What is a bed bug sniffing dog?
A bed bug sniffing dog is a dog that has been specially trained to detect bed bugs through their scent, and to signal the location of the pest to a dog handler.
These dogs use their highly sensitive sense of smell to locate bed bugs in all stages of their lifecycle, from eggs to adults, which can be particularly useful in early detection of infestations. Their keen sense of smell allows them to pinpoint bed bugs in places that are not easily visible to humans, such as inside furniture, behind sockets, and even in tiny cracks.
Bed bug sniffing dogs undergo rigorous training to follow the scent of bed bugs to the source, and then point out the source to a human. Our dogs have been trained to freeze and stare as soon as they located bed bugs. This training involves positive reinforcement techniques, where the dogs are rewarded with playtime for correctly communicating the location of bed bugs.
Benefits of bed bug sniffing dogs
Quick
Bed bug sniffer dogs find bed bugs way faster than humans can. This is because humans rely on their eyes, but dogs rely on their powerful noses. For example, our dogs can accurately scan an entire bedroom for bed bugs in about one minute.
Accurate
Bed bug sniffing dogs are excellent at sniffing out exactly where the bed bugs are hiding, even in tiny spots we humans can’t see. Merlin’s dogs have benchmarked at up to 98% accuracy, making them the best in class at bed bug detection.
Prevention
Since dogs can search large spaces in a short amount of time, they can be used regularly as part of an early detection strategy. Detecting bed bugs early means we can remove the problem as soon as it begins.
Relax
When a location has been scanned for bed bugs by dogs and pest control dog handlers, you can relax knowing that the place has been checked thoroughly and that any bed bugs found have been eliminated.
How accurate are bed bug sniffing dogs?
Sniffer dogs trained to detect bed bugs are the best method for identifying these pests. Their effectiveness largely depends on the training level of the dog and the handler’s ability to understand the dog’s cues about where the bed bugs are located.
Top-notch teams, like ours at Merlin, achieve accuracy rates as high as 98%. This means in controlled tests, where bed bugs are hidden on purpose, our dogs will clearly indicate the location of the hidden bed bugs 98% of the time.
What makes our detection success rate so high is the strong bond between the dog and its handler. Our dog handlers form close relationships through training and play with their dedicated dog partner, before tackling bed bug searches together at a client’s location.
Another crucial factor is ongoing assessments. We regularly test our bed bug detection dogs to maintain their high success rate. If a dog doesn’t meet our strict standards, we temporarily suspend its active duties until its performance improves.
We’re so confident in our detection success that we offer complimentary bed bug detection demonstrations. You can participate in hiding bed bugs and then watch as our skilled dogs locate them. These demonstrations can be arranged in our testing facilities or at your location. Schedule your free demo today.
While our dogs have very high detection rates, the same can’t be said for all bed bug sniffer dog services you might see advertised. We were the Europe’s first company to offer bed bug sniffer dogs (back in 1998) so we’ve had a long time to perfect our approach. Since our dogs are the most reliable in the industry, some of the world’s most recognised pest control providers sub-contract our dogs under their brand.
How are bed bug sniffing dogs used?
Bed bug sniffer dogs are typically used for bed bug detection on large sites that are prone to infestation, including planes, trains, buses, ships, hotels and hostels. In fact, most businesses in the hospitality and transport sectors are susceptible to bed bugs.
Normally what happens is a dog and pest control technician will enter each room. The dog will search for the scent of bed bugs. If the dog discovers bed bugs it will indicate the location to the technician. The technician will use a targeted heat treatment to kill all bed bugs in the location that was flagged. Heat is the best way to kill bed bugs because it destroys the eggs, nymphs, and adults. Once the bed bugs are destroyed the search continues.
Hospitality
Our approach
The benefits of a detection canine being used in the hospitality industry is the accuracy of the detection canines as opposed to their human counterparts. These canines can pinpoint a single bed bug in a hotel room, laundry area or even in a single vacuum cleaner. When canine screening are carried out on a whole site then this really does provide a comprehensive overview of the site. Any bed bugs found can be treated in a completely non-toxic way at, the same time, by the fully qualified operative. This is a major benefit to the site, as the room can go back into use the same day.
