A detection dog can smell live bed bugs and viable eggs tucked inside a sofa frame, a camper bunk or the paneling of a manufactured home. On Boulevard properties with more than one place to sleep, a K9 team can clear several buildings in one short visit.
When a Dog Makes Sense
- Lots with a main house plus a granny flat, mobile home or RV.
- A camper that has been parked for a season.
- Bites with no bugs found by eye.
- Spare bedrooms used only when family visits.
- Checking that a treatment actually worked.
How the Search Goes
- StartIts training teaches the dog to signal only on living bed bugs and eggs that can still hatch.
- SweepThe handler leads the dog along beds, furniture, trim and outlets in each space.
- AlertThe dog sits or fixes its nose on the source.
- ConfirmThe handler checks every alert by eye.
What to Ask the K9 Team
Ask where the dog was trained, which group certifies it, how often it trains and how the handler confirms alerts. Ask as well whether travel to Boulevard is billed separately. Be wary if anyone wants to treat every structure based on a single alert that was never confirmed.
Prep for the Dog
- Keep your own dogs and cats shut away from the search area.
- Hold off on candles, air fresheners and strong cooking that day.
- Do not use any insect spray in the days beforehand.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can one K9 visit cover the house and a travel trailer?
Yes. Checking several structures in a single trip is where a dog saves the most time, and it is especially handy when the drive out to Boulevard is long.
Is a dog alert enough proof to start treatment?
No. Every alert needs a follow-up look by the handler, who must find actual bugs or eggs before anyone schedules 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 Boulevard. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.