Meet Jersey, the bed bug-sniffing Labrador

When Jersey comes to campus, it's all business. Well, mostly.

The four-year-old Labrador retriever arrives with his tail wagging and nose to the sheets, searching for something most people hope they never find: bed bugs.

Jersey is a highly trained bed bug-detection dog who works alongside owner and handler James Wood of Assured K9 Detection Services. Together, they help Residence Services at the University of Calgary keep student accommodations clean, comfortable and bed bug-free.

Before starting Assured K9 Detection Services, Wood worked on the Residence Services maintenance team at UCalgary and saw first-hand how difficult bed bugs can be to manage once they've spread.

Residence Services has worked with Assured K9 Detection Services for the past five years and has remained bed bug-free during that time. Each year, Wood and Jersey spend about a month on campus inspecting rooms before residents move in for the fall.

"I knew how tricky bed bugs could be and how important it was to catch them early," says Wood. "That's where Jersey makes a huge difference."

Bed bugs are good at hiding in mattress seams, furniture and tiny cracks. Places most people would never think to look.

That's where Jersey comes in.

Detection work runs in the family. Jersey's mother was a drug-detection dog, while his father and many of his cousins were trained to detect bed bugs.

After hundreds of hours of training, Jersey can detect scents humans can't. What could take a person more than an hour to inspect can be cleared by Jersey in just five to 10 minutes.

"He can check more areas, more thoroughly and with greater accuracy," says Wood. "That means we can respond quickly and deal with any potential problems, so they don't become bigger ones."

Residence Services brings Jersey to campus each year as part of its regular residence inspections.

"Knowing everything is clean and clear of bed bugs is a big benefit," says Wood. "It's all about making sure residents are safe and healthy."

When Jersey puts on his vest, it's game on: He knows it's time to work.

Detection dogs are trained with rewards, making every search a challenge they're excited to complete. As long as there are treats involved, Jersey is more than happy to show up for work.