This article demonstrates the standardized application of playful handling, a tickling technique designed to mimic rat rough-and-tumble play. This technique is effective at reducing fearful reactions to humans and generating positive affect when rats are handled for common husbandry activities and medical and research procedures such as injection.
Cloutier, S., LaFollette, M. R., Gaskill, B. N., Panksepp, J., Newberry, R. C. Tickling, a Technique for Inducing Positive Affect When Handling Rats. J. Vis. Exp. (135), e57190, doi:10.3791/57190 (2018).