Difference between revisions of "Habituation training"

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This page contains films of environmental enrichment of rat cages, and habituation of these animals to handling and procedures such as blood sampling and injections.
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This page contains films of environmental enrichment of rat cages, and habituation of rats within the facility to handling and procedures such as blood sampling and injections.
  
 
The large home cages contain a large assortment of items to provide enrichment, including tunnels, houses, shelters, multiple levels, hammocks and cages containing nesting material.  
 
The large home cages contain a large assortment of items to provide enrichment, including tunnels, houses, shelters, multiple levels, hammocks and cages containing nesting material.  
  
The facility uses a hammock suspended from the chest of the animal technician to facilitate contact with the animal, before they are placed in a holding cage containing treats (condensed milk and chocolate biscuits).
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The facility also place the rats in "playpen" cages on a regular basis - these cages contain a large assortment of items to provide enrichment, including tunnels, houses, shelters, multiple levels, hammocks, a "swimming pool" and cages containing nesting material.  
  
In the holding cage, the rats can be tickled, to utilise the enjoyment which they are known to experience from this procedure. The handling may appear somewhat rough, but it is compatible with the "rough and tumble" way in which rats normally play with each other.
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The facility uses a square of bedding material suspended from the chest of the animal technician to facilitate contact with the animal, before they are placed in a holding cage containing treats (condensed milk and chocolate biscuits).
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The rats are also tickled in a holding cage on a regular basis - they are known to derive considerable enjoyment  from this process, which mimicks their natural play behaviour. The handling may appear somewhat rough, but it is compatible with the "rough and tumble" way in which rats normally play with each other. The rats enjoy this so much that they return to the hand for repeated tickling.
 
[[File:Hammock.mp4|thumb|A hammock suspended from the lid of a rat cage|alt=|left]]
 
[[File:Hammock.mp4|thumb|A hammock suspended from the lid of a rat cage|alt=|left]]
 
[[File:Habituation of rats.mp4|left|thumb|This video shows habituation training of rats.]]
 
[[File:Habituation of rats.mp4|left|thumb|This video shows habituation training of rats.]]
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[[File:Enriched rat cage.mp4|left|thumb|An enriched rat cage]]
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[[File:Enriched rat cage.mp4|left|thumb|An enriched rat playpen]]
  
  
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[[File:Rat tickling.mp4|left|thumb|A single-handed technique for tickling rats.]]
 
[[File:Rat tickling.mp4|left|thumb|A single-handed technique for tickling rats.]]
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Revision as of 06:07, 28 July 2021

This page contains films of environmental enrichment of rat cages, and habituation of rats within the facility to handling and procedures such as blood sampling and injections.

The large home cages contain a large assortment of items to provide enrichment, including tunnels, houses, shelters, multiple levels, hammocks and cages containing nesting material.

The facility also place the rats in "playpen" cages on a regular basis - these cages contain a large assortment of items to provide enrichment, including tunnels, houses, shelters, multiple levels, hammocks, a "swimming pool" and cages containing nesting material.

The facility uses a square of bedding material suspended from the chest of the animal technician to facilitate contact with the animal, before they are placed in a holding cage containing treats (condensed milk and chocolate biscuits).

The rats are also tickled in a holding cage on a regular basis - they are known to derive considerable enjoyment  from this process, which mimicks their natural play behaviour. The handling may appear somewhat rough, but it is compatible with the "rough and tumble" way in which rats normally play with each other. The rats enjoy this so much that they return to the hand for repeated tickling.

A hammock suspended from the lid of a rat cage
This video shows habituation training of rats.











An enriched rat playpen






A single-handed technique for tickling rats.








This page was created on behalf of the facility by AS191219 (talk) 10:53, 27 July 2021 (UTC).