FAQs

Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of humans and other animals. They are about the size of an apple seed and reddish-brown in color.

Bed bugs can spread through contact with infested furniture, luggage, clothing, or other belongings. They can also spread through cracks and crevices in walls and floors. Because a single female bed bug can lay around 1–7 eggs per day, and each egg hatches in 6–10 days, every week of waiting gives time for a new generation of bed bugs to be produced and start spreading.

The signs of a bed bug infestation include:

·       Bites on the skin, often in clusters

·       Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses

·       Dark spots (about the size of a period) on bed sheets or mattresses

·       Egg capsules or eggshells

·       Live bed bugs

Getting rid of bed bugs usually requires professional treatment plus follow‑up confirmation. A canine inspection is the first step: we identify where there is scent from live bed bugs or viable eggs so you know which rooms or items need to be treated. You can then work with a licensed pest control company to design and carry out a treatment plan, and schedule a follow‑up canine inspection if you want to verify that the treatment was successful. Potomac Working Dogs does not apply chemicals or perform treatments; our role is to provide clear, unbiased detection and post‑treatment checks.

You can prevent bed bugs by:

·       Inspecting second-hand furniture carefully before bringing it into your home

·       Keeping your luggage off the floor in hotels and other places

·       Vacuuming and dusting regularly

·       Keeping your bed away from the walls

Dogs are very sensitive to the scent of bed bugs and can detect them even when they are not visible to the naked eye.  Dogs can be used to inspect a wider area in a shorter amount of time than humans and with greater accuracy.

Potomac Working Dogs selects canines from parents that have strong scent tracking records. Then, they are evaluated as puppies for scent detection. Only the dogs that are confident in all types of environments and those that show the highest aptitude for scent detection are selected for training. Positive reinforcement training is used by rewarding the dogs with food and praise when they identify the scent of bed bugs. 

Our dogs bed bug detection skills stem from rigorous training in precision odor detection, conducted by a military expert with over 20 years experience in explosives and narcotics odor detection.  This military-grade training ensures superior accuracy and efficiency in their work. 

Depending on the size of the room and number of other surroundings, it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes for a canine to detect bed bugs in a typical bedroom.

The success rate of canine bed bug detection is very high. In one study, dogs were able to detect bed bugs with 97% accuracy. 

Reference:  The Ability of bed bug- detecting canines to detect live bed bugs and viable bed bug eggs published by PubMed in August 2008

Yes, our dogs are friendly, well-trained, and pose no threat to you or your family.  They are used to working around people and are not aggressive.  However, we request you limit the number of people in the inspection area to avoid distractions for the canines.

To prepare for the inspection, please following instructions located here.

Pricing varies depending on property size and location. Contact us for a quote. Investing in early detection saves money by preventing large infestations.

You can start the process by completing our contact form or calling us directly. A handler will ask a few questions about your home and situation to confirm that a canine bed bug inspection is the right fit and to review pricing and availability. Once that’s done, we’ll schedule a convenient appointment and send simple preparation instructions so your inspection goes smoothly.

Yes. Our team inspects offices, hotels, and other commercial spaces discreetly and efficiently, ensuring minimal disruption to operations.

When our canine alerts, it means there is scent from live bed bugs or viable eggs in that area, indicating active bed bug activity, even if you cannot see anything yet. After the inspection, you receive a detailed, unbiased report showing where the dog alerted so you and your pest control company can target treatment to the right rooms or items. We can also offer general guidance on prevention and monitoring, but we do not apply chemicals or perform treatments ourselves.

Yes. Our trained dogs can inspect large homes, apartment complexes, and commercial properties quickly and accurately, saving time compared to manual inspections.

Absolutely. We perform inspections quietly and professionally, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, which is especially important for businesses or multi-unit residences.

Many people think bed bugs only appear in dirty homes or that dogs aren’t reliable. In reality, bed bugs can infest any property, and trained detection dogs are highly accurate and effective at finding them early.