I live in the country too, but I have 3 big dogs that live outside, so not much bothers us. I let my yorkies run around a little if I am right there watching, but when we take our daily walks, I have them on their retractable leaches, and the big dogs following (they are not on leashes, because there is no one else around us for miles). I see the hawks and owls (at nite), but no one bothers us too much because of the big dogs.