Whether you use a trained professional technician or a certified bed bug dog no bedbug inspection is 100%. In general, dogs that are well trained can out perform their human counterparts.
What is the difference between using canine and human detection to inspect for bed bugs?
A trained human pest management professional is only limited to what they can see. Hidden bugs can be missed. In general, humans only find approximately 35% of the total infestation. In order to inspect for bed bugs a professional technician will need to dismantle or remove beds, couches chairs, bedsheets, mattresses, cushions and other personal items in order to look for bed bugs. This is a time consuming endeavor. It can take 15-60 minutes per room to fully inspect the area. Your technician may miss nymphs and eggs. One bug or egg is too many.
Trained certified dogs on the other hand detect bugs by scent. They do not need to see the bug to know it’s there hiding in cracks, seems, crevices and within mattresses and upholstered furniture like chairs and couches. The furnishings in a room can be left untouched as the dog searches for live bugs. Dogs are very efficient in their searches only taking just a few minutes. It can take only 2-3 minutes to search an entire hotel room. Canines can detect nymphs and eggs. Dogs have a great track record in detecting bed bugs. They are usually 98% effective. Canine can smell bed bugs behind the wall of your home or workplace.