At Northwest K9 Bed Bug Detective, we provide bed bug dog inspections in Seattle, Tacoma, and the surrounding areas. Bed bug detection dogs are the most accurate tool for confirming early bed bug infestations. They can inspect multiple rooms in a fraction of the time that humans can perform a visual inspection and with a much greater accuracy rate. Visual inspections when done in the first few weeks of an infestation offer a 25% chance on average of being able to find bedbugs, eggs or evidence of a new infestation. In comparison, our K9 bed bug detection teams are successful in finding bugs, eggs and evidence 97% of the time on average even in the earliest stages of an infestation. They can even find as little as one single bug or egg! Contact us today to schedule a dog inspection.
Where Can Bed Bugs Hide?
Bed bugs range in size. Once their eggs hatch the nymphs are very tiny, clear color, and have 5 growth stages. Each stage they grow slightly larger until they reach adulthood and are about the size of an apple seed. They can flatten out and are notoriously elusive pests hiding inside cracks of wood furniture, box-springs, books, pictures, many places they cannot be seen at all or easily with the human eye. They can hide in a wide range of places, and inside items including but not limited to:
- Hotels
- Homes
- Apartments
- Cruise ships
- Fishing ships
- Airplanes
- Busses
- Cars
- Temporary rentals AirBnb, Vacasa
- Hospitals
- Library books
- Cracks and crevices in wooden furniture or flooring
- Mattresses and furniture
- Picture frames
- And many other areas in homes, businesses, or any place many people frequent
How Do Dogs Detect Bed Bugs?
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell that is so accurate that trained and certified detection dogs are sometimes used as scientific instruments in a court of law. That same sense of smell is used to detect bed bugs with proper training. Dogs can track scents through snow, air, mud, water, and ash, which makes them a great asset for scent detection.
Bed Bug Dog Training
Our highly trained bed bug detection dogs are capable of recognizing the odor of live bed bugs and their eggs with their keen sense of smell. This is achieved through a food or toy reward training method, where the dogs are rewarded for correctly identifying the scent and are consistently calibrated through daily training. Our bed bug detection dogs are an extremely reliable way to detect live bed bugs and eggs.
How Effective Are Dog Inspections?
At Northwest K9 Bed Bug Detective, we understand how important it is to be able to detect and remove bed bugs as quickly and effectively as possible. Our specially trained and certified K9 Teams offer a 97% accuracy rate for finding live bed bugs or eggs. They are trained to ignore dead bed bugs and eggs. The dogs are also very fast and can inspect multiple rooms, apartments or buildings in a fraction of the time it takes a human. This allows us to offer regular ongoing K9 inspections for customers who operate high-risk businesses that can become infested frequently due to the high number of customers coming and going.
Why Use Dogs for Inspections?
When it comes to detecting bed bug infestations, humans are not the most reliable. Our eyes are not great at detecting these tiny pests before a major problem has developed. The secret to minimizing cost and hassle of eliminating bed bug infestations is to identify the infestation at the earliest possible time before the bugs have time to populate and spread in a home, or business. That is why dogs are often used for inspections; their incredible sense of smell is unmatched, and they can detect bed bugs at the earliest possible time quickly and accurately. With the help of dogs, infestations can be identified and treated before they become a major issue.
What Happens if the Dog Detects Bed Bugs?
Our highly trained dog will be able to detect the presence of bed bugs and indicate to our technician exactly where they are located. If bed bugs or eggs are identified, we can then discuss the available treatment options and provide clients with the best option. We offer a variety of treatment solutions including non-pesticide, pesticide and thermal heat treatment solutions. Due to the accuracy of the dog inspections we can customize solutions based on the size and scope of the infestation.
When Should I Get a Bed Bug Inspection?
If you are experiencing bites and you do not know what is biting you, or if you suspect your home or business may have a bed bug infestation due to something you have seen the best thing you can do is to schedule an inspection to confirm if your home or business is infested. Our bed bug K9 team is highly trained and incredibly accurate, so you can trust that the inspection will give the most accurate assessment and or confirmation of an infestation. An inspection is the first step to ensure your home or business remains bed bug free.
If you suspect you may have a bed bug problem, don't wait. Contact Northwest K9 Bed Bug Detective in Seattle, Tacoma, or the surrounding areas today to schedule a bed bug dog inspection.