A trained detection dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs tucked inside a recliner, behind a headboard or in a wall gap. For Cloverdale motels, campground cabins, apartments and homes with a guest room, a K9 team can cover a lot of space in a short visit.
When a Dog Makes Sense
- Motels and cabins where many rooms need a quick answer.
- Apartments or park homes next to a unit with reported bed bugs.
- Bites with nothing visible to the eye.
- Homes full of furniture and stored belongings.
- Confirming that a finished treatment worked.
How the Search Goes
- StartThe dog has been taught to react only to living bed bugs and eggs that can still hatch.
- SweepThe handler leads the dog past beds, chairs, trim and outlets in each room.
- SignalThe dog marks a spot by sitting or pointing its nose.
- VerifyThe handler checks every alert with their own eyes.
What to Ask a K9 Team
Ask where the dog was trained, which group certifies it, how often it practices and how the handler confirms alerts. Be wary of anyone who wants to treat a full motel wing or an entire park home on the basis of one alert nobody verified.
Along the Highway 101 corridor, a lodging owner who hears about bites from a guest can use a K9 sweep to decide quickly which neighboring rooms to pull from service.
Getting Ready for the Dog
- Keep household pets in another room or out of the house.
- Avoid scented candles, sprays and strong cooking odors that day.
- Do not apply any bug spray for several days before the search.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can a dog check a whole row of motel rooms?
Yes. Sweeping many rooms in one visit is one of the main reasons lodging owners hire a K9 team. It shows which rooms need treatment and which can stay booked.
If the dog alerts, is it definitely bed bugs?
No. Every alert should be confirmed by the handler with a visual check before any treatment is scheduled.
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 Cloverdale. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.