Did You Know...
Detection dogs continue to be the first choice and most widely used detection method by the Department of Defense as well as local and state law enforcement. United States Customs and Border Protection employs more than 800 canine detection teams that work with the United States Department of Homeland Security.
With all the technology available today, detection dogs are still the preferred method of detection of contraband in our airports and by the police for the detection of drugs, arson and explosives. Scent detection dogs play a very important role in these crucial situations. At DQ Pest Control we have adopted this same tool and use it in another crucial situation - detecting pests, such as termites and bed bugs in the homes and businesses of our clients. Our Termite and bed bug detection dog, a basset hound named Barney, was trained the same way as police and United States Customs dogs are trained, except he was taught to detect the scent of live termites and live bedbugs rather than the scent of an illicit substance. David Latimer, Chief of Police of the Harpersville Police Department in Alabama, trained and certified Barney. David Latimer is the owner of the Forensic & Scientific Investigations Canine Academy and President of the World Detector Dog Organization. David Latimer depends on the dogs that he trains every day that he goes to work as a police officer. He trained Barney using the same methods as he uses for his narcotics, bomb, arson and tracking dogs. Therefore, we knew that David Latimer trained a dog that we could depend on to detect bedbugs and termites.
Our termite and bedbug scent detection dog, Barney is a descendent of the bloodhound. The basset hound is second only to that ancestor in its scenting ability. Longer muzzled dogs, such as the basset hound have more scent receptors in their nose than do short nosed dogs. Their long ears help them smell by capturing and holding scent. The wrinkles in the loose skin around the face trap the scent that has risen in the air and their short legs let them go places taller dogs can't to give the breed another advantage over other dogs.
Smell is a dog's most highly developed sense. Dog's wet noses dissolve the scent molecules and allow them to detect smells that humans can't perceive. Canines can sense odors at concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans. Dogs can identify distinct smells between 1,000 - 10,000 times more effectively than humans.
Humans smell in parts per hundred and dogs can smell in parts per trillion. Drug dealers try to detract the dog's acute sense of smell by masking their drugs with coffee, peanut butter and other strong odors, but never with any success. In a prison, a detection dog foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs that had been hidden in a woman's bra and smeared with coffee, pepper and Vicks Vapo-rub. Since dogs can smell in parts per trillion, they are able to distinguish individual odors in a way that humans are unable to do. For example, there is a pot of stew cooking on the stove; all you are able to smell is the nice aroma of the stew. However, the dog can distinguish each individual item in the stew, such as the meat, potatoes, celery, carrots, beans, broth, etc. This incredible ability to decipher odors makes the dog a great tool in fighting termites, and bedbugs.
The ability of scent detection dogs to locate their target scents while ignoring the many other non-target scents encountered in their search environments is claimed to be better than that of instruments.
From a single drop of urine, the dog learns the marking animal's sex, diet, health, emotional state, and even whether it's dominant or submissive, friend or foe.
Tracking dogs follow a biochemical trail of dead skin cells, sweat, odor molecules, and gases.
For dogs, a scent article is like a three-dimensional odor image that is much more detailed than a photograph is for a human.
Dogs can track a scent through air, snow, water, mud, and even ash.
Dogs can see far better than humans can. They have heightened peripheral vision and excellent night vision. Dogs can sense movement much better than humans can.
Scent detection dogs have been trained to search for many things, including: people, plants, animals, agricultural items, gas pipeline leaks, water leaks, snakes, birds, bears, blood, cancer, currency, hazardous chemicals, firearms, human remains, mold, termites and bedbugs.
Scent detection dogs can even detect things, such as blood that have been left for as long as 10 years. They can detect blood even if it has been scrubbed off surfaces. A scent detection dog can detect one drop of blood in five quarts of water.
A dogs hearing is more acute than a humans at both a lower volume and a higher frequency. In fact, dogs can hear sounds at such a high frequency that humans can't hear them at all. This helps them to track down a target.
A certified scent detection dog is recognized in Court as a "Scientific Instrument" (US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals).
Termites cause in excess of a billion dollars in property damage in the United States every year.
Man's best friend could save you money. Termite dogs can detect termite infestations long before they become visible, saving the structure from extensive damage.
Termite Inspections - Buying a home is the biggest purchase most people make in their lives. A homeowner should know what they are purchasing and if there is any live and existing infestation of termites. When you purchase a home, the bank requires a Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report. A home can pass a termite inspection if there is no visible evidence of wood destroying insects. Passing this inspection does not mean that the home is termite free. A typical inspector is only able to truly inspect about 30% of a home. A termite dog can inspect 100% of a home accurately and is able to check inside finished walls, doors, window frames, underneath floors, cinderblocks, behind appliances, and other hard to reach places to ensure an accurate termite inspection is performed, which could save a potential home buyer thousands of dollars.
Bedbug Inspections - To find activity inside the walls, baseboards, even under the carpets, a room would have to be stripped down. Due to our bed bug dog's keen sense of smell, Barney can detect bedbugs even inside of walls. If there is bedbug activity, our bed bug dog will alert to it and control measures can begin. Early detection using our bed bug dog can prevent the spread and infestation of bedbugs to other areas. Only the areas that are infested with bedbugs are treated saving both time and money.
DQ Pest Control can provide you with a bed bug or termite canine inspection, whether you live in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island or the Bronx.
In the event that our K9 detects termites, or bed bugs in your home, or business we can provide you with exterminating services.
