A trained dog can smell live bed bugs and viable eggs tucked inside a sofa frame, behind a headboard or in a crack along the wall. Many Jamul homes are large, and many properties have more than one building, so a K9 team can search a lot of space in a short visit.
When a Dog Is Worth It
- Large ranch homes with many bedrooms.
- Properties with a guest house, ADU or caretaker unit.
- Bites with nothing visible to the eye.
- Guest rooms that are used only now and then.
- Checking that a treatment worked.
How the Search Goes
- StartThe dog is trained to react only to live bed bugs and viable eggs.
- SweepThe handler leads the dog along beds, seating, trim and outlets, room by room.
- AlertThe dog sits or points its nose at the source.
- VerifyThe handler checks each alert by eye before any plan is made.
What to Ask a K9 Team
Ask who trained and certified the dog, how often it practices and how the handler confirms alerts. Be wary of a company that wants to treat every building on your parcel after one alert nobody has confirmed.
Getting Ready
- Keep household pets out of the rooms being searched.
- Avoid candles, sprays and strong cooking smells that morning.
- Do not apply any bug products in the days before.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Can the dog search the guest house and the main house on one trip?
Yes. Covering several buildings in a single visit is one of the best uses of a K9 team, and it shows which spaces are clear.
Will my horses or dogs distract the detection dog?
Keep your pets indoors elsewhere or out of the search area. Horses in a distant paddock are not a problem, but mention them to the handler.
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 Jamul. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.