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.
Praise for Mood Matters:
There is no longer any doubt that all mammals have rich emotional lives and that it is the very presence of emotions that helps to make us, in so many ways, the most successful class ever found on earth. It is to Karin Pienaar’s enormous credit that her understanding of this subject opens the door for the applied practical methodology of the MHERA approach in cats and dogs.
Professor Peter Neville, Co-founder of COAPE UK and author of Do Pets Need Shrinks?
This insightful and ground-breaking book is a must for the dedicated pet guardian, behaviour consultant or trainer with an interest in understanding, preventing and successfully resolving unwanted behaviour in the animals in their care. Not only do we get the historical perspective on how the scientific community gradually realized the importance of moods and emotional states in determining animal behaviour, as well as the methodology described in detail, but the multiple and varied case studies shed light on how this approach can successfully tackle a range of diverse behavioural challenges in different animal species. The MHERA approach is built on multidisciplinary scientific research, it’s humane and effective – a vital piece of the behaviour puzzle!
Karolina Westlund. PhD. Professor (Associate) at Stockholm University, Sweden
Karin Pienaar lives with her human family and a menagerie of cats and dogs. She manages COAPE International and lectures extensively on MHERA and the importance of managing animal emotionality successfully to ensure behavioural health in animals.
8 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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Valence plus arousal = more effective training
I've struggled at times to explain to dog caregivers how their behavior impacts their dogs. This workbook gave me some great tools to help people evaluate, understand, manage and support their dogs and their constantly changing emotional states. It was an exciting inspiring read and gave me some great tools to share with my clients.
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Mood Matters by Karin Pienaar
Everybody who has a dog or think of having one should read this book. Dog emotions can be complicated, and most books, like Pankesepp’s work, can be overwhelming when you read them. Mood Matters simplify things so anybody reading this book can understand the seven core emotional systems and what makes their dog tick. I also like the case study examples with graphic illustrations, making it possible to visualize the animal’s emotional journey during his daily experiences. I highly recommend this book, brilliant work from Karin Pienaar!
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Mood Matters
Everybody who has a dog or think of having one should read this book. Dog emotions can be complicated, and most books, like Pankesepp’s work, can be overwhelming when you read them. Mood Matters simplify things so anybody reading this book can understand the seven core emotional systems and what makes their dog tick. I also like the case study examples with graphic illustrations, making it possible to visualize the animal’s emotional journey during his daily experiences. I highly recommend this book, brilliant work from Karin Pienaar!
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Mood Matters
Mood Matters is an insightful, clear, concisely written book, evidence-based, easy to understand, comprehensive, practical and empowering. A must-read for professionals and an excellent tool for pet owners.
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Mood Matters
A fantastic text on emotionality and how it impacts behaviour. Broken down into easy to follow chapters. A must read for anyone in the area of animal behaviour and training.
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A must for all pet owners
When I started reading this book, I thought it would be all technical, but I soon got into it and found it very informative. As I was reading through the various scenarios of behaviour, I started associating the behaviours with pets I've had in my life, evoking some great memories. This is a great handbook for all pet owners. A good book, well written.
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A must-read book
This book is for all Geeky dog owners, behaviourists, trainers or, in fact, anyone living/working with any mammals in any capacity - it’s a MUST-READ book. It explains why the emotional welfare of our pets is so vital, how we can achieve it and how we can approach resolving behavioural struggles. This book will change the way you view your pets and increase your understanding of them 100 times over. It is one of the most up-to-date, science-based, eye-opening books you’ll read.
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Mood Matters by Karin Pienaar
Superb work. Everyone who ever even stroked a dog should read this book because the understanding you will gain will make you a better stroker next time! For all animal professionals, this book will enhance all of your connections with every dog, cat and pet owner/guardian/parent that you meet and increase your own spirit of engagement a thousand fold. And with a little thought, the whole MHERA model can help you appreciate and benefit from a huge increase in understanding of what makes all animals tick...and humans too.
