FAQ - Bed Bug Detection Dogs - Part 2 - How do you train dogs to find bed bugs?

By Keith Coddington

The very short answer would be bed bug detection canines are all trained by associating the target odor with a reward that highly motivates the dog.

And the short answer would be:

The process is essentially the same as with other scent disciplines such as contraband detection dogs, narcotics or explosives.

For us the most difficult part of the process is finding a suitable bed bug detection dog candidate.  Since we only work with toy reward canines, the dog must be absolutely obsessed with toys.  The canine could have a freight train go past feet away and still be focused on a toy in your hand with a death stare.  In every environment and everywhere this focus would remain the same.  Once you have this you know your dog will do anything at any time to play with that toy.

You then test and teach the dog to find this toy under a variety of circumstances with many extreme distractions around.  If the dog continues to hunt for the toy and never ever give up then you can continue to associating the odor with the toy.   There are various ways to accomplish this task from scented toys, to scent boxes and so on.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/DFtaucsZpVk]

Once the dog starts realizing every time a certain odor is around a toy appears they begin to realize the target odor = toy and play.  From this point it is mostly about fine tuning the process and having the dog perform the specific tasks you require of it.  For example if I was training an explosives dog I would want the dog to detect the odor at greater distances, if I was primarily searching cars for contraband I wouldn’t need to teach that dog the specific search pattern of a vehicle.  Since we are talking bed bug dogs we need to teach the dog to heavily sniff furniture for the small amount of bed bug odor we need to find.

The complete answer on how to train these dogs is something that takes detection dog trainers years to develop nor should it ever stop developing.  Just like humans, every detection dog has preferences, personalities, likes, dislikes and the little quirks that come with any living being.  Nothing but experience and a large toolbox of different techniques and philosophies to reference can get a trainer and handler through some of the common and bizarre issues that will happen with all detection dogs at some point in time.

The most important thing is having a handler recognize these issues before the problem becomes so severe that it is past the point of no return.  The more experience a detection dog trainer has the better the chances of being able to save a dog with some issues, but we have seen far too many dogs be given up on when a few easy training techniques returned the dog to full performance level.

To see our dogs in action check out our videos.

Cimex K9 is a Phoenix, Arizona based company that has been training and offering bed bug treatment and detection services for over 4 years.  Our consistent track record has provided us and the over 30 pest control companies that contract our services the highest level of service possible.

For more information please contact Cimex K9 at  888.928.4364

FAQ - Bed Bug Detection Dogs - Part 1 - What does the dog do when they find something?

By Keith Coddington

Our bed bug detection dogs have traveled throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California performing bed bug inspections which is a very important part of a bed bug treatment.  This FAQ series about bed bug detection dogs will focus on the most common questions we are normally asked about our dogs when customers see them in action.

The number one question I receive about our bed bug dogs is how do you know when they alert or in other words when they find bed bugs?

As you will see in the video on this page from a recent training session, all of our dogs are trained as passive alert which means they will stop their searching behavior, stand still and sit.  Once this is accomplished they are rewarded promptly.  The detection canine associates the “game of seek” with the reward which is their toy that they love more than anything on this earth.  Yes even more than their humans and even food believe it or not.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/SfKNg6bZXJI]

Speaking of food, we don’t use food as a reward.  It is practiced by some detection dog trainers, however the vast majority of detection dogs worldwide in all scent disciplines are trained with toys as rewards.  Toy reward dogs work extremely hard, fast and for long periods of time.  They are obsessed with the game and it is often up to the handler to call it quits because the dog never will.  The main “problem” with toy reward dogs is that it can be very difficult to get them to relax and shut-down when they aren't working.  This is a problem any canine handler will never complain about and this type of high-drive is very difficult to find.  Another reason we have avoided using food reward dogs is because of the amount of food, crumbs and food odors we encounter on a regular basis while on the job.  Our toy reward dogs will pass right over food and could care less about these odors which is a huge distraction for a food reward dog.  Think about it from a dog’s point of view:  “ why do I need to look for bed bugs to get some food when there is plenty of tasty crumbs in this couch that I am searching?”

The video above is a training scenario.  In a real world bed bug inspection if there is a dog alert we verify there is an active colony present and show the customer the real evidence before noting it on our inspection report.

