Several initiatives have been taken to standardise the reporting of animal studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals, such as the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) and GSPC (Gold Standard Publication Checklist) guidelines. Surprisingly, many publications still lack key methodological details. As a result, animal studies are often criticised for poor scientific quality and low translatability to the clinic. To promote adherence to available guidelines, this article covers the rationales for including key parameters that are often overlooked, such as strain nomenclature, housing conditions, and behavioural test settings.