How accurate are bed bug dogs?

A certified K9 team provides the most accurate bed bug inspection available, more accurate than a visual inspection alone.

Can bed bug dogs find eggs?

Our certified bed bug K9s are able to find all bed bug life stages including viable eggs, nymphs and adults.

Will the dogs detect dead bed bugs?

Short answer, No! We train our detection K9s to only alert on live bed bugs and viable eggs. Yes, they will smell the dead bugs but they won't alert on them. This allows us to perform post-treatment inspections with accuracy.

What are the dogs actually smelling and alerting to?

Bed bugs may be very small but they release enough odor for even small infestations or single bugs to be detected. The proteins bed bugs are made from, the blood they injest and the variety of phermones they broadcast create a scent cocktail. Even viable bed bug eggs have a specific odor that the dogs are trained to alert on.

What does the dog do when it finds bed bugs?

When one of our K9 partners detects live bed bugs or viable eggs, they perform what is called a 'Passive Alert'. It's a bit like freeze tag, the dog stops at the source of the odor and doesn't move. They do not scratch, chew, bite or bark. Once the handler confirms the presence of live bed bugs, the dog is rewarded with their favorite toy.

How are bed bug dogs trained?

Our bed bug detection dogs are trained in-house by our own WDDO-certifed trainer. We use the same general training principles as police dogs who search for drugs or military dogs searching for explosives. It is a reward based training that high-drive dogs thrive on!

Where do the dogs come from?

Most of our dogs come from shelters, rescues or are re-homed by their prvious owners. We do not breed puppies, we find great dogs that need jobs.

What are the advantages of using a bed bug detection dog?

There are many benefits to using our super sniffers. Bed bug dogs can detect early infestions making treatment easier and reducing costs. Bed bug dogs are also very effecient in their search and require very little preparation and disruption, unlike a thorough visual bed bug inspection where mattresses and box springs may have to be moved, sheets taken off beds, outlet covers removed, carpet lifted, etc.

Should property managers hire bed bug sniffing dogs?

Certified bed bug K9 teams are actually recognized in courts of law and are considered a scientific instrument. Using one of our K9 teams can greatly reduce liablities for property managers. Our K9 teams can search dozens or hundreds of apartment units in a day (depending on the number of K9 teams deployed) this gives property managers an understanding of the level of units needing treatment.

As an independent third-party, properly licensed, with certified K9 teams, Green Dog Inspections offers both tenants and property managers peace of mind that they are doing everyting possible to control bed bug issues.