Are bed bug dogs an unnecessary gimmick?
Yes. At least according to an experienced local pest control technician who specializes in bed bug treatment.
There has been a lot of hype about bed bugs in the media this past year. Bed bugs in movie theaters, bed bugs in Victoria’s Secret stores, bed bugs taking over the country. While it’s true that the number of bed bug infested residences has gone up in the U.S. there are still some questionable arguments on effectively treating them.
Bed bug sniffing dogs are all the rage lately and many pest control companies are advertising their bug smelling hounds. But according to one seasoned pest control technician I spoke with recently, Bed bug sniffing dogs are just an unnecessary gimmick. “What people need to realize,” says Rob MacGinnitie,” is that by the time a dog can detect bed bugs, the infestation is pretty extreme. And once a dog does detect bed bugs it needs to be verified by the technician with physical evidence.” This type of evidence is exactly what Rob looks for on his initial visit for a bed bug inspection. Tiny blood spots on the sheets or matress, and small cream colored eggs are signs of an infestation. “These dogs are unnecessary and just a gimmick,” he says.
For more information about bed bugs or to see what bed bug bites look like visit Eastside Exterminators Bed bugs information page.