At the Cimex K9 office in Phoenix, Arizona all of our bed bug detection dogs are rescues and we will always do our best to keep it that way.  It takes a tremendous amount of testing and scouring rescues to find a good candidate for this line of work, but it is always worth the effort knowing we are helping a very highly driven animal find a home that wouldn't make a desirable pet for the majority of the owners out there.

For more information our dogs and services please contact Cimex K9 at 888-928-4364

10 Reasons to use a bedbug dog

By Keith Coddington

Cimex K9, has been offering bedbug dog services since 2009.  This article will detail the benefits of being an informed and educated customer to make sure you contract only the necessary services at the best price.

1.  Accuracy:  A dog's nose is tens of thousands of times more sensitive than yours. Hands down our bed bug dog service is the most thorough and accurate way of detecting Bed Bug infestations. This is the main reason why over 30 pest control companies hire us to complete their inspections.

2. Unbiased:  We do not provide bed bug treatments ourselves so it doesn't

not matter to us whether we find bed bugs or not.  We only get paid for our inspection services.

3. Knowledgeable:  We are experts in bedbugs and their behavior.  We also are familiar with all the different types of treatments available.

4. Save Money:  After our inspection treatment costs can be drastically reduced by hundreds and even thousands of dollars by pin-pointing the affected areas rather than treating the entire structure when it is unnecessary.

5. Verify a treatment was effective:  Whether the pest control company you hired for treatment has worked with us in the past or not it is a good idea to have us check their work post-treatment.  If the treatment included a guarantee be sure to have us inspect before the guarantee is over.

6. Our reputation:  We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and excellent online reviews.  We offer a guarantee to back up or work.  We are also one of the few detection services nationwide owned and operated by a detection dog trainer.

7.  Efficiency:  Our service is not only the most accurate, but it is much quicker than visual only inspections.  Using our canines for large-scale inspections is by far the most efficient and cost-effective approach.

8.  Response time:  For our customers within approximately 1 hour from Phoenix Arizona we rarely take more than 24 hours to show up on site and usually respond the same day you call.

9. Proof of findings:  For many situations it is important for our customer to have proof that there is or is not a bedbug infestation at the locations we inspect.  All customers receive a detailed report stating what was found and exactly where it was found.

10. Hire a Veteran and a Rescue Dog:  Cimex K9 is Veteran owned and we go out of our way to hire veteran’s as employees.  More than likely the handler completing the inspection has proudly served our country in the past.  Additionally all of our bedbug detection dogs were rescued from animal shelters and love to perform their “jobs”.

For more information please call Cimex K9 at 888-928-4364

Ross the Bed Bug Detection Dog

By Keith Coddington

Ross the bed bug detection dog has been with Phoenix, Arizona based Cimex K9 for 4 years.  He is a bed bug detection dog icon and has never let us down.  He has been with Cimex K9 from the beginning and continues to impress with his amazing sense of smell and work ethic.

Ross started off with a prison trained canine organization.  Since he was rescued his exact age is not known, however as of March 2014 he is believed to be approximately 5.5 years old. The prison trained canine organization recognized something special in him and realized he had the right characteristics to be evaluated as a working dog.  Once he passed his initial obedience training and was tested for detection work he was sent to Cimex K9 to become a very important part of the bed bug treatment process.

His amazing social skills are always appreciated among our customers.  When he isn’t working he loves to soak up some attention from anyone willing to share.

Unlike most human employees detection dogs greatly enjoy physical work and it is what they live for.  It is their passion or obsession.  They will outwork their human handlers any day of the week and Ross’ has done this day in and day out for the last 4 years.  These types of dogs are so highly driven that they usually do not make for good pets considering their extreme needs for mental and physical stimulation.

Here are some of Ross’ notable accomplishments through February 2014 over his 4 year career.

Inspected:

• 1,344 Houses

• 27,216 Apartments

• 199,968 Auditorium chairs

• 137,568 Offices / Cubicals

• 13,881 Medical / Hospital rooms

Ross the bed bug dog has saved the good name of Cimex K9 many times when he insisted that there were bed bugs present that were extremely difficult to find after he alerted to a specific area.  Time and time again when we have doubted Ross because we couldn’t easily find something  he has come through and proven why he is such an asset to Cimex K9.

