A trained dog can smell live bed bugs and viable eggs behind trim, inside upholstery and in wall gaps. On a Valley Center property with a main house, a guest cottage and a converted barn, a K9 team can cover all of it in far less time than a person working alone.
When a Dog Is Worth It
- Large estate homes with many bedrooms.
- Properties with guest houses, caretaker units or bunk rooms.
- Rented cottages that sit on the same lot as the owner's home.
- Bites with no bugs anyone can find.
- Confirming the job worked after treatment.
How the Search Works
- Warm-upThe dog is trained to react only to live bugs and eggs that can hatch.
- Room by roomThe handler leads it along beds, furniture, trim and walls in each building.
- SignalThe dog sits, stares or points at the spot it smells.
- Visual checkThe handler looks at every alert and notes what was confirmed.
What to Ask the Company
Ask who certified the dog, how often the team trains, and whether every alert is confirmed by eye before treatment is planned. A plan to treat every building on the property because of one unconfirmed alert deserves a second opinion.
Getting Ready
- Shut your own dogs and cats away from the search areas.
- Avoid scented candles, sprays and heavy cooking that morning.
- Skip any bug spray in the days before the visit.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Will the detection dog upset my own dogs or horses?
The handler keeps the dog on task and under control. Put your own pets in a closed room or yard during the search, and let the company know about barn animals ahead of time.
Does one alert mean every building gets treated?
No. The handler should confirm each alert by looking, and treatment should go only to the rooms and buildings where bugs are really found.
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 Valley Center. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.