Bed Bug Detection Dogs: The Ultimate Guide

Bed bug detection dogs are, surprisingly, a relatively new invention in the pest management world, with training beginning roughly around 2011.

This might be surprising, considering that we’ve known about dogs’ detection abilities for some couple tens of thousands of years.

But it’s better late than never!

So, how does it work?

Noble Noses

As we all know, dogs have exceptional smelling abilities. Some data estimates that a dog’s sense of smell is about 45 times better than a human’s.

That may be increased even more with certain breeds that are specifically trained to be great sniffers, like beagles, retrievers, and shepherd dogs.

Regardless, all dogs have better sniffing abilities than humans. In fact, bed bug detection dogs’ ability to find bed bugs have up to 97% accuracy.

The best benefit of bed bug dogs is that they can find the exact spot where bed bugs are, instead of having to spend time being unsure or only having a general area to work with.

Dogs are specifically trained to find bed bugs in tight, hard-to-reach, and other hidden spots that could have been completely missed by human inspection.

Bed Bug Detection Dogs Training

So, how do bed bug dogs even get trained?

It does depend on the organization training them, but detection dogs can go through up to 1,000 hours of training! Our dogs are trained and certified by a trained and certified handler before heading out into the field.

The dogs are trained to sniff out the pheromones of bed bugs. In their training, the trainer teaches the detection dogs the scent of the bed bug, then goes about hiding it in various ways.

The dogs are then sent to detect the hidden scent of the bed bugs, ignoring other scents and other substances in the way. This is the same way that drug-sniffing dogs are trained, so you know the training method is tried and true.

And lastly, don’t worry about the bed bug dogs being used elsewhere in the bed bug removal process. Their job is to detect, and they do it well. Humans’ jobs are better at exterminating, but only with the help of our furry friends.

Want The Best Bed Bug Detection Dogs?

Our dogs are efficient, accurate, and discrete, being able to clear a room in only 2 to 3 minutes So if you’re looking for the best detection dogs around, contact us now at 732-532-0023!