A trained dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs tucked into a couch frame, behind a baseboard or inside a headboard. In Del Rey homes with beds in almost every room, a K9 team can sweep the whole house in a short visit.
When a Dog Search Pays Off
- Houses where nearly every room holds a bed.
- Properties with a garage room or small unit out back.
- Spare rooms that change occupants after harvest.
- Bites with nothing visible on the beds.
- Making sure a treatment actually worked.
How the Dog Works
- TrainingThe dog is taught to react only to live bed bugs and viable eggs.
- SweepThe handler walks the dog along beds, couches, trim and outlets in every room.
- AlertThe dog sits or points its nose at the source.
- ConfirmThe handler inspects each alert spot by eye.
Questions to Ask the Handler
Find out where the dog was trained, who certified the team, how often they practice and how they verify alerts. Be wary of any company that wants to treat your whole Del Rey property based on one alert nobody could confirm.
Preparing for the Dog
- Keep your own pets out of the rooms being searched.
- Skip air fresheners, candles and heavy cooking smells that day.
- Do not spray pesticide in the days before the visit.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can the dog check the garage room and the house together?
Yes. Most handlers can search every building on the property in one trip, which shows whether bugs have moved from one to the other.
The dog sat by the couch. Does that settle it?
No. The handler should find a live bug or an egg at that spot before anyone plans a treatment around it.
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 Del Rey. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.