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

Phoenix Bed Bug Dog Service

By Keith Coddington Cimex K9, LLC announces the addition of two more bed bug dogs to our Phoenix, Arizona based operation plus two more bed bug dogs for our out of state operations as we continue to contract with national and regional pest control companies.

Cimex K9 also recently added a former military canine handler / trainer to our staff to assist us with our new additions in order to provide the highest quality bed bug dog detection services on the market today.

Cimex K9 certifies their teams through an independent third party called the World Detector Dog Organization.  The owner of Cimex K9 is also a Certified Detection Dog Trainer through the WDDO and is licensed by the Arizona State Office of Pest Management.

For the past two years Cimex K9’s bed bug dogs have been servicing private residences, hotels, summer-camps, local, state and federal facilities with our discrete proactive and reactive inspection services.

Cimex K9 is an accredited business through the Better Business Bureau that maintains an A rating with an unmatched regard for customer service.

For more information Contact Cimex K9 at 888-928-4364

Consumer beware: Investigate before you hire a Bedbug Dog! Phoenix, Arizona

By Keith Coddington There is no doubt that the nationwide bedbug epidemic has turned into an enormous business opportunity which looks extremely attractive in today’s economy.   The bedbug epidemic is nationwide and Phoenix, Arizona has not been spared.  Experts agree the bedbug problem will get much worse before it gets better.

There will be more and more start-up companies trying to cash in on this opportunity which is not necessarily a bad thing, however consumers need to be sure to research the company they are about to hire especially when it comes to bedbug dogs.

The problem is that there is currently no set standard, license or industry-wide recognized certification for bedbug detection dogs teams.  As of now anyone can simply claim they have a trained bedbug detection dog.   A system of consistent quality control in this highly specialized field is lacking.  The good news is that there are several different organizations already addressing this issue and a long-term industry-wide solution is on the horizon.

Cimex K9 is promoting and currently working on the implementation of a state sponsored certification process for search teams to ensure consumers are protected and receive the best quality service possible.

So you may wonder:  How do I hire a reputable detection dog company?

1.       Ask if the dogs are certified.  If so which certification agency?  Ask for proof.

2.       Is the certifying organization operated by the same person that trained and sold the dog?  If so this is a conflict of interest and you should be very skeptical of the legitimacy of this type of “certification”.  The organization must be an independent uninterested third party.

3.       Certification must be of the Team which includes the dog and handler.

4.       Is the certification in real-world conditions?  Is it a double-blind test?

5.       Who trains and maintains the detection dogs?  There is a difference between handlers and trainers.  Trainers train the dogs and the handlers from scratch.  Handlers are trained to use a dog that has already been trained, and aren’t qualified to train other handlers and dogs.  Not many areas have actual trainers on-hand  to maintain the detection dog teams, but when available this is an issue worth considering from a quality control perspective.

6.       Ask for references.  Of course any business will always give out the customer’s names that have had good experiences with them.  The best reference for a bedbug detection dog would be to ask for an apartment complex that has used their bedbug detection dogs frequently over the past year.  This can give you a much clearer picture of the company’s performance.

7.       Does the company, trainer and/or handler have any prior experience with detection dogs?

If the company you are about to hire can’t easily answer all of the questions above you may want to look elsewhere.  Until there is a set industry standard regarding bedbug detection dog certifications the questions above are the best way to ensure protection for the consumer.

-Keith Coddington

owner/trainer

Cimex K9, LLC

888-928-4364

Arizona's Proactive Commercial Bedbug Inspections

By Keith Coddington

Unfortunately for our clients the bedbug epidemic appears only to be in its infancy. And although a silver bullet will take care of your typical vampire, a bed bug treatment is a bit more complicated to destroy these little nocturnal blood-suckers which means they are here to stay at least for now.

That being said the best option available to any commercial establishment at risk of infestation is routine proactive bedbug inspections.  The obvious goal is to avoid customer exposure by finding the infestation in its early stages and eliminate the problem before complaints and even lawsuits ensue.

That may sound easy enough however the problem is that detecting bedbug infestations during the early stages can be

extremely difficult and labor intensive.  To complete an extremely thorough inspection of a typical hotel room would require pulling all of the furniture apart and visually inspecting every spot a bedbug could wedge into.  This type of routine proactive approach is impractical in most commercial settings especially with a large number of rooms to search.

This is where the use of bedbug detection dogs is by far the best option.  A properly trained and certified search team can clear a typical room in a matter of minutes and do it more accurately. (see my other articles on how to research and hire a bedbug dog).

The biggest issue clients initially have when it comes to using the dogs is that they are worried about the perception from their customers that if dogs are seen then their customers will believe there is a bedbug problem at the location.

Here in Phoenix, AZ using bedbug detection dogs is a relatively new concept and anything new is always uncomfortable at first, but many other resort hot spots across the country proudly proclaim the fact they are keeping their guests as safe as possible by being proactive.  Bedbug Detection Teams should never tell the client's customers we are searching for bedbugs unless they give prior permission, but for the customers that do figure out what is going on it is always a been a positive reaction. By being one of the properties that values their customer's safety above everything else is always a good thing.

I realize proactive bedbug inspections in Arizona is a new thing however we are slowly but surely coming to the time when it will be something that is promoted rather than kept quiet.  Until then I will work with our clients to be as discreet as needed to get the job done.

For more information about Bed Bugs be sure to check out this great page on Bed Bugs from Texas A & M University.

Keith Coddington

Owner / Trainer / Handler

Cimex K9, LLC

Phoenix, AZ

888-928-4364

K-9 Bedbug Inspection – How it works – Phoenix, AZ

By Keith Coddington A properly executed and thorough inspection is  a very crucial part of the Bed Bug Treatment process to avoid missing an infestation leaving it untreated only to create a problem in the near future.  A poor inspection puts the customer at risk and gives the pest control company a poor reputation.

