Dogs have been used to help find drugs, mold, and other items for criminals. They can smell things that humans cannot. Its noses are more sensitive than those of people. Putting an Explosive Detection K9 (EDK) with its nose close enough so it smells anything left behind.
About Bed Bug Dogs
Bed bug dogs are special types of canines. They have been specially trained to detect live or dead bed bugs, their feces, and their eggs. These animals can find a single egg in a space about the size of a thumbnail. The latter can turn into a problem since it is almost impossible to see.
A well-trained bed bug dog can detect live insects and eggs since it can smell them. The bugs leave an odor that humans cannot perceive. Detection dogs trained for this specific task are capable of finding just one bug or egg. This is near impossible for people to find without these animals’ sense of smell.
How Accurate Are Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs?
Scent-trained dogs are accurate in finding bed bugs in less than two minutes. The accuracy of these dogs is at 99%. They can find the exact location of the insects and their eggs when trained properly. Detection dogs with formal training can indicate an abundance or almost no presence of bed bugs. This is when indicated correctly through reliable behaviors. It makes them very useful for people who do not want pesticides spread all over their homes. The presence of more issues down the line is real.
Bed bug detection dogs are generally used instead of other methods that require chemicals like foggers or bombing. These chemicals may not be safe for humans especially children and elderly people. The direct physical inspection also needs close contact between crawling insects and people.
What Does the Research Say?
Experts say that dogs are not always needed in bed bug inspections. However, they do offer benefits over other methods. This is useful when the number of bugs is limited to certain areas like hotels and motels.
Bed bug detection dogs can also help people avoid having their homes exposed to pesticide treatments which might lead to health issues. These animals most likely cause less damage than insecticides. They only need a small surface where most chemicals spread over most parts of the home including bedrooms and living room.
Inspectors can use these trained canines for a more accurate method. It results in extra cost compared with visual inspection or using chemicals on one whole house or building.
How Accurate Are First Response Bed Bug Canine Detection Teams?
The accuracy of dogs depends on the handler and trainer. The success rate can also depend on what stage of an infestation they handle. Likewise, resistance to normal pesticides or not is a factor.
A typical first response bed bug dog inspection team for visual detection needs around 45 minutes. As for a canine-based one, it needs about 3 hours. This includes a physical inspection, travel time, and waiting time between inspections because dogs need rest often. They might still find bugs in areas where human inspectors miss out or vice versa.
What Are the Benefits of Canine Bed Bug Inspections?
They can find all stages of bed bugs. Some may cause potential health issues if not handled correctly such as asthma and allergies. These animals can detect where people cannot see like cracks and crevices. Sniffing dogs can help you avoid pesticide exposure.
Identifying Early Infestations
At the early stages of an infestation, you have several options. You can opt for DIY approaches or professional methods like dog inspections or chemical treatments. You can even decide to hire both services together if necessary.
Reduce Costs
Bed bug detection dogs only need a small surface to sniff and sniff over. A human inspector needs to check entire rooms, wall crevices, furniture, and places where debris lies such as floors and carpets. This takes time and money. The average cost of canine inspections is around $350 per hour as compared with $650 to $800 for visual inspection without a dog.
Identifying All stages including Viable Eggs
A study from the University of Florida, Gainesville revealed that trained canines can detect all five stages of bed bugs. Male and female adults live for a few months while it takes an additional two weeks to emerge from the larvae stage. The pupal stage lasts a few days until they become adults.
A bed bug life cycle includes multiple stages. A female can lay eggs in groups of one to 50. They take anywhere from six to 17 days. By the time she dies, a female will have laid hundreds, if not thousands, across her lifespan. This is around three months for each stage.
It develops from the egg until a mature adult that lives about 12 weeks or less on average. These bugs like warmer climates because their reproduction rate rises fast!
Non-Invasive
Using a canine bed bug inspection team in NYC, NJ, NJ, Long Island, & CT is safe because they do not bring any harmful substances. This method also helps avoid contact with these insects that may lead to allergies and asthma attacks.
Fast Inspection and Efficient
A visual inspection takes time because of the number of rooms and surfaces to check. A canine-based one uses shorter periods for sniffing on potential areas where bed bugs may be living, breeding, and hiding.
What to Ask Before You Book an Inspection
Whether you use a professionally trained canine or hire an inspector, always ask for their qualifications. A reputable company is more than happy to show its license and insurance certificates. They must also prove the effectiveness of using dogs for this purpose.
Ask how experienced the dog is. Casually asking for proof of their experience with infestations takes more time away from inspection. Request to see their work with their dogs throughout the process. You want to make sure that the canine is trained well enough and has done inspections before.
With the many advantages of canine bed bug inspections, it is no wonder why more and more people prefer this method to other solutions. These animals can help you address an infestation fast and effectively! They are safe, non-invasive, and effective in all stages of an infestation including pupae and eggs.
