I came to Linn during a very tough time in my life. I have a beautiful two year old boxer, Charlie. I was going through a very tough divorce and Charlie decided that he needed to take over as I had lost all control. He became very leash/dog aggressive and almost impossible to walk and exercise. I had to move to a small condo with no yard, and was beginning to think I would have to re-home him, which was breaking my heart. Enter Linn Boyke and Zen4k9s. Charlie stayed with Linn at his facility for two months while I moved. Linn worked very closely with me to integrate Charlie into my new home. It's been quite a process and a lot of hard work, but Charlie and I are doing great and are very grateful to Linn. Linn is very tough, and not on the dogs. He will not coddle you and while he puts his heart and soul into the rehabilitation of your dog, he expects and demands the same from you. It's been 4 months since Charlie came home and we celebrate new victories every day. Linn has been there for us though it all. He has come to my home many times to work with us and is always available via phone or text. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Linn. I have learned more than I can imagine.....about my dog, and about myself. Working with Linn is not for the faint of heart, but well worth the journey. I will always consider him a friend. If you need some serious help with your dog, check your ego at the door, be prepared to work hard and to see yourself as your dog sees you......And go see Linn! read more

My wife and I adopted a 3 yr old cocker spaniel from the West LA Animal Shelter a month or so ago. Since that time we'd noticed that our otherwise sweet dog was showing signs of aggressive behavior and we decided we'd better get some help before things got worse. We made an appointment with Linn for a consultation right away. Linn certainly has a way with dogs. While we sat and talked about our pooch, the dogs in his care would occasionally start to bark. With a word from Linn, all 20+ dogs would quiet immediately - a trick I haven't had much success with on our one little dog! Linn gave us the techniques to make improvements and worked with our dog rather briefly. What's quite amazing is that since returning home from this short visit, he's acting like a new dog. More in control and willing to take direction. I don't really even know what happened since it was more of a consultation with my wife and I than an obedience session with our dog. You know how Cesar Millan can change a dog almost instantly on TV? It seems Linn has the same skills. In any case, whatever he did seems to be working! I'll update this once we've had more time but I'd certainly recommend Linn for your dog behavior needs! read more

ZEN4K9S - Outside the facility - Pet Training Near Me

What Linn taught me is so valuable, but I'm super bummed he hasn't returned my phone calls, texts or emails in 10 months. I have no idea what I could have done to have him disregard me so blatantly. Especially after he said, "if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call." I have referred person after person to him and I can't do that anymore. So yeah, I'm disappointed. read more

As others have mentioned, if you are calling Linn for dog training, you have most likely gone through one or more other trainers. Linn may well be the only thing standing between your dog and a syringe full of sodium pentobarbital -- "euthanasia", as the euphemism goes for the killing of an otherwise healthy dog. We are in the middle of a behavioral intervention for a dog we adopted from a hoarding situation. After more than a year and much time with a local, pure-positive trainer, she continued to have aggression problems with me. This was unacceptable, and on the recommendation of a friend who had seen him first-hand at a dog training conference, we contacted Linn. While we are not yet through the program, the work he has done with another of our three dogs has been nothing short of astonishing. Within a few minutes (in different sessions), he had our dog * respecting physical boundaries * in a down-stay even despite severe distractions such as another dog walking past a few feet away * walking at a respectful heel and not stopping to pee on every vertical object. We are still learning. As one of the reviewers notes, Linn's human skills at times could use some polishing. But what he does with dogs is almost magical. I am optimistic that our problem dog will come back and be able to live with us again, this time without the aggression. read more

