The post The Specialized Detection Dog That Sniffs Out Bed Bugs appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

• One incredible pup has a rare but important job: detecting beg bugs.

• Zephyr the dog even successfully identified bed bug infestations inside computer hardware at a zoo.

• Thanks to their extraordinary sense of smell, dogs can easily detect bed bugs.

• Training dogs to detect bed bugs is a process similar to that used for other working dogs.

Dogs are human’s best friends for so many reasons. They’re loyal and kind, but also incredibly smart. Some dogs are so smart that they actually work helpful jobs. Perhaps the best example of this is the almighty service dog. But did you know that canines can also be expert bed bug detectors? This Instagram post by @weratedogs introduces Zephyr, the professional bed bug-detecting dog. The post shows videos of Zephyr finding nasty bugs and wagging his tail excitedly in response to his hard work. Read here to learn more about Zephyr.

Zephyr the Bug Detector

Zephyr is a very good boy for good reason. He was professionally trained to detect bed bugs in a number of locations. These include apartment buildings, hotels, libraries, and even senior care facilities. He has even helped out in some unusual places, such as a zoo, when bed bugs infested the computer hardware. While humans typically freak out a bit at the thought of bed bugs, Zephyr loves his work. In each video taken by his owner, he is ecstatic at the discovery of the creepy crawlies. Little does he know how helpful he is to the community he serves. While he might think this is a game, he certainly deserves plenty of thanks for his hard work.

Thanks to their incredible sense of smell, dogs can easily detect bed bugs. A dog’s nose contains up to 300 million scent receptors, which help them analyze an array of complex smells. In comparison, humans have about five to six million receptors, meaning that dogs can detect scents beyond our comprehension. Bed bugs produce an odor that is extremely faint to humans, but a well-trained dog like Zephyr can identify it quickly. Since bed bugs are nocturnal and adept at hiding, they often infest our spaces before we are even aware of them. Thankfully, with the help of a dog, bed bugs can be detected early and exterminated.

How Are Bed Bug Dogs Trained?

Training dogs to detect bed bugs is a process similar to that used for other working dogs. The most important step is scent imprinting. This process introduces the dog to the scent they will be trained to detect. When a dog shows interest in the scent, they are rewarded to encourage them to seek it out. Positive reinforcement is the best way to motivate the dogs to continue their hard work. The dogs are also trained to ignore other scents and distractions, so they do not search for the wrong thing. Once they become skilled at their specific job, they begin working in the field. Thanks to Zephyr, we can enjoy fewer bed bugs and greater peace of mind.

The post The Specialized Detection Dog That Sniffs Out Bed Bugs appeared first on A-Z Animals.