Your rabbit’s carrier should not be a place it fears. Instead, create an alternative habitat that offers your rabbit a good experience.
The type of carrier you transport your rabbit in can make a huge difference in the way your rabbit feels about it. Look at the carrier from your rabbit’s point of view. Does it look like a place you would like to hang out in?
The entire carrier experience can create stress for a rabbit. Typically, someone chases the rabbit to catch it, then is stuffed into an unfamiliar carrier and carried away to a less than desirable location.
Most carriers are designed with cats or dogs in mind — pets that usually just walk out of the carrier on their own accord, and whether the opening is small or large doesn’t matter. Rabbits, on the other hand, need to be taken out. Make sure there is enough room to put your hands in and take the rabbit out without catching is legs on the door or top opening. A hard plastic carrier is preferable to one made of cloth, mesh or cardboard — all of which a rabbit can chew itself out of in a short amount of time.
Fold up a soft towel, and place it on the bottom of the carrier so your rabbit has something to lie on. This will also prevent your rabbit from sliding around during travel. Place a few veggies in the back of the carrier, and leave it in your rabbit’s area with the door open. Before long, your rabbit will go in by itself and munch on the veggies — teaching it that the carrier is a fun, non-scary place!
Don’t be surprised if your rabbit uses the carrier as a place to hide or nap. If you don’t have the space to leave the carrier out all the time, bring it out from time to time so your rabbit is at least familiar with it.
You can also train your rabbit to go in the carrier with a sound cue. Make a clicking sound or use a cue phrase and drop a treat in the carrier. Follow these steps to get your rabbit running into the carrier on its own accord. All you have to do is close the door and be on your way. Make sure you secure the carrier in your car by putting the seat belt around it.