Ross has also passed his yearly third party bed bug certifications with flying colors.  All certification on Cimex K9’s teams are set up at or above the National Pest Management Associations guidelines.  The most memorable certification was when Ross’ and his handler were both ill with a stomach virus.  The certification official was only here 1 day for the Scottsdale Bedbug dog certifications for one day so the team had no choice but to attempt certification.  Ross and his handler were able to push through and somehow pass.  They were both obviously nowhere near 100%, but both wanted to work and certified.  Immediately after the certification Ross and his handler’s celebration consisted of rolling up in the fetal position on the floor with each other wishing they were in home in bed.

Should you need the services of Ross or any of the Cimex K9 team please feel free to call us with more information at 888-928-4364

Phoenix, AZ Don’t fall for a scam! Use third party bed bug detection canines.

By Keith Coddington

Cimex K9 is a Phoenix, Arizona based company that specializes solely in bed bug canine inspections.  Our goal and service is not only to find bed bug infestations, but more importantly protect our customers from being charged for unnecessary treatments and also making sure treatments were successful by completing post-treatment inspections.

Detection dogs have always been our business and we employ experience handlers and trainers that are experts in their field.  We do not offer treatments and we have a good reason for that which you will learn about as you read on.

Unfortunately as with any service there are unethical practices taking place.  This specific scam that we have seen involves pest control companies that own their own bed bug detection dogs and use them improperly to sell pricey treatment services that are not needed.

Here’s how the scam takes place:

Most people are already in a panic when they think they may have bed bugs which makes them venerable and some companies cash in on it.  Once you call a company that has their own dogs (there are only a few in Arizona) they send out their K9 team.  The dogs often false alert on areas where there is actually no bed bug activity.  From this point the customer is usually an easy sale and can be talked into anything.  To top it off the K9 handlers are usually paid a commission for the sale of the treatment.  If that is not a conflict of interest then I don’t know what is!

The good news is that there are ways to protect yourself.

First of all if you are about to hire a bed bug detection dogs ask the company that has dog services if they are using a third party or if they own the dog and employ the handler directly.  Verify their Pest Control License which is required by Arizona Office of Pest Management even for inspections of Bed Bugs and also check the Better Business Bureau.

Next, if the dog does alert or the handler claims there is an active infestation have them show you the evidence of the live colony.  In any detection dog scent discipline the handler always confirms an alert with visual verification.

Be familiar with what bed bugs look like as carpet beetles and their larvae are very commonly found around beds and are sometimes passed off as bed bugs to make the sale.

Watch the inspection and be there with the inspection team in the same room during the entire process.  If the handler claims that the dog can’t work with you in the room then you need to be very skeptical as something fishy might be going on.  A properly trained detection canine can work through any distraction including food, people, other animals and just about any other distraction that you can imagine.

Last of all, If something doesn’t seem right get an opinion from different company.  If you are in the Phoenix, Arizona area feel free to contact us for free to learn about your bed bug treatment options in Arizona including only the honest and ethical companies that we have had the pleasure of working with over the years.

Now just to be clear we are not accusing all companies that offer treatment and own bed bug detection dogs of this practice.  Also, there are many companies that utilize a third party bed bug detection dog service such as ours to check their own work so just be sure to ask them if they own their own dogs or hire an outside company for their bed bug detection dog work.

Good Luck and if you live in Arizona and have questions regarding bed bug detection dog services or need assistance contact us on Thumbtack.com

Keith Coddington

Cimex K9, LLC

Founder / Detection Dog Trainer & Handler

Phoenix bed bug dog detection services

By Keith Coddington [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw6nHkeE1to}\]

Cimex K9 offers Phoenix and the entire state of Arizona bed bug treatment using Bed Bug Dogs and a network of 30+ pest control companies.

We are well into our third year of providing this service.  Not only are we for hire directly by customers, but over 30 pest control companies use our service to assist them and their clients with bed bug inspections.

Cimex K9 does not provide treatments which means unlike a pest control company that uses their own dogs we have nothing to gain by trying to sell you a bed bug treatment.  Unfortunately this is an important fact as we have witnessed several scams taking place in the Phoenix area where a bed bug dog false alerts and the pest control company then insists there is an infestation and a treatment needs to be completed.

