A detection dog picks up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs tucked inside a sofa frame, behind a headboard or in a crack by the wall. For Sonoma inns, licensed vacation rentals and homes with a guest cottage, a K9 team can cover a lot of rooms in a short visit.
When a Dog Helps Most
- Inns and bed and breakfasts that need to check many rooms at once.
- Licensed rentals between guest stays.
- Bites with no visible bugs.
- Older homes with deep trim and plank floors.
- Checking that a treatment worked.
How the Search Works
- ArrivalThe dog is trained to respond only to live bed bugs and viable eggs.
- SweepThe handler leads the dog along beds, chairs, baseboards and outlets, room by room.
- AlertThe dog sits or points its nose at the spot.
- ConfirmThe handler looks closely at every alert.
Questions to Ask a K9 Team
Ask who trained and certified the dog, how often the team practices and how alerts get confirmed. Be cautious if a company wants to treat every room of an inn after one alert that nobody has checked by eye.
Before the Dog Arrives
- Keep your own dogs and cats out of the search area.
- Hold off on scented candles, diffusers and heavy cooking that day.
- Do not spray for bugs in the days before the search.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can a dog check a whole inn in one visit?
Often, yes. A K9 team can move through many rooms quickly, which helps an innkeeper find out whether a problem stayed in one room or spread.
Is a dog alert enough to start treatment?
No. The handler should confirm each alert by finding the bug, egg or other evidence 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 Sonoma. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.