A trained dog can smell live bed bugs and their eggs through upholstery, wood molding and gaps in walls. In Richmond condo buildings, side-by-side duplexes and bigger homes in the hills, a K9 team covers many rooms in a short visit.
When a Dog Makes Sense
- Condo and townhouse buildings around Marina Bay with several units to check.
- Duplexes and fourplexes where the units share walls.
- Larger homes in Point Richmond or Richmond Heights with many rooms.
- Bites with no bugs found by eye.
- A last check after treatment to confirm the job is done.
How the Search Works
- SetupThe handler explains the search. This dog responds only to the scent of living bugs and eggs that can still hatch.
- WalkthroughThe handler leads it along beds, furniture, trim and walls.
- SignalThe dog sits, freezes or points at the source.
- VerificationThe handler inspects each alert by eye and records it.
Questions to Ask First
Ask where the dog trained and how it is certified, how often it runs practice searches, and whether the handler visually confirms each alert. Treat any proposal to spray a whole building over a single unconfirmed alert with caution.
Preparing for the Dog
- Keep household pets out of the search area.
- Avoid heavy cooking smells, candles and air fresheners that morning.
- Do not use any bug spray in the days beforehand.
Questions About K9 Inspections
Could the detection dog upset my own pets?
Working K9s stay calm and on task, and the handler keeps them close the whole time. Put your pets in a closed room or the yard during the search.
Does one alert mean I need whole-home treatment?
No. The handler should confirm each alert, and treatment should focus on the rooms 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 Richmond. That company inspects, quotes and does the work.