Here are the services Cimex K9 provides to our customers:

1. Pre-treatment inspections – When you think you may have bed bugs but after a thorough inspection you or a pest control technician is unable to find evidence of bed bug activity.  Although it is usually recommended to treat the entire structure once and infestation has been identified some of our clients use our service to determine which rooms of the house contain bed bug colonies.

2. Post-treatment inspections – We conduct an inspection with one of our “live only” bed bug dogs which are trained to ignore all evidence but live bed bugs.  We usually perform this inspection 14-30 days after the last treatment or just before your guarantee / warranty expires to be sure the treatment was effective.

3. Proactive inspections – this can be anything from inspecting one unit to an entire high-rise for those that want to be proactive and make sure they catch infestations in the early stages to avoid a large outbreak in their structure.  We routinely complete this type of service in hotels, apartment buildings, dormitories and hospitals.  Additionally many landlords and property management companies are inspecting vacant rental units for bed bugs prior to occupation to ensure the unit is bed bug free.

Here is a some great facts about Bed Bugs from Purdue University and if you are in Arizona would like more information on our services please feel free to contact us at 888-928-4364

Sincerely,

The Cimex K9 Team

Cimex K9’s Bed Bug Dogs in action

By Keith Coddington

[youtube=http://youtu.be/KrJeLohBZws]

It is difficult to explain how well our dogs work and illustrate accurately to the degree they are trained.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the videos of our canines in action tell even more.

Considering the owner and founder of Phoenix, AZ based Cimex K9 has an extensive background in dog behavior, training and detection dog experience, we put in the extra effort to ensure our teams are working at their full potential at all times.

People often as us “how accurate are your dogs?”  The University of Florida published some numbers a few years back showing the detection teams used were extremely accurate.  Although they attempted to create real world conditions as well as they could for the study, there is no substitute for what a detection team encounters on a daily basis.  There are always new situations, obstacles and distractions to tackle and having a highly trained, confident and motivated canine partner is not only nice, but mandatory to measure up to the level of quality Cimex K9 demands.  Have a dog barking in a kennel at us while we are working?  No problem.  Have food or crumbs in the area to be inspected?  No problem.  Want to be there watching the entire inspection?  No Problem.  Our dogs are trained to work around any distraction that you can think of.

Cimex K9 has been providing bed bug dog services since 2009.  Over the years we have serviced thousands of properties with our inspection teams.  We boast that fact that we have only had one confirmed case of missing a very small infestation and believe this track record is unmatched in the industry.  Considering this fact, our percentage of accuracy would calculate to be much higher than the testing performed by the University of Florida.

Why do we stand out in the detection dog world?  We believe that it has to do with a couple of very important factors…

1. Extreme attention to detail as every single inspection is a quality control check meaning if we miss something we are eventually going to hear about it from an upset customer.

2. Our founder has an extensive background in dog behavior training including successfully rehabbing many very extreme “last chance” cases.

3. We are honest, ethical, reliable and on-time.  Licensed, BBB accredited, Trade references available on request.

4. Our pricing is equal or less than our competitors, but we believe our quality of service is unmatched.

5. We do not profit more for finding an infestation as we do not offer treatments.

6. We work with 30+ local and national pest control companies and will be happy to work with your current company to get the job done.

Feel free to call us to pick our brains as we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Sincerely,

The Cimex K9 Team

Importance of inspecting vacant rental units for Bed Bug infestations

By Keith Coddington

[youtube=http://youtu.be/WQDFhtKi4VY]

As the bed bug epidemic continues in Arizona more and more property management firms and landlords are utilizing bed bug detection canines in their treatment protocol and prior to tenant occupation.  This not only protects the landlord from unintentionally exposing their new tenant to an infestation, but it also protects the landlord during the entire lease as the tenant would likely be responsible for treatment of bed bugs if all was clear prior to occupation.

Inspections of vacant units are very quick, but effective.  It would take quite a bit of time just to pull up the carpets and to remove the outlet covers and you still would not be able to complete an inspection as thorough as a canine as it is impossible to see every into every crack and crevice.

