Just had my new to me 1984 construction home treated by the local pest control outfit. They've got a pair of beagles that they use to detect termites. Yeppers, termite sniffin' dogs.
So I asked them what the cost was to walk the dog, and they told me the dogs had been "retired". Today I got the real scoop from the guy doing the spraying. Said the dogs worked great, more than paid for themselves, however, they started losing work through the Realtors due to the fact that if the dog indicated termites, they had to make that note on the Wood Destroying Insect Report. And that was another reason for a Realtor to miss out on a sale.
"BEAGLE LAND SURVEYING INC - We sniff out problems"
I like that.
> "BEAGLE LAND SURVEYING INC - We sniff out problems"
>
> I like that.
I do too!! :dog: :good:
Derek
Whoaa...let's get this straight
You had a termite company use Beagle's to detect infestation?.......and you paid?
Help me understand. Yes, I realize the obvious to relate realtor's with dogs, however...........I usually relate the same with attorneys.
Perhaps this should have been under "Humor". Still laughing...fwiw
Yup ... there is definitely a problem where the "due diligence" professionals (appraiser, home inspection, surveyors, etc) can find themselves black balled from the real estate transactions if they get a reputation for stalling out sales.
I have one survey in my possession where a surveyor seems to have arbitrarily extended the property line a few feet into any alleyway (past found monuments) in order to avoid an encroachment into the alleyway. He called the found monuments "witness corners", and basically shortened the width of the alleyway. I always wondered what the story was behind that, but I assume he was pressured by the realtor to not show the encroachment … or maybe he just knows how it works and did it one his own.
Whoaa...let's get this straight
> You had a termite company use Beagle's to detect infestation?.......and you paid?
>
> Help me understand. Yes, I realize the obvious to relate realtor's with dogs, however...........I usually relate the same with attorneys.
>
> Perhaps this should have been under "Humor". Still laughing...fwiw
Craig,
Apparently Beagles are important in the finding of bedbugs in NYC also (seriously). Just like bloodhounds, certain dogs have heightened senses of smell for certain things. Beagles must be for insects.
Here's the straight dope on the dogs
Yes, the dogs have a U of Florida pedigree, same as this one.
[flash width=480 height=390] http://www.youtube.com/v/RD4cGs0vHs4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0 [/flash]
Here's the straight dope on the dogs
Go Gators. BTW, there are studies of dogs that can sniff out various forms of cancer.
Here's the straight dope on the dogs
Careful pal, don't get me wound up....;-)
"...however, they started losing work through the Realtors due to the fact that if the dog indicated termites, they had to make that note on the Wood Destroying Insect Report. And that was another reason for a Realtor to miss out on a sale."
I think it's great to use a dog to search for termites, but do they actually make reports simply on a dog "checking"? I would think that they then need to search diligently to find evidence for termites themselves. A dog checking is too subjective and too easily misinterpeted. The dog could be checking on a stray piece of cheeseburger.
Stephen
> "Yup ... there is definitely a problem where the "due diligence" professionals (appraiser, home inspection, surveyors, etc) can find themselves black balled from the real estate transactions if they get a reputation for stalling out sales."
This has been debated before and has been firmly debunked by a long-time realtor turned survyeor, the honorable Pat May.
>
> "I have one survey in my possession where a surveyor seems to have arbitrarily extended the property line a few feet into any alleyway (past found monuments) in order to avoid an encroachment into the alleyway. He called the found monuments "witness corners", and basically shortened the width of the alleyway. I always wondered what the story was behind that, but I assume he was pressured by the realtor to not show the encroachment … or maybe he just knows how it works and did it one his own."
If you are sure of the property boundary facts, then the only thing I would assume from this is that the surveyor is grossly incompetent.
The dog would be like a Shoenstedt for termites. The fact that he/it detects something isn't proof. But it sure speeds up the search and you don't miss as much evidence.
Stephan
Did you watch the video? 96%+ accuracy? Just how accurate can a dogs nose be? They are using the dog as a tool, just like you use a total station as a tool. Are you going to re-measure every shot you take with a chain?
What if your health insurance refused to pay for an MRI because they didn't want a Doctor to find out what was wrong with you where the insurance would ultimately have to pay your claim(s)?
Sorry, I can't buy your "debunked" statement. I'll paint Realtors with a very broad brush...that way you can't see the sh*t under the paint.
Angel
Angel, did you know that giant African pouched rats are very efficient at detecting the odor of tuberculosis, and land mines? There was a nice video about them on TED last year. The researcher is Bart Weetjens.
ps Don't even think about getting one unless you have a large steel cage, with the emphasis on large and steel, as in chew proof.
Bruce! Service Rats!! ?
> Angel, did you know that giant African pouched rats are very efficient at detecting the odor of tuberculosis, and land mines? There was a nice video about them on TED last year. The researcher is Bart Weetjens.
>
> ps Don't even think about getting one unless you have a large steel cage, with the emphasis on large and steel, as in chew proof.
Gambians. 🙂 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambian_pouched_rat
I don't think they are legal in the USA to have as pets.
Here's a news article ABC News did on a lady who trains and uses her rats for service animals!! I am hoping to go with my other rat friend at the end of April and meet her and the rat. :clap:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Finland_empire&id=8046719
Bruce, Wendell and I picked up two new rescue girls yesterday for Vanilla. Here's a few pics after everyone had a bath and supper. :bye:
Bruce! Service Rats!! ?
Oh, they are cute. Rats make such great pets.
Stephan
"Did you watch the video? 96%+ accuracy? Just how accurate can a dogs nose be? They are using the dog as a tool, just like you use a total station as a tool. Are you going to re-measure every shot you take with a chain?"
That's a poor analogy. With a total station I can see what I am getting the shot on. I like Bill93's post about the dog is more like a schonstedt. You still have to uncover what it is sounding on.
"What if your health insurance refused to pay for an MRI because they didn't want a Doctor to find out what was wrong with you where the insurance would ultimately have to pay your claim(s)?"
Well, David, that would be very, very bad. What I am saying is that the often cited scenario of realtor not using a surveyor for being too meticulous at uncovering problems, seems to be not very widespread.
"Sorry, I can't buy your "debunked" statement. I'll paint Realtors with a very broad brush...that way you can't see the sh*t under the paint."
?!?!?
One of my ski buddy's was crossing into Canada to go the British Columbia and they had a drug sniffing dog at the border. Well it seems like the dog took a liking to my friends rear end. You can guess what happened next. They found nothing, but I guess cavity searches are not much fun.
that a good one!
That's as bad as using a forked stick to detect underground water lines!