Animal emotionality is a much-discussed topic in the animal behaviour world.  This has led to rigorous and thorough research taking place in this area in the industry, the findings of which contributed to the applied methodology of MHERA™.

MHERA™ is an acronym for:

   Mood State Assessment, including Cognitive Bias.

   Hedonic Budget Assessment.

   Emotional Assessment.

   Reinforcement Assessment.

COAPE International and COAPE Polska are the only two institutes worldwide licensed to present MHERA as part of their course material.  It is a state-of-the-art approach that provides a practical framework that allows the behaviourist, veterinarian, animal professional to evaluate the individual animal’s emotional state and then address any deficits identified that may affect his behavioural and emotional well-being. It is not a rigid formula or recipe, but a fluid assessment tool that takes an individual’s uniqueness into consideration. MHERA™ (and the treatment protocol ESTA) are powerful tools when used properly and can be successfully applied to any animal species. For more information about MHERA, visit www.mhera.org.

The successful completion of the COAPE MHERA™ Practitioners Course will qualify professionals (who already hold a qualification in animal behaviour) and are currently working with animals, as MHERA™ Licensed Practitioners.

MHERA™ is a must-have tool for anyone working in the animal industry, whether with companion animals, animals in rescue facilities, captive wildlife, rehabilitation, as well as professionals who work in all aspects of animal care including veterinary practices, zoos, aquariums or with any animals where behavioural analysis, emotionality assessment, training and behaviour modification may be required. We teach the science and application of MHERA™, which means once you have the tools and the know-how to apply them, you are well-equipped to influence the emotional and behavioural well-being of the animals in your care.

This course is delivered via our state-of-the-art Student Learner Management Portal, with PowerPoints, live lectures, interactive discussions and a final case study.  A big advantage for anyone passionate about MHERA is that this course is tutored in person by MHERA creator, Karin Pienaar. There is a reading list of two compulsory books, and live tutor support is available as part of this course.

What the student will learn:

Module 1: CORE emotional states, CORE Neurophysiology and Type Classification

Panksepp’s CORE emotional states (Affective neuroscience), their importance and role in behaviour, as well as Affective neurophysiology and Type classification.

Module 2: The Science of MHERA™

This module discusses the science behind the ground-breaking MHERA™ protocol.

Module 3: MHERA™ Applied

MHERA and its application.

In this module, the student will learn the practical application of the MHERA Welfare protocol on a variety of species.

Final evaluation:

For a final evaluation, students are required to submit one Case Study demonstrating their ability to apply MHERA on an animal of their choice.

Course details: 

Duration:  6 months, with a maximum time frame of 12 months if the Do-it-in-your-own-time option is chosen.

Type: Online.

Start Date: The course starts every June.

Pricing & Enrolment


For more information on this course email us on [email protected]