A detection dog picks up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs inside sofa frames, behind baseboards and in wall gaps a person cannot see into. For Pittsburg apartment complexes, duplexes and busy family homes, a K9 team covers a lot of rooms in one short visit.
When a Dog Helps Most
- Apartment buildings where one unit has reported bugs.
- Duplexes and homes with an attached in-law unit.
- Bites with nothing visible to the eye.
- Checking a vacant rental before new tenants arrive.
- Confirming that a treatment worked.
How the Search Works
- StartThe dog is trained to respond only to live bed bugs and eggs that can hatch.
- SweepThe handler leads it along beds, couches, baseboards and outlets in each room.
- SignalThe dog sits or points its nose at the source.
- VerifyThe handler checks each alert and confirms it visually.
Questions to Ask a K9 Team
Find out who trained and certified the dog, how often the team practices and how the handler verifies alerts. Be wary of any company that wants to treat a whole complex after one unconfirmed alert.
Before the Dog Arrives
- Keep your pets in another room or away from home during the search.
- Avoid candles, sprays and heavy cooking smells that morning.
- Do not apply any bug spray in the days before.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can one visit cover several apartments?
Yes. Owners of Pittsburg and Bay Point complexes often have a dog sweep a row of units in one trip to see how far the bugs have traveled.
If the dog sits, do I definitely have bed bugs?
Not yet. The handler should find the bugs or eggs by eye at that spot before any treatment is planned.
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 Pittsburg. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.