A trained dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs hidden inside a sofa frame, behind a loose baseboard or in the joint of a bunk bed. For a Biola property with a main house, a guest room and rooms for workers, a K9 team can check many beds in one quick visit.
Situations Where a Dog Helps Most
- A ranch lot with two or more houses.
- Large families with a bed in almost every room.
- Rooms that turn over each raisin harvest.
- Bites but no bugs anyone can find.
- Follow-up checks after treatment.
How the Search Goes
- PreparationThe dog is trained to respond only to live bed bugs and viable eggs.
- WalkthroughThe handler leads the dog past beds, sofas, trim and outlets in each room.
- SignalThe dog sits or points its nose at the spot.
- CheckThe handler confirms every alert by sight before any treatment.
Questions to Ask the K9 Team
Find out where the dog trained, which group certified the team, how often they practice and how the handler confirms alerts. Walk away from any company that wants to treat an entire Biola property on the strength of a single alert that nobody checked.
Preparing for the Dog Visit
- Keep your own dogs and cats out of the rooms being searched.
- Avoid scented candles, air fresheners and strong cooking smells that day.
- Do not apply insecticide for several days before the search.
K9 Inspection Questions
Can one visit cover the house and the second home on our ranch?
Usually, yes. Many K9 teams search every building on a lot in a single trip, which also shows whether bed bugs have crossed from one house to the other.
If the dog alerts, is that proof of bed bugs?
Not by itself. At each place the dog marks, the handler must find live bugs or eggs before anyone writes up a treatment plan.
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 Biola. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.