Emily Larlham (Kikopup)

The Rise of a Compassionate Dog Training Voice

Emily Larlham has established herself as one of YouTube's most respected dog training voices through her channel "Dog Training by Kikopup," which has amassed over 422,000 subscribers and 48.61 million total views since joining the platform in April 2007.^[1]^[2] Based in San Diego, California, Larlham runs both her popular YouTube channel and her professional dog training business, Dogmantics Dog Training.^[3]

Content Creation and Channel Growth

Larlham's YouTube channel features an extensive library of 847 videos covering topics from basic puppy training to advanced behavioral modification.^[2] She has produced over 400 free, in-depth dog training tutorials that address everything from obedience and tricks to more complex issues like reactivity, fear, aggression, and anxiety.^[3] What sets her content apart is her commitment to providing comprehensive educational material without requiring viewers to purchase anything, making professional-level dog training advice accessible to pet owners worldwide. The channel maintains steady engagement with an average video length of 4.66 minutes and demonstrates consistent performance with a 4.54% engagement rate.^[2] Her content strategy focuses on detailed explanations and step-by-step tutorials, often featuring her own dogs as demonstration subjects, which creates an authentic and relatable viewing experience for dog owners.

Training Philosophy and Progressive Reinforcement

Larlham pioneered what she terms "Progressive Reinforcement Training," a methodology that completely avoids physical or psychological intimidation in animal training.^[4]^[5] This approach emphasizes teaching and reinforcing desirable behaviors while preventing and interrupting undesirable behaviors without using intimidation tactics.^[6] Her philosophy extends beyond just effective training techniques to encompass the broader impact of compassionate animal treatment on human relationships and society. Her training manifesto outlines four core principles: teaching and reinforcing desirable behaviors, preventing undesirable behaviors without intimidation, considering the learner's physical and emotional wellbeing, and continuously educating oneself based on scientific evidence.^[6] This systematic approach has resonated with dog owners who prefer positive reinforcement methods over traditional dominance-based training.

Professional Background and Expertise

Larlham's journey into professional dog training began approximately 19 years ago when she worked as an animal caregiver in a shelter, where she met her mentor Kyle Rayon.^[3] After years of apprenticeship and study with both human mentors and thousands of canine subjects, she established her own training business.^[7] Her unique background combines artistic skills with technical training expertise, allowing her to develop creative solutions for complex behavioral issues and advanced trick training. She has been invited to conduct seminars across six continents, including North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia.^[3] Her speaking engagements at prestigious conferences such as the PPG Summit, Clicker Expo, APDT Australia, and the Art and Science of Animal Training Conference have established her as a respected voice in the professional dog training community.^[7]

Record-Breaking Achievements

In 2020, Larlham achieved international recognition when her Border Collies, Wish and Halo, set a Guinness World Record for the most tricks performed by two dogs in one minute, completing 28 tricks on December 22, 2020.^[8]^[9] Additionally, her dog Wish individually earned the record for the fastest 5-meter crawl by a dog, completing the distance in 2.175 seconds.^[10]^[11] These achievements were accomplished using positive reinforcement training methods, demonstrating the effectiveness of her compassionate approach.^[9] The training process involved breaking behaviors into small, achievable steps and using toys as rewards to increase speed and enthusiasm during performance.^[10]

Business Ventures and Educational Offerings

Beyond her free YouTube content, Larlham has developed a comprehensive educational ecosystem through her Dogmantics website. She offers various membership programs including "Weekly Inspirations," "Weekly Manners," and "Weekly Puppy Insights," with prices ranging from $49 to $90.^[12] Her business model combines free educational content with premium offerings, including self-study courses, video-on-demand programs, and professional seminars. Her professional development materials include advanced courses such as "Refining Your Training Skills," which focuses on improving training techniques rather than just teaching specific behaviors.^[13] These resources cater to both pet owners seeking help with their dogs and professional trainers looking to enhance their skills.

Community Impact and Recognition

Larlham's influence extends beyond individual pet owners to the broader dog training community. Her calm, methodical approach to explaining complex concepts has earned praise from viewers who appreciate her non-commercial presentation style and thorough troubleshooting guidance.^[14] The consistency of her messaging and the wide variety of dog temperaments featured in her videos provide viewers with comprehensive examples of how to address different training challenges. Her commitment to making professional training knowledge freely available has created a global community of dog owners who follow her positive reinforcement methods. The channel's international reach demonstrates the universal appeal of her compassionate training philosophy, contributing to a shift away from intimidation-based training methods in favor of science-based, humane approaches.