Please take the time to watch the short video of Ross from Cimex K9 perform a typical inspection of a vacant unit.

Cimex K9 is a fully licensed pest control company based in Phoenix, Arizona that specializes solely in Canine Bed Bug Inspections.  Our certified founder and K-9 teams have many years of dog training and detection dog handling experience.  Using our dog handling expertise and extensive pest control training we provide an unbiased third-party perspective because we are not going to profit from the sale of unnecessary treatments.  We realize most customers are in a frantic state of mind when they realize they have possibly been exposed to bed bugs and we can help you get through this, by first confirming if you even have a bed bug issue and secondly if necessary putting you in touch with some reputable pest control companies to start the treatment process.

Please call Keith Coddington at Cimex K9, LLC for more information.

When to call in the (bed bug) dogs…

By Keith Coddington As the use of bed bug detection dogs becomes more commonplace in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area educating consumers and commercial establishments on the benefits of this specialty service is very important.

First of all, bed bug detection dogs are not the answer to every case of bed bugs.  The use of the dogs has their role and can be very effective when warranted, but the use of properly trained, third-party certified and maintained detection dogs is only part of a properly configured plan of attack.

When to use a bed bug detection dog:

Residential:

1. When you want to be sure you do not have a bed bug infestation after you have visually inspected all suspected areas and can’t find bed bug evidence.

2. Post-treatment to be sure that the bed bug treatment was effective.  This is normally completed 30 days after the last treatment or just before a treatment warranty expires.

3. Inspecting a rental property prior to tenant occupation so you have proof it is bed bug free.

Commercial: 

1. In response to a report of the possibility of bed bugs or a report of biting bugs.  Having a report from a third-party stating that the area is clear of bed bugs can stop unnecessary hysteria in an instant.

2. Large scale routine proactive inspections such as hotels, hospitals and dormitories.

3. Post-treatment to be sure the treatment was effective.

Some additional important tips… 

• Be careful when hiring detection dogs from a company that also treats as this can be a conflict of interest.  Keep in mind that the pest control company makes a much larger profit from recommending treatment than calling it clear with the dogs.  Unfortunately we have been first hand witnesses to these types of scams several times over the last two years.  Many companies sub-contract out the detection dog work which would create a third-party situation that would benefit the consumer.

• Detection dogs will not be able to effectively sniff in an area that has been treated by pest control dust or diatomaceous earth.

• Make sure that the detection dog company is not only properly licensed but ask for proof of certification from a third-party that requires a testing standard at or above the National Pest Management Association’s guidelines.

• Consider who you are hiring.  Are you hiring from a company that bought their dogs or a company that has certified handler and detection dog trainers on staff?

• Ask for multiple references from repeat customers that have used the company’s services many times over the years.

If you have more questions about bed bug detection dogs, bed bug extermination or if you are already working with a pest control company and something just doesn't seem right feel free to call with no obligation.

Keith Coddington

Owner

Cimex K9, LLC

888-928-4364

Meet Ross, on the frontlines of the bed bug war in Arizona

By Keith Coddington Since 2010 Ross the bed bug detection dog has been helping his human counterparts by fighting the war against bed bugs in Phoenix, Arizona and beyond.  All indications point to the fact that we humans will probably never win this war against bed bugs, but with highly trained bed bug dogs like Ross on our side we can at least win battles when necessary.

Ross has been a pleasure to work with over the past two years.  He is one of the most versatile dogs I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

His strong will to work, confidence and even keeled temperament make everyone that meets him instantly fall in love with him.

Ross is about 3 years old.  We are unsure of his exact age because as with all of our dogs he was rescued.  We believe he is a Labrador mix, but he appears to have the body structure of a German Shepherd.

Ross continues to amaze us with his amazing ability to detect even the smallest amount of bed bug evidence.  He is a dog that works quickly, efficiently and has learned the search pattern so well in all environments that he is basically on auto-pilot.

Ross has been deployed to dormitories, movie theatres, hotels, resorts, warehouses, homes, apartments, office buildings, hospitals, manufacturing plants, libraries, fire stations and more.  He has been to every corner of the state from Chinle to Phoenix toTucson.

