- ConfirmThe handler inspects each alert by eye.
What to Ask the Handler
Find out where the dog trained, which group certifies it, how often it practices and how alerts get checked. Be wary of any company that wants to treat every building on a ranch because of one alert that nobody has confirmed.
Preparing for the Visit
- Keep your dogs, cats and horses clear of the areas being searched.
- Skip scented candles, air sprays and heavy cooking smells that day.
- Do not spray insecticide in the days before the search.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Will our horses or dogs distract the detection dog?
They can. Keep your pets indoors elsewhere or kenneled, and keep horses away from any barn loft being searched so the dog can focus on the job.
Is a dog alert enough to start treatment?
No. The handler needs to confirm each alert by finding the bugs or eggs before anyone plans 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 Descanso. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.