Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs? Never heard of them before? Probably many people haven’t, but recently there is the possibility to train his dog in this sector. And the demand is increasing, in prevention at all, because our qualified noses sniff out so many things.
The enemy in my bed: Myth bed bug
Before we devote ourselves to the specialized sniffers, we would like to clear up a common misconception. When it crawls in the sleeping chamber, it does not always have something to do with a lack of hygiene. Bedbugs are parasites and are brought into your own flat from the outside. In most cases the little nettlers are brought home by stays abroad. They are most widespread in North America and Europe and get into their own bedroom through their luggage. Even if you buy antique furniture or used textiles, etc., it is possible that these troublemakers are inside. Pigeons living in the roof area can also contribute to the spread of bedbugs.
Once in the own flat, they nest themselves in with difficulty accessible cracks, multiply fast and can become an annoying and health-endangering affair. A single bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in a few months. The eggs hatch after a few days and the larvae are fully grown in a few weeks and are capable of producing offspring themselves. A rather persistent vicious circle begins. The control can be laborious, should be carried out by professional pest controllers and can be very expensive! In addition, the bites of these blood-fedding insects can cause severe skin irritation and allergic reactions.
How can Bed Bugs Sniffing Dogs help?
So-called Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs are professionally trained dogs who are masters at finding these pests. They are specially trained to only indicate live bedbugs and to pinpoint the exact location of the “infestation”. Their sense of smell is so strong that they can only find a single bug in the room. Fantastic noses, aren’t they?
Prevention instead of combat
Once you’ve caught the annoying bedbugs, you can’t get rid of them that quickly. That’s why the device here is prevention instead of elimination. And that’s where our beloved friends come into play. Some hotels and some airlines regularly commission these specially trained dogs, in order to sniff out a possible infestation already in the initial stage. It is understandable that a single bed bug is easier to remove than a whole bug accumulation. Meanwhile also various pest control enterprises co-operate with these tracker dogs. But not only for prevention, also as control after elimination procedures these little heroes are used.
Training as a tracker dog
For the first time in Austria there is now also the possibility of a professional training as a certified bed bug sniffing dog. If you are interested in training your pet in this sector, you can do so under the guidance of Annette Unterweger (www.spuernasen.at). The training lasts from 6 to 10 months and takes place at the “Training and Seminar Centre for Sniffer Dogs” in Vienna 1220. After successful completion you and your certified tracker dog can be booked by pest control companies, hotels etc..
Summary
So small and yet so annoying. If you have brought bedbugs into your own home, it can be quite unpleasant for your health and your wallet. Specially trained sniffer dogs are able to track down the pests. Especially in prevention these little sniffers are indispensable. Have you ever thought of training your best friend in this sector and declaring war on the tiny troublemakers?