Ross lives with his canine handler and the rest of his pack of dogs in Phoenix.  He loves to play with the other dogs on his free time or simply relax at your feet.

Cimex K9 looks forward to continue to help our customers in Arizona win their bed bug battles with our proactive and reactive bed bug inspection programs.

For more information contact Keith Coddington at:

Cimex K9

Phoenix, AZ

888-928-4364

Phoenix welcomes a new certified bed bug dog.

By Keith Coddington Cimex K9 of Phoenix, AZ would like to introduce our latest certified bed bug dog, Kohl.

Kohl is a 2 year old Dutch Shepherd.  All of Cimex K9s dogs are either owner surrenders or from rescue organizations.  Although Kohl comes from an excellent breeding line, he was too much for his prior owner to handle due to his strong desire to work.

Although Kohl has this very strong work ethic he is also a very sweet boy that loves other dogs and people.  He is remarkably calm while doing his job detecting bed bugs for how much energy and drive he possesses.  His stamina and focus while on the job is second to none which makes him a pleasure to work with.

Just as with all of our dogs, Kohl is trained to passively alert meaning he will sit and point when he detects bed bug odor.    All of the handlers at Cimex K9 were third party certified with Kohl this January.

Besides detecting bed bugs, Kohl also loves competeing in dock diving competitions.  During his first competition in January of 2012 he placed 2^nd in the senior division of the Splash Dogs Competition in Tempe, AZ.

For more information on Cimex K9s bed bug detection services call 888-928-4364

Importance of hiring a third party Bed Bug Detection Dog Service in Phoenix, AZ

By Keith Coddington Cimex K9, LLC would like to stress the importance of hiring a third party bed bug detection dog service.  Here in Phoenix and Nationwide there are unethical scams taking place regarding the use of bed bug detection dogs to convince customers they need costly bed bug treatments when it is not necessary.

Unfortunately we have seen this ourselves in the Phoenix area more than once as we have searched locations right after a previous company insisted there was a major bed bug problem that needed to be addressed immediately.  One thing in common with every issue like this is that even though their dog is alerting in various locations they cannot provide visual proof of the infestation as the infestation simply does not exist.

For some reason I have seen consumers just assume since a bed bug detection dog is being used that it is not necessary to verify anything and just trust the pest control company that is operating them.  Please insist on evidence and protect yourself as the dog handler may be paid on commission for selling the treatment!  If that is not a conflict of interest I don’t know what is.

Also, just because your canine service is provided to you through a regular pest control company it does not necessarily mean it is not a third party.  Many pest control companies subcontract out their bed bug canine work to a third party as is the case with most of the jobs we perform.  Feel free to ask your company if they contract out their canine services as this will minimize the conflict of interest.  Also, make sure the bed bug detection dogs are certified!

If you have any other questions feel free to contact Phoenix, Arizona based  Cimex K9 at 888-928-4364

Keith Coddington

Founder, Certified Detection Dog Trainer

The Canine Nose Undercovers

Letting the bedbugs bite? Go to the mattress with a well-trained sniffer.

by Mara Bovsun - July/August 2011 issue of AKC Family Magazine

Yet again, the human race is under siege and, yet again, we’re calling on our dogs to pull us from the brink of disaster.  The enemy this time is a tiny insect, about the size of an apple seed.  In scientific circles, the proper name is Cimex lectularius.  To the rest of us, that’s bedbug.

(Read More)

Arizona’s K-9 Bedbug Inspectors to/from the rescue

By Keith Coddington Cimex K9 would like to introduce Zane, Ross, Isis and Olivia Arizona’s best option for bedbug inspections.  Each one of these dogs has been hand-picked for this special field of detection.  It often takes evaluating 100-200 rescue dogs before one is selected for this line of duty.

The intelligence of the dog doesn’t have as much to do with the selection as other factors.  What is most important is the drive behind the dog.  Meaning the dog will do absolutely anything to receive their reward.  These four are all toy / praise reward dogs which means they work so they can play with their toy and handler.  We prefer this method over food reward due to how often we find food in the areas we are hired to search in and we enjoy the high drive our dogs posses.