If you have a SERIOUS dog behavior problem, go to www.Zen4K9s.com.There, you will meet Linn Bokye, one of three people personally trained by Cesar Millan "The Dog Whisperer." Linn is one of the most knowledgeable psychologists around. He breaks down dog behavior problems into simple terms. He isn't afraid to tell it like it is.....his concern is helping you with the dog. You will learn from Linn that you ABSOLUTELY have an impact on the dog's behavior. Follow his lead, invest in your dog's mental well-being and learn something about yourself. You will definitely see immediate improvement in your pet's behavior. We've worked with Linn for over 3 years. Dog Psychology and Human learning takes time and Linn will teach you. If you commit to this, you will see that you get all of the support and training you need to make your dog, your family and your life to your liking. He is the best there is. If you care about your dog as a dog, this is the best help you can give it in time of need. We offer this recommendation of Linn and Zen4K9s without hesitation. He is a concerned, caring dog lover who understands that human's need lengthy training too. Please email ericgarf@roadrunner.com with any questions. Sincerely, Eric & Robin Garfield Redondo Beach, CA In Honor of the Cobester! read more

If you are looking for someone who is truly passionate and cares about the happiness and well-being of your dog who has behavioral issues, call Linn. Linn is a kind soul who is an expert in behavioral therapy education for canines who is very strict and challenges you to say the very least but will stay with you and your dog through the tough program and transition to home. There are not many specialists who would devote so much one on one time to make this happen. I rescued Tylo my spaniel mix 3 years ago when he was 3 months old and all was well with puppy training to intermediate classes at a local popular pet chain until 6 months ago. He was kinda a shy boy and it never occurred to me that his hiding under the couch or chair was not appropriate until he got older. His avoidance behavior, lack of "the right type of discipline" and being "spoiled" by family members eventually led to him biting them. I was so frustrated and knew I needed someone who would do more than just tell me for a couple of hours how to quickly take care of the problem. Tylo stayed with Linn for 3 months and throughout that time I was taught how to manage and control his overexcited jumping and greetings and how to care for his fur because we used a harness for walking which may have pulled on his tangled fur which may have then contributed to his biting. Linn's directions were tough but I knew it was for Tylo and no for me which he reminded me every so often. Throughout this experience, Linn always put Tylo's well being first and I really appreciated that his intentions were like this and I had to learn how to adjust my thinking. I've had Tylo home now for 2 months now and have been extremely amazed at how my family and friends have complimented Tylo on being well-behaved, much more friendly than he was before and gives lots of doggy licks to those who were afraid of him when he was so fearful and overall happier. Even when we are out walking and people are allowed to let pet him, he is not afraid or show signs of fear or biting. No one but those who go through the daily stress of this can truly understand. I consider Linn not only my dog trainer but my friend because he is always there to help with questions with Tylo and truly cares. The heartwarming feelings I experience every day watching Tylo happy and enjoying his life is"priceless." read more

So if you are in the market for a DOG OVERHAUL Linn Boyke is the man for you! Do not waste your money on trainers or classes in an effort to save money. Go straight to the solution at Zen4K9s!! I took in a "free to good home" 3 year old lab. I quickly learned why the great deal! She had never been socialized, walked on a leash, exposed to civilization, other dogs...etc. Apartment living and the idea of murdering the plethora of other dogs, cats squirrels, ceramic statues of rabbits, birds and blowing pieces of trash were too much for her to handle...and thus too much for me to handle! After a few near successful attempted murders, I wasted time, money and energy with cheap unskilled and skilled trainers with NO results and then enlisted the help of Linn as a "last resort". I was initially skeptical of turning my dog over to Linn for months of rehab and spending more money than I could really afford. IT WAS WORTH EVERY MINUTE AND EVERY PENNY! and my only regret is not having done it sooner! I cannot sing the praises of Linn enough!! He has been SO generous with his time and his attention. From the very minute I observed my dog with Linn I felt a some of the angst and anxiety I had been carrying with me evaporate. WAS THERE REALLY SOMEONE THAT COULD HELP ME WITH THIS {adorable} MONSTER?? it's still an evolving process with good days and bad days but I'm telling you...even my dog walker is in disbelief at the progress Linn and I have been able to make with my dog! I will caution you: Linn practices TOUGH LOVE! He will give you all of the tools you need and will expect that you will use them and he'll let you know when he thinks you're wrong or have failed in properly using the tools. He will be compassionate and understanding but will not coddle and hand hold. This is necessary! Get over it and embrace the tough love and you and your furry friend will live harmoniously ever after! read more

