Can a Bed Bug Dog Tell the Difference Between a Live Dead Bug and a Dead One?

I had a call for an inspection this morning. An ex-husband's wife had had bed bugs and he was afraid with the children going back and forth from one house to the other that he also had bed bugs. Very probable! However, he indicted that the ex-wife had not had me come to check her house after treatment because someone had told her that a scent dog cannot tell the difference between a dead bug and a live bug.

I will tell you what I told him:

When you hire a bed bug dog, ask to see the handler's training vials. Are their vials clean?

If you see dead bugs, or skins or exoskeletons that dog won't be able to tell the difference between a dead bug and a live bug.

We keep our vials clean. We clean them every week to ten days. The dog is only as good as the handler is, behind the scenes. Attention to details at home makes for a great dog is the field.

Yes, "Dusty Boot" can tell the difference between dead bugs and live bugs because he has been proofed off of them. He trains twice a day, morning and night. We have two vials of live bugs and one vial of dead bugs. We hide the dead bugs along with the live ones. He is only rewarded when he alerts on live bugs. You can tell when he smells the dead bugs, there is a difference in his body language but he does not alert. He does not alert on skins, sheddings or exoskeletons, either.

Absolutely, "Dusty Boot" can tell the difference between a dead bed bug and a live bed bug.

Do you have a question I can answer about bed bugs?

Too Good Not to Share.........

James 3:7

All kinds of birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed, and have been tamed but no man can tame the tongue it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Enjoy, you dog! I do.

When Dusty Boot goes into a home to find bugs, the resident wants to meet and greet him. They expect to watch him. It is fascinating, I agree and wish I could accommodate. But we need it to be quiet, no TV, dog bones, dog food, crumbs on the floor, etc. But don't clean before I come and vacuum up the bugs!  Taking 122+ breaths a minutes and moving as quickly as possible, the dog and the handler need all the concentration they can muster, together. Presenting the bugs to the dog, is the handler's job. Hunting bed bugs is hard, tiring work--for both the dog and the handler. He and I are there to do a job. Dusty Boot does not have a cuddly personality, even with me. I wish he did. It would be fun for me to take time for the customer to socialize with my dog afterwards. It isn't going to happen. So enjoy, this lovely video and hug your dog for me.

What would you like to teach your dog to do? Maybe I can help. 

Bed Bugs and Condo Living

Accurate K-9 Pest Detectionʼs

Recommendations for the Multi-Family Housing Resident 

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1.  Keep a clutter free home. Cleanliness has nothing to do whether you have or get bed bugs but clutter free living spaces make detection and mitigation easier and less expensive. Early detection is the key factor for cost effective mitigation. Pest professionals are only 30% accurate while a certified bed bug scent dog is 95-98% accurate. “Dusty Boot” can do an inspection in a fraction of the time it takes a pest professional.

2.  Do not buy second hand items at garage sales, thrift stores or bring home used furniture from unknown sources. If you do buy small used items take the immediate precaution of washing the item and/or putting them in the freezer for four days or dyer for forty-five minutes.

3.  Do not waste hard earned cash on any bed bug spray or chemicals found at local big box stores. Sprays need to be professional strength and even then sprays are the least effective way to mitigate against bed bugs. There are too many failure points and the infestation may worsen or spread, as a result.

4.  As a preventive buy and spread Food Grade Diatomaceous earth liberally in crevices and a strip by egress doors. Diatomaceous earth is green, economical and effective against a number of insects, including bed bugs. However, it does not kill bed bugs quickly but retards infestation.

5.  Put 1/3-1/2 cup of Borax in vacuum bag to prevent infestation and spread of bugs by way of the vacuum. This should be done to any vacuums used in central and common halls. Common areas, lobbies and laundry areas particularly upholstered furniture should be routinely inspected for bed bugs.

6.  Inspect bed routinely, seams, around cording and between mattresses looking for small black flecks and or bugs. Donʼt wait for bites, only four out of ten people react to the bed bug bite. Yes, it is possible to have bed bugs without knowing it.

If you suspect you have bed bugs do not move to another bedroom or couch. Moving from bed to bed or bed to couch makes the problem worse by spreading the bugs to multiple rooms. Call a pest professional, immediately.

7.  Do not move infested furniture through common halls and corridors without bagging the item. Large bags may be bought from U-Haul. When discarding infested items deface i.e. pour ketchup over them, so that no one is tempted to take the items.

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Accurate K-9 Pest Detection