Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures.

Area of Science:

• Laboratory animal science
• Animal behavior and welfare
• Veterinary behaviorism

Background:

• Non-aversive handling and training are crucial for laboratory animals.
• Stressful husbandry procedures negatively impact animal welfare and scientific data.
• Clicker training offers a potential solution for refining handling techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate clicker training protocols for laboratory rabbits.
• To reduce stress associated with routine husbandry procedures like lifting and restraining.
• To improve animal welfare and scientific quality in laboratory settings.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen female New Zealand White rabbits were trained over three weeks using clicker training.
• Protocols included target following, jumping onto scales, entering transport boxes, and specific handling behaviors.
• Behavioral observations and voluntary approach tests were used to assess training success and generalization.

Main Results:

• All rabbits successfully learned predefined goal behaviors.
• Ten rabbits learned to jump onto a trainer's lap for handling.
• Rabbits generalized behaviors to familiar individuals and showed less aversion to box-based lifting.
• Training proved feasible and effective, even after breaks.

Conclusions:

• Clicker training is a feasible refinement strategy for laboratory rabbit husbandry.
• This non-aversive method significantly improves animal welfare.
• Implementing these training protocols can enhance the quality of scientific research.