Linn is the best at what he does. I work in an office that is dog friendly.....which is wonderful, but obviously comes with it's challenges. Every time Linn comes in we learn something new about all of our pets. Working in this kind of environment, we need his help often (when a new dog comes on the scene, behavior has changed, etc) and sure enough, within MINUTES of Linn being around the dogs, things have changed. My dog was a rescue and such a hard case that I actually (can't believe I'm admitting this) was thinking of giving him back to the rescue organization.....Linn spent an hour with us and changed everything. He reminds you that you have to be as present for your animal as you are for other people. He's kind of a miracle worker. Thank you, Linn!! Leah read more

While I agree that Linn is very passionate about dogs and has helped many people and dogs he is also very abrasive and borderline abusive at times when it comes to people. A few years ago I was looking into enrolling in a dog obedience course, and had even enrolled in Animal Behaviour College in San Francisco when I came across Zen4k9's website and after contacting them about his month long intensive course it seem like a good fit. So I withdrew from ABC and enrolled with Linn's program at double the cost ($10k). To put it mildly I had serious second thoughts the first week I was there. I was the only participant so it was just the 2 of us. Often times I was left alone to stay with the dogs (while they were in their kennels) and told to watch videos pertaining to dog behaviour, when he needed to go off and do things. I felt that there wasn't a thought out 'lesson plan' and that in the end I would have benefited from a proper school. Perhaps this avenue of learning wasn't for me and maybe I should have asked for my money back that first week.. in the end I felt the extent of our teacher/ student relationship was more about him paying his rent and to keep his centre open another month. read more

If you want your dog to learn to sit, lie down, or bark on command, this is not the place you want to be. Zen4K9s is not your typical "dog training" facility. Linn is very specialized in what he does, and what he does is rehabilitate dogs with very serious behavioral issues - dogs who are aggressive, nervous, abused, neglected, or otherwise unbalanced. By the time I found Linn, I had been through 3 other trainers and was at the end of my rope. These other trainers cost me thousands of dollars, had me try to deal with my dog's aggression issues using treats or other rewards (I laugh when thinking about this now), and even told me that my dog was just aggressive and that I would just have to keep him confined forever. But I loved my dog dearly and was determined to find someone who could truly help me. That's when I ran across Zen4K9s' website. I spoke with Linn on the phone. He gave me a detailed rundown of what services he provided and how his facility operated. Then he quoted me a price - and like many of you, the number he gave me made me hesitate. But let me tell you right now that it was worth every penny. Linn, for the amount of time he puts into working with your dog, is absolutely the most affordable investment you will ever make for your pet. My dog went through Linn's program, and 7 months later, Linn still makes himself completely available to me whenever I have any questions or need additional advice. He even still offers to make house calls to help reinforce everything that my dog and I have learned. Where else can you get personalized, long-term attention like that? I also have to warn those who are thinking about securing Linn's services that this is NOT a magical solution for your dog. Your dog won't go into training and come back home to you a totally transformed animal without any work on your part. I worked with Linn for almost a month, an hour a day, 4 days a week before my dog ever came home with me. Oftentimes, wrong behaviors get reinforced because we, as people, don't know how to communicate or handle our dogs. The owner has to completely revamp the way he/she relates to the dog. So not only does the dog need to be trained, the owner does too! This requires not only a totally new mental approach but one must also learn how to physically manipulate his or her pet - so the process is both mentally and physically challenging. At times, I was sweating, my muscles were sore, and I was just totally exhausted. So you, as the owner, must go in prepared to work, work, WORK! And the process isn't over when the dog goes home. Oh no. That's when the real work really starts. Rehabilitating a dog requires lifelong learning. But by establishing new patterns of behavior, one can learn to live a balanced life with their furry loved one. I'm still learning each and every day. And everyday, my dog learns to trust me a little bit more. Linn is there to help and guide you, but you have to show him that you're dedicated, open minded, and willing to make the effort. There was a reviewer below me who stated that Linn's drill sergeant attitude made the entire process painful for her. I'd like to sympathize, but really... get over it! Are you paying for affirmation and to have someone be nice to you? Or are you there to help your dog? Linn definitely has a "tough love" approach - no other way to describe it. He doesn't hand hold, and he tells you exactly what you're doing wrong and how to fix it. He's to the point, and he doesn't waste time. I won't lie - there were times when I got frustrated with him and he with me. But when I found myself in that situation, I explained to him exactly what I was feeling and why, and he would work WITH me. There is absolutely nobody who wants to help your dog more than Linn. His love for animals is clear in everything that he does. Show him that you're in it for the long haul as well, and he will stick by you. Do what he says, stay focused and committed to the process, and you WILL get results. I can now take my dog on walks without being afraid of running into other dogs. My dog is able to walk quietly by my side, or enjoy exercise, be outdoors, get fresh air, and just live life like a dog without attacking every animal we come across. When a dog walks by us, I use the techniques that Linn taught me to keep my dog focused on me rather than on the other dog. There have been numerous times where other dog owners, while walking by, have commented on how well behaved my dog is - Haha, if they only knew! Before Linn, this would've never have been possible. He truly has a gift for helping dogs, and I'm just ever grateful that I found him. read more