The main benefit of a business having a quarterly proactive inspection is that it becomes an early warning system for any budding issues that could manifest into bigger problems. It also gives the customer peace of mind that bed bug issues are found and resolved as and when they arise. We also provide free training to housekeeping staff to enable them to identify the signs of bed bugs, which then becomes a total one team ethos, and each part of the process is supported by both parties.
Care homes
Our approach
The ability to screen a care home with the least upheaval for both staff and residents is key. The bed bug detection canines are swift and efficient at what they do. They are also trained not to bark or disturb either staff or residents, so we can screen a room even with a sleeping resident in. So, the screen can be completed discreetly and quickly to allow minimal disruption to the resident’s normal daily routines.
The option of treatment is also available should any activity be identified during the screening, if this is not feasible on the day, we would simply return on a day of the customers’s choosing.
Transport
All transport sectors can be affected by the presence of bed bugs, and some must even deal with large financial settlements because of it. Trains, planes, and even automobiles can become harbourage for these hardy insects. There are many scenarios where bed bugs can become an issue, from passenger complaints on aircrafts, buses or coaches, and even haulage firms that employ drivers with overnight stays in their cabs. All these businesses can face legal issues if bed bugs are found.
Our approach
With the use of our bed bug detection canines, we can search transport environments and ascertain if there is any activity or not. Because of the speed of our specially trained canines, an A380 aircraft can be completed from nose to tail in a couple of hours, and it would take only an afternoon to search a complete fleet of haulage units. Trains are another transport mode that can be searched in a very short space of time. Human operatives would take a lot longer because they rely on sight to find bed bugs.
We recommend a proactive service with bed bug detection canines to ensure consistent long-term results. Proactive pest control provides you with important data on spread patterns over extended timeframes. Leveraging our proactive approach also helps pinpoint any underlying issue, which when rectified, can result in the end of recurrences. The other major benefit of a proactive approach is the peace of mind that it gives you because a clear record of proactive bed bug detection can assist in fighting false claims against the service.
Vessels
Our approach
The benefit of the use of bed bug detection canines on these liners and yachts are similar to that of hotels. The bed bug detection canines are able to screen the biggest cruise liners in very little time. The bigger the boat, the more teams we would deploy to screen it. The emphasis is on the least disruption being caused to the staff on these liners, and as within the hotels we would work both alongside staff and around them.
What to expect
The proactive scenario with the marine industry will differ slightly from the hotel system. We would be more fluid when it comes to the screening of the boats, as we would need to be conscious of delays and port times. We would also need to be aware of the possible need to screen in other countries other than the UK if the need arises. All of which would be part of the service contract from a proactive standing. In previous contractual agreements, we have had an operative and his search canines travel with the liners as staff, which enables a reactive service to be wrapped around the proactive element. The key to different industries and making them successful is our ability to adapt to the client’s needs.
What are the alternatives to bed bug sniffing dogs?
There are a few alternatives to using bed bug sniffer dogs, which we’ll discuss below.
Chemicals & visual Inspections
This is the most common method, where pest control professionals look for signs of bed bugs, such as live insects or eggs. Visual inspections can be time-consuming and are estimated to be only about 60% effective in finding all bed bugs. Bed bug eggs are the size of a grain of sand, so they are almost impossible to find by visual human inspection.
This process usually involves three visits over a week, and technicians typically uses chemicals to treat the bed bugs.
At Merlin we recommend that you do not use this method since having pesticide in your bedroom may not only be harmful to the pests, but to anyone else sleeping there too. What’s more is that chemicals don’t work on bed bug eggs.
Traps
Various traps and interceptors can be placed around beds and furniture to catch bed bugs. These devices are helpful for confirming the presence of bed bugs over time but likely will not catch all the bed bugs and they certainly won’t tell you where the pests are hiding.
Heat Treatment
This highly effective method doesn’t rely on detection. The way it works is the entire room is heated to temperatures lethal to bed bugs for 90 minutes. All bed bugs in the room will die regardless of where they are hiding. Our team also specialise in offering this bed bug solution. You can learn more about it here.