Another extremely important factor in the selection of a working dog is how the dog behaves in public with the distractions of people, other animals, noises and just about any other distraction you can think of.  Our dogs are very obedient, conditioned to work through any distractions and they are trained to primarily work off-leash independently of the handler or on-leash when required.  The more the human can stay out of the dog’s way the better,  after all the whole reason we are using the dog is that they are the natural expert hunters.

Initial training can take several months, but the training never stops and having a trainer on staff providing quality control is what we believe sets our program apart from others.

It is important to understand that the K-9 and the handler are a team and work together to make sure the customer is receiving the most accurate inspection possible.  Often the K-9 will quickly find bedbugs or evidence of bedbugs in a room in a matter of seconds on their own yet other times the handler must detail certain areas to be sure.  This combination along with visual verification is by far the best option possible in today’s battle against these persistent bedbugs.

All of our dogs live a normal pet dog style of life when they are off duty.  They know when it is work time and when it is off-duty time.  They live with regular families and live in wonderful loving homes with other dogs as well.  Our canine’s favorite activities when not working are by far playing with their toys.  These dogs are absolutely obsessed with their toys as this is what they also work for.  They will play fetch for hours on end until your arm falls off.  They also know when it is time to settle down and they all do have their “off-switch” Olivia’s switch can sometimes be the hardest to turn off, even after her handler takes her on a 10 mile walk/run.  Ross and Zane currently live together and not only love playing fetch, but love to wrestle.   Isis loves her GIANT ball more than anything.

One of the most rewarding things about working with these dogs is knowing that they were saved from the shelter and more than likely destruction.  These high drive dogs do not make good pets and are usually dropped off at the shelter because their energy can’t be channeled into something positive which leads to destructive behaviors.  Fortunately we have given these dogs an outlet for this energy and it is helping us humans against the dreaded bedbug!

For more information on our dogs or bedbug dog detection teams contact Cimex K9, LLC at 888-928-4364

Scottsdale, AZ hosts Bedbug dog Certifications

By Keith Coddington

Phoenix, AZ based Cimex K9 held their annual K9 Bedbug Search team certifications this week at a hotel in Scottsdale, AZ.  The location was chosen because it has never had a bedbug infestation and was also swept by a certified K9 bedbug team before the testing.

A total of five teams tested and certified this week.  Four of the teams were from Cimex K9 and one from Las Vegas 

The certifying official conducting the testing was Master Trainer David Latimer.  The testing was proctored by entomologists from the University of Arizona including Dawn Gouge Ph.D. Associate Professor / Associate Specialist and Bryan Stevens MSc. Assistant in Extension.

Cimex K9 feels it is extremely important to educate consumers on the proper use of bedbug dogs and proper certification.  As of now anyone can claim their dog is a bedbug detection dog as there is no license/certification standardization statewide or nationally.  It is up to each company to choose the best method of certification if they choose any at all.

Cimex K9 trains and maintains their own bedbug dog inspection teams and certifies them through the World Detector Dog Organization which is an independent third party.  The World Detector Dog Organization certifies various types of detection dogs for commercial and governmental agencies and is the only bedbug dog certification to utilize a double-blind system.

Should you choose to hire a detection dog or wish to certify your detection dog you should research the certification.  Some of the key points to look for in a legitimate certification:

Is the organization a third party?

Is the organization conducting their testing in real-world conditions?

Is the testing conducted using a double-blind method?

Is there a certifying official and proctor present during the testing?

If you would like to join the World Detector Dog Organization or have more questions about their certification procedure please visit their website at www.WDDO.org

Keith Coddington

Owner / Trainer / Handler

Cimex K9, LLC

Facts About A Dogs Nose

By Keith Coddington

·         From a single drop of urine a dog can learn that animal's diet, health, sex, mental state, whether it is friendly, dominant or submissive.

·         The average dog has 200 to 250 million scent receptors in their nose.  Humans have approximately 5 million scent receptors.

·         The average dog has approximately 7 square meters of nasal membranes.  Humans have about one half of a square meter.

·         A dog's scent of smell is so effective at detecting extremely diluted odors that even the most sophisticated scientific instruments cannot measure these diluted odors.

·         Dogs can discriminate between different odors which makes it impossible to cover up or hide an odor with another.

·         Dogs see a 3-D image of odors which is much more detailed than what human's see with their eyes.