Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic-relapsing disorders of the gastrointestinal tract with multifactorial pathogenesis. The model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis is a widely used animal model in basic and translational IBD research. We have developed a refined and more translational relevant chronic DSS-induced colitis model that is primarily used for testing the efficacy of potential therapeutics. To account for the shift in the gut microbiota observed in IBD patients, we further developed a bacteria-induced model that better reflects the natural etiology of IBD. Both models are applicable to the evaluation of new therapies and the analysis of IBD pathogenesis.