A trained detection dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs hidden in a futon frame, behind cabin paneling or along a loose baseboard. For Guerneville properties with several units, such as small resorts and groups of rental cabins, a K9 team can check a lot of space in a short visit.
When a Dog Helps Most
- Small resorts and inns with a row of guest rooms or cabins.
- Vacation rentals that need a fast check between bookings.
- Bites with no bugs visible to the eye.
- Older cabins with paneling, lofts and many hiding spots.
- Confirming a treatment worked before the next guest arrives.
How the Search Works
- StartA properly trained dog reacts only to live bed bugs and eggs able to hatch.
- SweepOn leash, the dog works along beds, bunks, couches, paneling and outlets in each room.
- AlertThe dog signals a find by sitting or pointing its nose at the spot.
- ConfirmThe handler inspects each alert and verifies it by sight.
Questions to Ask a K9 Team
Ask where the dog was trained, which group certifies the team and how often it practices. Also ask how every alert gets confirmed. Think twice if a company wants to treat an entire resort based on one alert that nobody has verified.
Before the Dog Arrives
- Keep your own pets in a space the team will not search.
- Hold off on incense, scented candles and wood smoke indoors that day.
- Skip bug sprays for several days before the search.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can one K9 visit cover a small resort with several cabins?
Usually, yes. Dogs move quickly from unit to unit, which is why they are popular with small resorts and hosts who manage more than one rental.
If the dog alerts, do I have bed bugs for sure?
Not yet. The handler has to find the bugs or eggs at each alert spot before anyone plans a 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 Guerneville. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.