bed bug trainning

[jasonGSD01]

Is there a website or something where i can learn how to teach my GSD to detect bed bugs? Looking for new biz idea.

[CassandGunnar]

I don't know about a website, but there is a "school" somewhere in Florida that trains for bug detection.
It's been at least a year since I first heard about it. I'll try and find the info and PM you.

[jocoyn]

I have thought about going into it when I retire. Detction dog work is detection dog work and I think any good training for that would serve you well. I figure all my cadaver dog stuff would serve well in that arena. Just a buidling search with different nuances.

LOTS of people have the bedbug idea though!

[carmspack]

I have a dog in training for bed bug detection this very moment.

Do you have the right dog -- it must be one with very high hunt drive as this is a tedious and meticulous job .
The dog has to be able to pin point and indicate on the presence of one bed bug (which in a few days may have laid thousands of eggs).

Ideally you should have some feeling for reading a dog, some experience in working with a dog in scent work / tracking ...

You may have a GSD but that dog may be 110% wrong for the job.

Number one -- females preferred.
Number two --- is your dog highly socialized , able to go into any environment and work with undivided focus and attention . As part of the job, depending on which company you go to work for , you will be required to go to hotels, apartment units, theatres, car rental , touring buses , private homes.

see this blog BIRCH-BARK HILL (Elle) KIRA . Specifically chosen , now prepared , starting in training on specific scent.

Dogs at end are evaluated and certified . It is a serious business where the owner of the detection company can be sued if bugs are missed . When Nike closes its flagship store in New York because of bed bugs , or hotels are loosing customers , you know that big money is at stake.

Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

[jocoyn]

Females preferred? I think females can make excellent detection dogs but I know of no evidence they are "better" than a male. Isn't it the individual dog?

[CassandGunnar]

I wasn't aware of the "female" thing either. I guess I'm not surprised, but I'd like to know why females are preferred over males.........just curious.

I think my Cass could do an excellent job at any type of detection and maybe we'll look into bugs.
She's a GSD/Mal cross, 2 1/2 years old. (she was rescued by us 1 year ago)
Extremely high toy/ball/hunting drive. Very social. She's a little soft for apprehension/bitework. Very "nosey", loves to find stuff and is always up to play "find it".
Once she's on something, she's on it. All business and focus. We've been working on an off switch and better focus to commands when she's locked on to a track. I've seen improvement, but with the new foster here now, we haven't had time to work on it as much as I want.

I frequently work with Gunnar with our area K9 handlers at our Regional Training Center. When I've had Cass out there, she loves the agility equipment and tracking/finding that we've been able to do. Maybe now, we've got something to shoot for.
I had an offer to give her up to someone as a SAR dog, but I'd never part with her and I'm too beat up to work a dog in SAR.

I can see the crap I'm gonna take from my former peers in the K9 unit when hear me working Cass.

"Cass - on me - let's go to work, OK, Cass - seek bugs".

[Stosh]

When we lived in CA we leased a house and the owners called a termite inspection company- they brought a beagle trained to detect termites. So that's another pest you can consider

[jasonGSD01]

Originally Posted by carmspack

I have a dog in training for bed bug detection this very moment.

Do you have the right dog -- it must be one with very high hunt drive as this is a tedious and meticulous job .
The dog has to be able to pin point and indicate on the presence of one bed bug (which in a few days may have laid thousands of eggs).

Ideally you should have some feeling for reading a dog, some experience in working with a dog in scent work / tracking ...

You may have a GSD but that dog may be 110% wrong for the job.

Number one -- females preferred.
Number two --- is your dog highly socialized , able to go into any environment and work with undivided focus and attention . As part of the job, depending on which company you go to work for , you will be required to go to hotels, apartment units, theatres, car rental , touring buses , private homes.

see this blog BIRCH-BARK HILL (Elle) KIRA . Specifically chosen , now prepared , starting in training on specific scent.

Dogs at end are evaluated and certified . It is a serious business where the owner of the detection company can be sued if bugs are missed . When Nike closes its flagship store in New York because of bed bugs , or hotels are loosing customers , you know that big money is at stake.

Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

I do have a GSD that would be great at this. I have also titled him in tracking. I also have work with GSD doing protection and drug detection. I am thinking that bed bug trainning would be alot like drug detection.

I have contacted the company in Fl and waiting for a call back.

[jocoyn]

Let me know how it goes.
I checked out the website and it looked like they wanted to train and sell you a dog.

[carmspack]

Nancy I do know the company and yes they do.

Carmen