When I adopted two mixed breed puppies from a rescue organization I thought that I was prepared. I had a renowned private trainer from day one (or two). Yet those nervous puppies grew into nervous dogs. Big nervous dogs. And the nervous aggression toward anyone outside of their core group/pack began. I tried more trainers who came highly recommended, yet began to feel hopeless about changing the course of things. My veterinarian cautioned me because I had children - and their friends- to think about. At this point I felt desperate and the first ray of hope I had was after finding and speaking with Linn. Linn spent countless hours with the dogs, and with me. He was training all of us. I did not choose him so that he could nurture me and hold my hand. I needed to re-learn things and wanted someone strong and capable to help me. Linn cared about all of us and wanted us to succeed, and after months of training I realized that over the course of time I had gained the confidence to control my dogs, and to make them feel secure. This made them calmer and manageable. Linn helped me understand their nature and my role in curbing their behaviors. He is a strong advocate for the dogs, and if you love your dogs as I love mine you will realize that when he is pushing you it is for the dogs, and therefore your benefit. I adopted dogs who were born on the street and have been imprinted with a strong fight or flight instinct. Yet I am now able to walk them calmly through my neighborhood, and do not need to cross the street if passing people. I can have guests over to my house without fear. Because of Linn's patience and expertise I have peace in my home. He truly is the best and most capable trainer I have ever met (after 25 years of being a dog owner) and I feel so fortunate to have found him. If you have a dog (or dogs) who are aggressive, nervous, or out of control you will not find anyone better than Linn to help. read more

Our dog started doing things that made us exceptionally uncomfortable and we had to really think about whether we could keep her - you can imagine this was devastating. We decided we'd try a consultation with Linn as a last resort and in an instant, everything changed entirely. Hard work, for sure, but Linn and his team have worked as hard as we have and now we are seeing results that we didn't even dare hope for (and we still aren't totally done - we are ecstatic). Everyone there is totally committed to us and to the process; they are remarkably patient (it is a learning process, you can't do it all over night) while continuing to challenge us in positive ways. Linn is truly gifted in a way I have never seen live (you've probably seen Cesar Millan on TV - Linn trained with him). They have also been totally willing to work with our not-always-easy schedule. We consider ourselves lucky to be living in Los Angeles because we have had the opportunity to work with Linn and his crew at Zen. read more

I wish I had known about Linn 4 years ago when our Havanese Eddie was traumatized at our vet when he was a puppy. I knew immediately that we had a big problem and that we needed someone who really understood dog behavior, not just training. After 4 years of trying to address Eddies fears, insecurity and anxiety on our own and with a recommended dog trainer, my husband and I decided we needed a different approach. When I first talked to Linn I knew I had found the person who would be able to help us. After completing Linn's rehabilitation program Eddie is a much calmer and happier dog. Everyone who knew him before can't believe what a transformation he went through. In fact he is so much better, that with Linn's blessing we got Eddie a new friend - a Golden Retriever puppy! Living in Orange County we invested a lot of time during the rehabilitation process to help Eddie get to where he is now. My husband and I even got to go on several afternoon dates while we explored Los Angeles with Eddie. Having been through the process I can say that it was well worth the time, money and emotional investment. Linn's comittment to the well being of dogs is unwavering. His knowledge of dog (and human) behavior is unending. I can't say enough positive things about him and what he has to offer in his programs. read more

