A trained dog can pick up the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs through cushions, wood trim and small wall gaps. For Santa Rosa apartment complexes, student houses with many bedrooms and larger homes in Fountaingrove or Skyhawk, a K9 team covers a lot of rooms in a short time.
When a Dog Makes Sense
- Complexes where several apartments need checking the same day.
- Rented houses shared by 4 or 5 roommates.
- Large homes with many bedrooms and guest rooms.
- Bites with no bugs or stains anyone can find.
- A final check to confirm treatment worked.
How the Search Goes
- StartThe dog is trained to react only to live bugs and viable eggs.
- SearchThe handler walks it past beds, seating, baseboards and walls.
- SignalThe dog sits or points at the source of the scent.
- CheckThe handler looks at each spot and records what is confirmed.
Questions to Ask First
Ask where the dog was trained and certified, how often the team practices on known samples, and whether the handler visually confirms every alert. Treat any plan to treat a whole complex from one unconfirmed alert with caution.
Before the Team Arrives
- Put pets in a room that is not on the search list.
- Avoid heavy cooking, candles and air fresheners that day.
- Do not use any bug spray in the days leading up.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Will the dog bother my cat or dog?
Detection dogs are calm and focused on the job, and the handler controls them the whole time. Still, keep your own pets shut in a room that is not being searched.
Does one alert mean the whole building gets treated?
It should not. The handler needs to confirm each alert, and treatment should go where bugs are actually found.
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 Santa Rosa. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.