The large number of smokers has had a broad effect on society. Nicotine is one of the most widely concerning components of cigarette smoke. Long-term intake of nicotine can lead to nicotine dependence that affects higher brain functions, which may involve anxiety, learning and memory impairments, and abnormal decision-making. To facilitate analyzing the molecular mechanisms of nicotine dependence, it is common to establish rodent nicotinoid dependence models to better understand the physiological changes. This review summarizes and evaluates studies of the behavior in nicotine-dependent animal models to provide a reliable reference for researchers to establish rodent nicotine- dependent models for evaluation.