[Gpdd] [BEHAVIOR] Bonding help needed

[DFHAKES at aol.com]

We recently lost our dear Beethoven, who was tightly bonded to Buddy, a 5+ 
year old neutered, nearly blind male.  We adopted an unspayed 3 year old girl in 
hopes that both would be friends.  We have tried gradual introductions by 
first putting cages together, then playtime together, and even staying together 
for as long as 24 hours.  Unfortunately, things deterioriate and Buddy chitters 
at her and chases her and guards the food bowl and she gets mad and lunges at 
him.  It doesn't help that he jumps because he can barely see and gets 
spooked easily.  Tonight was hard because they stayed together just a few minutes 
and then annoyed each other.  However, when I separated them they wheeked for 
each other and chewed at their cage bars as if their hearts were breaking.  They 
are now settling down.  Is there any hope for this couple?

Dana F. Hakes