The most important thing to know about a K-9 Bedbug search team is that it is in fact a team.  The dog alone and handler alone are neither as effective as when they work together.  The dog has his strong points being the sense of smell, efficiency and ability to work fast.  The handler has the eyes and brains of the operation.  It is up to the handler to interpret the dog’s body language and investigate any possible areas that bedbugs usually reside.  This is done through visual inspections, visual confirmation of every spot the dog indicates and other common areas where bedbugs usually reside.

The dog is a great tool, but not necessary in all cases.  Obviously if the infestation has progressed enough to where it is easily visible there is no need for the K-9 team.  The bed bug K-9 team is best used for very light infestations that are very difficult to visually detect, to confirm/deny reports of bedbug activity and to inspect a location post-treatment to ensure the treatment was effective.  By far the best use for a K-9 Bedbug inspection team is pro-active searching in a commercial environment where time equals money such as the hospitality industry, a hospital or call center.  The team can effectively search a hotel room in a fraction of the time it takes a technician alone, do it more accurately and more cost effectively.

The bedbug dog is only as good as the handler.  Dogs are extremely perceptive of any movements or body language the handler may show and it is very easy to teach a dog to false alert or react to certain involuntary signals.  This is nothing new and has always been the case with detection dogs, but a good handler that is backed by a good detection dog program is taught to recognize this and has the support through his trainer to correct these types of issues.  Considering all of the types of detection dogs out there bedbugs can be one of the most difficult to detect since the odor can be very minute compared to say narcotics.  This being said having a well trained and maintained K-9 Bedbug inspection team is all the more important.

One way to ensure the detection team you are about to hire is trained properly is insisting that the dog has been properly certified by a third party according to the National Pest Management Guidelines and investigate the certification.  As of now there is no performance standard regarding bedbug detection dogs and anyone can claim they have a trained detection dog.  Even claims of certified detection dogs should be investigated as some certifications are not legitimate and are a meaningless formality between the trainer that sold the dog and the person who purchased the dog.

For more information on certifications or K-9 Bedbug inspection teams contact Arizona based Cimex K9 at 888-928-4364

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

How Cimex K9 is raising the bar with their Bedbug K9 Detection Program...

By Keith Coddington

First of all,  we would like to make it clear that we are not trying to bad-mouth our competitors or their program.  We are simply informing our consumers that there is an enormous difference between our program and our local competitor.  We have a genuine concern regarding the future use of bedbug detection dogs as others in Arizona are using and maintaining the dogs incorrectly.  Operating an accurate and successful detection dog program takes an enormous amount of work, expertise and knowledge.

Q: Who Trained the K9s?

A: We train dogs from start to finish.

Q: Who trained the handlers?

A: We train handlers and match them with a K9 that suits them.

Q: Who certified the search teams?

A: The USA Detector Dog Association which is an independent third party certifies our Canine Teams.

Q: How are the search teams certified?

A: The Canines are certified in accordance with the National Pest Management Association's guidelines for bed bug detection dogs.

Q: How much experience in detection dog work?

A: Dog behavior and training is our specialty and always has been.  We have been in the business for many years.  Our President and founder has been handling detection dogs for years.   Before bedbug dogs he trained and operated a private narcotic detection K-9 company and still operates Natural Instincts, a dog training / behavior business and Interquest Detection Canines of Arizona, a contraband detection dog business.

Q: How are the search teams maintained?

A: Teams that we have trained and maintain are worked with on a daily basis with our detection dog trainer to insure we are setting the new standard in pest detection.  We have the skills, experience and knowledge to deal with common problems like false alerts or failure to detect odor.

Q: How does the detection dog program compare to a government agency or police department that uses detection dogs?

A: After the K9s are trained the search team handler course can take from several weeks to months before the team is certified.  Additionally our program of training, maintaining and certification goes above and beyond any typical government agency’s guidelines.

Why use a Bedbug Dog?

By Keith Coddington

Detection dogs have been working for police departments and various government agencies around the world for decades.  They have time and time again proven themselves as an effective and reliable tool for locating various items such as illegal drugs, cell phones in prisons, termites, cancer cells on humans, explosives and even bedbugs.

Research at Auburn University'sVeterinary School, shows working canines can detect a few odor molecules per billion parts of air. To illustrate this point, it would be comparable to a person being able to locate one specific grain of sand in a thirty (30) square foot section of beach.

Not only do detection dogs have the ability to perceive minute levels of a substance, they also separate discrete odors. For example, people smell pizza whereas a detection canine smells flour, tomato, onion, mushroom, peppers, cheese, and pepperoni. With this ability to distinguish individual odors, detection canines are trained to ignore extraneous smells and key on bedbugs.

Bedbugs are very elusive and it is almost always impossible for a human to find every last bug with visual inspections.  By using a bedbug detection dog the treatment is able to be applied directly to the effected areas and there is no need to treat other areas that are free from the infestation.  This can cut the costs of the treatments dramatically.

Bedbug dogs can be used extremely effectively as a preventative.  Knowing that your home, hotel, hospital or apartment is bedbug free is a very comforting thought.  Periodic inspections with a bedbug dog can locate an infestation before it quickly gets out of control and causes a major problem.

Bedbug dogs work very fast and can search a room for bedbugs in a fraction of the time it would take a technician to visually inspect the area.  These highly trained canines are very hard working and depending on the room a bedbug dog can search 100-200 rooms in one day.

Bedbug detection dogs are the most technologically advanced tool in the world used to locate as little as one bedbug.  Using these highly trained canines along with a specialized treatment is the most effective way to keep the bedbug problem under control.