I have a 1 year old lab-mix rescue that I adopted from Petfinder.com. The first month with our dog was great, but then we started noticing signs of human aggression that steadily got worse. We were rejected from Paradise Ranch, Canyon View Ranch, and Topanga Pet Resort, all of which do not take dogs with human aggression issues, but am I glad we were! Because I ultimately found Linn and he saved my dog and has changed my life. Linn is straight forward, extremely generous with his time, passionate about dog rehabilitation, loyal, and kind. My dog is still a work in progress, but I notice the possitive changes daily. We are able to go on walks without her lunging at other dogs or humans and he taught her to walk on a treadmill to burn off excess energy. I have been working with Linn for 3 months so far. My dog stayed at Zen4K9s for 5 weeks and since she has been home I have spoken to Linn or seen him almost every day. In really difficult weeks he has taken her back to his facility for overnight stays to get us back on track. He makes local house calls, he is available by text seemingly 24-7, and patiently answers all of my questions. He is very direct, so don't try to be evasive or play games with this guy. Just be open to change and do the homework and your life and the life of your dog will be changed forever. read more

I've worked with Linn and my dogs for nearly 5 yrs. He is the best in his field. He is no joke. If you're looking for a dog trainer who gives treats and lavishes your pup with cuddles, keep looking. Linn knows exactly what dogs needs to be happy, and he will show you how to be a leader. He is worth every dollar, but you have to do the work too. The best money I ever spent is having Linn teach me how to "parent" my dogs. read more

I have been a dog owner for over 16yrs and a single dog owner for the last 5yrs. This last 5yrs have taught me more about myself and more about respecting myself and that of my dogs to say hey I need help. Linn, coming into my life has been a true god send. He brought me my confidence back along with my ability to know that I can achieve anything and everything. My cute sweet adorable Miracle Grace would attack a bicycler, a jogger, a skateboarder and a dog just walking by minding their own business, and my sweet dog would then turn into this ferocious animal? It took Linn, 4 long and patient months to teach me it was me, not the dog. he asked me, do I want a pet, an animal or a companion? I wanted all 3 in a bundle? Well this is achievable but in need of a lot of work! Today I have a pet, that I can trust to be around children again a 4 yr old who runs circles around her and wrestles with her as well. I have the pet that I can take to the beach and does not lunge, growl, or attempt to attack others, we have come a long way. To be honest the beach a year ago was not a thought to be had with this dog, to be around children was asking a lot, to just going in the front yard was wishful thinking. Today walking in my neighborhood, to go to the beach, and having this dog around children is a huge blessing. Thank you Linn and your staff for giving me my life back. I have my dog not the beast that I would allow to come out, thank you for giving me my sweet pet back, and thank you for truly making her my dog, my companion's. I know everyday is a new day and everyday is a challenge, however without all the tools you gave me, I would not be where I am at today with my dogs. You are well worth every single cent to rehabilitate my dog and me. read more

We had an incident where our beloved dog got upset with our son and yelped at him to back off. It was a big wake up call to me and my husband as we realized that the socialization we had tried to do with the two of them was not really working but we had no idea what else to do. I called our vet immediately and they told me to call Linn as he was very good with dogs and children. I called Linn and through my tears he told me that he would be at our house tomorrow to help assess and figure out what do next. From the MOMENT Linn walked through our dog, my dog was different. His entire demeanor changed, he seemed more relaxed and controlled. Linn explained that our dog felt as though our house was out of control and therefore he need to be the one in charge which created a completely backwards dynamic for our entire family. Linn's gentle handling of both my dog and myself was a godsend. He spent several hours with us showing us how to let our dog know that he is not in charge and in fact he can just rest and relax, retire, if you will! I knew what Linn was saying would work because I was seeing it with my own two eyes how in literally ONE MINUTE, my dogs behavior was different so I began writing down almost everything he said! I created my own 'how to handle' guide so when Linn left we would know how to continue this transformation. I can proudly say it has been over a month and our dog is still under Linn's spell! And for that matter, so are we! I don't want to make people think this is easy, it's not, you have to be very vigilant and aware at all times so that your dog is getting the proper reinforcement at the right times but once you have the system down, it becomes a no brainer. Everyone is our house is better because of Linn, our amazing dog and all us humans. Thank you Linn for the work you do and the dogs and people you train. You're a class act. read more

