Mood Matters: MHERA

Book excerpt: In author Karin Pienaar’s new book Mood Matters, she introduces animal trainers, behaviorists and anyone working or living with animals to the ground-breaking MHERA concept, which was designed to evaluate the role that an animal’s emotional and mood states play in his overall behaviour. Most people who spend time with animals, be it as companions or otherwise, would say that animals have emotions and experience different moods, much like humans – and they are not wrong. How an animal feels will affect how he perceives and reacts to everything in his environment. It is therefor imperative for modern behaviour therapy to consider assessing emotionality as the first step in the treatment and prevention of behavioural challenges. Developed based on the latest scientific research, this practical concept can be used to identify and address shortcomings affecting the emotional and behavioural wellbeing of animals, making this book a must-read for professionals and pet owners alike, as a reliable approach to use in behavioural therapy, training or management.