congrats! this little guy does sound like he could be a good match. you are very wise to let the dogs meet on neutral ground. if you can, and if you have help, take them all together on a nice long walk. this is something that, if you can do several times before you bring him home, would help the dogs to bond to you AND to each other.

something else you can do is pay lots more attention to your two girls when you bring the little guy home. it wouldn't hurt a thing for you to pretty much ignore him (as much as you can, IF you can) while your other dogs are present. give the two girls lots and lots of extra attention as long as they are behaving nicely. after a few days, he will very likely start seeking you out for attention at which time, you can start giving it to him. just make sure the girls are always first to get treats, first to be fed, etc., until the new guy has been there long enough to find his place in the pack.

this can certainly work out for everybody, dogs and humans alike, as long as you take every precaution you can to make their first few meetings pleasant.

he sounds very sweet! best of luck!!!

Going only by what you've posted, I'm not so sure that breed is the best choice to add to your pack. Cattle dogs have strong instincts for guarding and herding and are a breed that needs a lot of exercise or either a job (herding) to keep them from getting bored.

The ones I've been around bonded very closely with their owners to the point other dogs and people had to be careful what they did around the owner. Part of that was from lack of socializing but part of it is due their strong guard instinct.

I love the breed but if I owned one, it'd be my only dog.

The first and most important thing you can do is take all the dogs for a leash walk. Have someone hold the new guy on a seperate leash not too close but not too far from your pack, once everyone settles down you take the leash and walk everyone together. This is the best way to introduce dogs to each other without dominance issues. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the input! :)Looks like we are set up to meet this weekend! The plan is to meet at a park and walk them together for the initial meet...we will see how things go and I will let ya'll know.
Annz, thanks for the heads up on cattle dogs. My last (and only) boy, the love of my life, was a aussie/jack russel mix, so I do have some experience, at least with a mixed breed, which this guy is too. It's one of the reasons I have been quizzing the fosters/ rescue about temperament so much. Ironically, my Ridgeback old lady was notorious for herding any rescues that I used to bring home, so I will probably have to watch her on herding the new guy if he works out. I've been really working extra with the girls this week on re-enforcing my alpha role...ya know, those little things that we can let slide sometimes.
LOL, the alpha (me) is going to have to go for a long walk before we start this adventure so I can be more focused on being calm...I KNOW how important that is.

good luck with your meet & greet! let us know how it goes. i agree...a nice long walk is a great way to bond.

you know I have to agree with annz, I've known people who had heelers/cattle dogs and they were very guardy and didnt play well with other dogs (to the point they had to be kept separated). They really are working dogs and that's what makes them happiest, I havent met one that was happy to be a house dog, they can be just a bit too intense like they just need that *purpose* of being put to work.

I dont think there's anything wrong with keeping the status quo, and if you lose your old girl, then think about getting another dog at that point?