A trained detection dog can smell live bed bugs and viable eggs hidden in a sofa frame, under baseboard trim or behind a headboard. In a Bonita home with 4 or 5 bedrooms plus a guest unit, a K9 team can cover every space in one short visit.
When a Dog Makes Sense
- Large houses with several bedrooms and a bonus room.
- Properties with a casita, barn apartment or caretaker unit.
- Bites with nothing found by a visual check.
- Rooms packed with stored furniture or boxes.
- Confirming a treatment worked before guests return.
How the Search Goes
- Set upThe dog is trained to respond only to live bed bugs and viable eggs.
- SweepThe handler walks the dog along beds, furniture, trim and outlets, room by room.
- AlertThe dog sits or points its nose at the spot.
- ConfirmThe handler checks each alert by sight.
What to Ask a K9 Team
Ask where the dog was trained, who certified it, how often the team practices and how alerts are confirmed. Be wary of any company that wants to treat a whole house and every outbuilding because of one unconfirmed alert.
Getting Ready for the Dog
- Put family pets in a room or yard the team will not search.
- Avoid scented candles, sprays and strong cooking odors that day.
- Skip any bug spray in the days before the visit.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Will the dog be bothered by our horses or other animals?
Tell the handler about any animals on the property ahead of time. Most teams simply keep pets and livestock away from the rooms being searched.
Is a dog alert proof of bed bugs?
No. The handler has to confirm each alert by eye before a treatment plan is written.
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 Bonita. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.