I have been working with Linn (Zen4K9s) for several months now and I cannot speak highly enough of him or his program. For those, that want a short explanation/synapse jump to the last paragraph... I adopted my dog, Sammy back in March of 2010. He is an extremely high energy dog and when I got him I thought his high energy was purely a sign of needing more exercise. Despite my efforts to get him more exercise, the high energy, timidity towards people, and aggression on the leash slowly escalated to the point where I had been bitten a couple of times. By January of 2011, I had become so embarrassed (read: insecure), stressed out and fearful of my dog that I began to wonder if I could keep him. I knew I would regret giving him up without trying something and so I requested a consultation with Linn. When we met I could not even explain Sammy's issues without crying. He described his "rehabilitation program" to me (see his website for info) and after a week mulling it over I decided to enroll us (I say us, not Sammy, because in the end this program was more for me). For the first month, while Sammy stayed with Linn, I went to his facility every weekday for an hour long lesson (~25 hours of one-on-one help/guidance). During this month, we spent a lot of time learning how to use the leash as a training device, recognizing situations and how to respond appropriately to them, and most importantly discussing why I was so stressed out by my dog's behavior as ultimately it was my insecure state of mind that Sammy was feeding off of and the real cause of his behavioral outbursts. Eventually, Sammy came home with me. I have had him at home for 2-3 months now and we have made incredible progress (Just the other day, I even had another dog owner tell me, "Your dog has the sweetest temperament"). He walks calmly by my side on walks and I have even started re-introducing him to the dog park (with Linn's help). I still have a lesson with Linn every couple weeks (he has easily spent another 20+ hours with us since Sammy came home), though I feel the need to consult him less and less. I must admit that I have had several setbacks along the way; occasions when Sammy's energy has gotten a little high and I have frozen, but in each case I have called Linn and he calmly reinforced the knowledge I already had. More importantly, even though Sammy may still have an occasional outburst, I now know how to handle the situation so that he learns not to behave that way in the future (proof that it is working... the outbursts are quite becoming less and less frequent). In general, Linn's program was everything I could have asked for and more. My high energy dog is now calm and I have much more control over him. The cost is substantial ($4,500), however Linn works with his clients until they are ready no matter how long it takes. He has easily spent 40-50 hours with me already and I know we will continue to work together. You will get many more hours of effort from Linn than from those dog trainers that offer 6 one hour lessons for $800. In fact, if you and your dog have severe issues you should be wary of any program that puts a cap on how many hours... you will only be spending more money with someone else when it hasn't worked. He really cares about the dogs and his clients and it shows. Finally, from the date I posted this review, there was only one review on Yelp that was not necessarily favorable (further evidence of how great Linn is). The reviewer's issue with Linn was that, while he was great with dogs, he did not have people skills. I have to WHOLEHEARTEDLY disagree with that review. Linn does practice tough love (especially when the client needs it), but he also provides reassurance and support when I need that instead (I have cried many times in front of Linn; I would certainly classify myself as an insecure/sensitive person). In general, I would say he is as aware and knowledgeable of human behavior as he is of dog behavior and responds to each situation accordingly. Thank you Linn for all your help and support! read more

