Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry ProceduresKatharina Hohlbaum 1, Pia Kahnau 1, Jenny Wilzopolski 1, Carola Fischer-Tenhagen 1
1German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
Training protocols involving positive reinforcement for routine husbandry procedures in rabbits were developed and proved to be successful, as the rabbits reliably showed the trained behaviors at the weekly general examination. Picking the rabbits up with the transport box was less aversive than the conventional handling technique.