A trained detection dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs inside a couch frame, behind a dresser or under a bunk pad. For a Maxwell hunt club or a farm with more than one place to sleep, a dog team can sweep every room in a single visit.
When a Dog Makes Sense
- Duck club lodges and bunkhouses between hunting seasons.
- Bites with no visible bugs.
- Very early infestations with low numbers.
- Checking whether an earlier treatment succeeded.
- Large older homes with many closets and stored furniture.
What Happens During the Search
- PlanThe handler walks the property and picks the search order.
- SweepThe dog moves along beds, furniture, trim and outlets.
- AlertThe dog freezes, sits or noses the exact source of the odor.
- ConfirmThe handler checks each alert by eye before it counts.
Questions for the Handler
Ask where the dog was trained and certified, how often it works on live bed bugs and how the handler verifies an alert. Pass on any firm that wants to treat a whole lodge because of a single unconfirmed alert.
Getting Ready
- Put hunting dogs and house pets in a kennel or another building.
- Avoid air fresheners, candles and strong cooking smells that day.
- Do not apply insecticides for several days before the search.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can the dog search our lodge and the main house on one trip?
Most of the time, yes. Dog teams cover ground quickly, so adding a bunk room, lodge or guest trailer is routine. Name every building where people sleep when you book.
Should treatment start the moment the dog alerts?
No. Before any treatment, the handler needs to spot a live bug or egg right where the dog indicated. Only confirmed alerts should guide the treatment plan.
When you contact us: Bed Bug Control CA is a licensed California bed bug service. A licensed technician comes out to your Maxwell address to look for signs. We quote in writing, then treat once you say yes.