You clearly have the right environment for a larger (guard type) Dog. You already have the "outer" perimeter set up, for it to present a barrier for your little ones, who could be given free access (via doggy door) in the second/interior confined area.

I'd suggest one of the Herding Breeds, and be brought in as a puppy, where he could attach himself to your pack well.

I shall do this exact thing for my guys soon.

You have an acre and the neighbors complain about noise? One thing is if you record the conversation you have to let the other person know its being recorded and that needs to be recorded. I know in my area you can't record a conversation without permission. So it wouldn't matter if they fessed up anything couldn't be used. But I would file a complaint to the Police so there is a record. If you can't resovle anything with the neighbor?? Maybe he sleeps at that time and some adjustments need to be made? Or he could just be sour

It could be he was just annoyed and said that but i dont put anything past people these days

I would make a police report and I would go outside armed with a pistol any time I was taking the dogs out. Anyone who threatens to poison your dogs is not worth talking to and must be treated as a mortal threat. Just sickening that you can't let your dogs run around outside now because of this sociopath.

Can you plant tall shrubs to block the view of this neighbor?

I would definitely always go out with the dogs to supervise closely, nasty neighbor or not. Sorry you are going through this. :(

Yes, we go out with them for all their potty breaks now. It usually just takes them between 5 to 10 minutes to do their business. I stay outside with them until they are finished and then I bring them back in with me. They are never outside by themselves anymore. This neighbor is mad bc they bark sometimes when they go out for those few minutes. However, we live on an acre of land...we are not butted up against his house by no means. Our house sits in the middle of the acre of land. I can hear other dogs in the neighborhood, at times from inside of my house barking....just never bothered me. I don't know of any dogs that never bark.

I guess there are just some people that really hate dogs.

Oh my goodness this is just so horrible for a person to theaten people and their dog's this way. He must a be miserable piece of trash to say things like this.

I know you are on high alert when you take your dog's out, but you be careful for your self as well.

I would check your local Gun laws first so your rights. You need to know what a threat is. Not every State has Castle Doctrine laws

Jamine, what did the police recommend the first time you called them?

We have consider the prospect of moving, but like so many others, we love our home. We did the landscaping our selfs, all the rooms have "our signature" on them, bought our place 14 years ago so most of our grandchildren know only this place as "Papa and Nannys". Our church that we love is close and DH teaches Sunday school there. Just a few more months then home is paid off. But, if this does escalate we just might have to do this.

Oh, and thank you for explaining about the rat poison to me, but so sorry about your dog that died from it. Blessings to you and yours.

Welcome to my world....and MY neighbor is a police officer with hoodlum kids that are dealing me misery. I NEVER let my babies outside without me being right with them, because of holes in or under the fence, predator birds, bob cats, etc. But I never dreamed the little b******* would throw fish hooks into my yard. My back yard is "fenced and cross fenced" to keep them from even going anywhere near that side of the yard because I am so fearful poisoned meat will be tossed over the fence....not because my babies bark, but just because they are my babies and I reported the thugs when they shot out my car windows and it pizzed them off. I have the 9 camera security system, I also have a laser system that throws beams across the yard, so that if anyone comes over the fence, they will break the beam and an alarm will sound inside the house. I have every thing else you listed...my privacy fence is 8 feet tall, but that wonty keep them from throwing stuff over tthe fence. My babies do not go out into the "big yard" where I have all their ecercise equipment and fun activity center set up, until I do a complete and thorough sweep of the yard on that side of the house. I set up swimming pools over here by the patio area....the babies all stay over here in this area, where the thugs can not access.......I have this area covered by concrete and flag stones, so it is easier for me to see stuff on the ground......it is pretty dad gum sad when we have to be terrified for the safety of our kids and animals.....and even our homes, as this thug "of mine" was caught setting the local elementary school on fire.

I was recommending it for the case that say, in a fit of anger the guy tries to cut through the fence and stomp one of her babies. I can't imagine shooting someone who is physically attacking your dog would be treated like shooting someone running off with your DVD player. One thing is, I would never display it, since that would be seriously egging this sociopath neighbor on, and you don't want to do anything to set this guy off emotionally.

I hadn't thought about that, but anything is possible. DH is so good to keep their yard manicured and the fence row free of weeds. He also keeps their yard treated for ticks, fleas, stickers and weeds. It is so aggravating to know that he is doing all that he knows to keep a nice, clean, safe environment for our girls just for someone to come along and destroy our peace of mind and jeopardize their safety/health.

So sorry to hear about Liberty...pray that all is well with him now.

We did try this a year ago. I had wanted a standard poodle so, I bought a beautiful standard male. Just gorgeous and so very smart....huge. Loved this dog, however our little Jasmine 5 yr. old 6 lb. yorkie did not love nor like him. She terrorized him from day one and we could never train her to leave him alone. He was a gentle giant. I don't know if she treated him that away bc of him being male, bc of his size or what. Anyway, I was able to rehome him with a very good person who loves him very much. Maybe it would work with a female guard dog.

What breed of herding dog do you recommend and do you think it would work if I got a female guard dog instead of a male. They would have to get along bc I could never leave a dog outside. Thank you for your recommendation.

When someone can't control his anger enough to where he would actually say something like that I wouldn't bet on him being able to control his anger enough to not do what he threatens. I would seriously get the police involved ASAP so there's a paper trail at least involving this person.