Whole room heat treatment is perfect if you are sure that you have a significant bed bug infestation in a room. However, whole room heat treatment doesn’t quite replace the bed bug sniffer dog solution. This is because in a large premises it’s not practical to heat treat every single room due to the cost involved, so dogs should still be used for scanning all the other rooms to learn which ones have active infestations.
How to hire good bed bug sniffing dogs?
Thinking of hiring some bed bug detection dogs? Here’s some handy tips to make sure you hire a super reliable and effective bed bug dog service:
Check certifications and accreditations
Aways ask the pest control company what certifications and accreditations they have. The ones to look out for are CEPA and BPCA.
BPCA: means the company is a member of the British Pest Control Association. This is easy to verify on the BPCA website as they have a list of all the members there. As a BPCA member it means all the staff are qualified, the company is insured, they follow all best practice procedures, and they regularly get audited by BPCA.
CEPA: This certification means the company only uses trained and qualified staff to carry out pest management activities and that they practice integrated pest management, follow all the correct procedures for proper waste management and reduced use of biocides. It also means that the staff offer the correct advice and demonstrate best practice in all aspects of the services they offer.
Below are our accreditations and certifications.
Ask about the dog and handler
The accuracy of an inspection relies on the handler understanding his dog. So, you need to be sure that the pair have a strong working relationship. To get the best result, here’s some good questions to ask and things to look out for, when booking a bed bug sniffer dog visit:
- If I book your services, what are the names of the dog and the dog handler who will visit me?
- How long have this dog and dog handler been working together?
(Look for a relationship that spans a couple of years) - How many times per month do the pair work together?
(Look for at least once per week) - How long has this dog been in service as a bed bug detection dog?
(Look for a dog that’s been in service for 2 or more years) - How long has the pest control technician been working with dogs in general?
(Look for a qualified handler that’s been working with dogs for 5 or more years)
If you have a business in either the UK or Ireland, and you are looking for bed bug sniffer dogs, get in touch with us as we’d love to help.
Our dog team
People say ‘dogs are a man’s best friend’. At Merlin, they are our colleagues too! Our team of experienced sniffer dogs have an exceptional ability to pin-point pests quickly and thoroughly. Use the slider below to meet our dog team.
Storm is a veteran when it comes to finding bed bugs. She is one of the oldest but wisest dogs working for Merlin. Storm also has about 4 years of experience when it comes to finding those pesky bugs. Even though Storm is one of the older dogs, her drive for the tennis ball and searching is unlike any other.
Storm is great in all areas and will search anything she is asked to. For example, Storm searches planes, trains, hotels, houses and flats and is one of the best at it. Storm also has one of the best search patterns in the business, which has allowed her to have multiple finds across multiple sites that Merlin service. Storm is able to easily find a single, lone bed bug hidden in a room.
Woody has 4 years of experience in bed bug detection, working in a range of environments. He has worked for 3 years with his current handler.
Woody is effective at searching accommodation and living spaces such as private residences, hotels, hostels and care homes. He is also experienced in larger commercial buildings such as warehouses and storage facilities as well as trains. Woody has a wealth of experience in detecting bed bugs.
Bruno has been working as a detection dog for the company for over 3 years. He has been with his current handler for the last two years and they have a very strong bond with matching work ethics and enthusiasm for the job at hand.
Bruno has only one speed when it comes to work, FAST. This being said, he is very meticulous in his searches and always carries out his job to the best of his abilities. There aren’t too many places a bed bug can hide from Bruno. He can find a single bed bug, in the middle of a bed frame, completely out of sight, without any issues.
Approaching 6 months as a bedbug detection canine. Dolly has carried out searches in aircraft, trains and hotels/living spaces.
Dolly is effective at searching accommodation and living spaces such as private residences, hotels, hostels and care homes. She is also experienced in larger commercial buildings such as warehouses and storage facilities as well as trains. Dolly is particularly effective at searching economy sections of commercial aircraft due to her compact size, agility, speed and search drive.