I met Linn years ago through a friend, long before I had a dog, but just spending a little time with Linn, hearing about his passionate philosophy around helping dogs - especially so called "difficult" dogs, and seeing his amazing influence on man's best friend had me convinced of one thing: whenever I did get a dog, I would immediately take him to Linn for training. Flash forward 7 years. My husband and I adopted a 4-month Dane/pointer mix rescue, and I promptly called Linn. Our dog didn't have any specific behavior issues, he was just a puppy in need of basic training, but I knew that he would be in the best hands with Linn, and that the training we gave him through Linn would address his mind and whole personality, not just basic commands. I also knew it was going to be particularly important for us to train our dog right because a) he was clearly going to be a big dog and b) I got pregnant right after we adopted our dog, so it was imperative that he develop into a well-behaved and trusted member of a growing family. My experience with Linn is therefore slightly different than some of the other reviewers' because what brought me to Linn wasn't a seriously problematic dog, just a puppy in need of direction and discipline. But the results were the same - Linn truly is a miracle worker. Our dog went from being a spazzy and unruly child to a mature adolescent. It's like he went to finishing school and came back knowing which fork to use and how to say "please" and "thank you." Linn also worked with my husband and me, spending considerable time training us (especially me) how to be good dog owners, which Linn believes is the root of all dog behavior. As others have pointed out, Linn is terrifically generous with his time, and working with him is worth every penny; you are investing in a coach who will always be there for you and your dog. This has proven to be incredibly reassuring. Even though Oggi had been to several vets for various shots, neutering, and after a dog bite, it took Linn to call our attention to what turned out to be a serious medical issue - his odd hips and gait. At Linn's prompting, we went to see a new vet to get X-rays of Oggi's hips, and sure enough it turns out he has stage 4 hip displasia. Our dog is now recovering from hip replacement surgery (note: our pet insurance covered it - check out Trupanion and if your dog is under 1 yrs old sign up for the hip displasia coverage), and Linn just made a house call this afternoon to help us with a new behavior problem our dog has been exhibiting post-surgery. Linn of course - as usual - had the problem fixed in 3 seconds flat, and helped me understand what my husband and I needed to do to help Oggi not get bored, depressed and acting out through the recovery period. Linn will also be working with us to help Oggi acclimate to a new baby. Linn is obviously the real thing, as all of these lengthy raves attest. I completely disagree with the one person who was bothered by Linn's tough attitude with humans. Linn comes from a place of passionately identifying with dogs that have been mistreated, discarded, or just generally misunderstood, and yes - he will get firm with you when training you to be a good dog parent. But he is practicing what you need to preach to your own dog, and he's coming from a place of complete love for your animal. He is always on your dog's side first, and trust me - if you just leave your ego and resistance at the door and put yourself in Linn's hands, you WILL come out of the experience understanding how to be a parent your dog will respect and listen to. I can't say enough great things about Linn - he has a magical touch with dogs and I feel a huge sense of relief that he will continue to be our coach from the sidelines. read more

Linn was great. His extensive knowledge and natural way with dogs is truly amazing to watch. He helped our aggressive, extremely territorial Keeshond with all of her issues in a relatively short time (2 hours.) He was really patient in explaining where we were going wrong and how we could correct our's and our dog's behavior. read more

Linn got the call when our rescue French Bulldog wanted to kill our elderly Pug. Within a single session, Linn showed us how to set proper boundaries with the Frenchie and the "old timer". Linn is nothing short of amazing and our family will always be grateful. read more

Linn Boyke is truly a talented dog behavioralist. He has helped me to understand my high strung, nervous boxer Lucy, and has turned her from a crazy non-stop barker into a confident member of the family. He has worked with both me and my kids to teach all of us how to help Lucy, and I have told him that if he ever gets tired of working with dogs he should work with kids! He is very insightful into both canine and human conditions, and works equally on the dog and the client to bring them both into harmony. I am so grateful to Linn for his teachings, so much of what he teaches makes perfect and practical sense, but I never would have thought of it on my own. He showed me that instead of being obnoxious, Lucy is actually nervous and frightened, and that she needed a much more structured atmosphere and regular walks to work off her energy. She used to get her energy out by running up and down the stairs, barking at every little thing. Now instead she and I take walks together, something I was nervous to do before due to her aggression towards other dogs, which Linn has also taught me to successfully deal with. I feel so much more confident with Lucy now, and I look forward to many happy walks with her. Thank you Linn! ! read more