I have really enjoyed this thread. It is very similar to what has happened and what is continuing to happen with my parents on the property around their 25 acres.

My parents built on a portion my great great grandfather’s original homestead in the edge of the family pecan orchard. There were only 4 houses on the mile long parish (county) road for almost 100 years. Their house (and my great grandparents house) were the last houses going south so no houses for at least 3/4 mile. They never thought anyone would ever want to build on the wooded property next to them. I grew up being able to walk out the back door and hunt squirrels, rabbits, and deer. We shot crows out of our pecan orchard and shot skeet and doves in our pastures. It was a dream for a country kid.

Now, the land has been cleared around our family homestead on 2.5 sides and houses and neighbors are everywhere. The neighboring property is now incorporated into the city. Its hard for a man to take a leak on our property without somebody looking to see what you are doing. It is a major and drastic change that my parents (same age as OP) don’t like. My Momma actually has contemplated moving because she has “neighbors so close”.

How does this relate? The bottom line is the OP is 70+ years old and never thought the property north of his fence line would sell or at least never thought anyone would live there. Now he has a neighbor and just that fact alone irritates the piss out of him. What probably adds to his irritation is that the OP probably could have bought the property in the past for a reasonable price but didn’t. My parents could have bought the neighboring too but thought it was overpriced. (Maybe not but that is often the case with lots of landowners I deal with on my job.).

The dogs barking are annoying. Most people won’t tolerate that for long. Whether he admits it or not the OP is legally or morally responsible for the situation. He admits he trained/encouraged his dark to bark at anything around his north property line. I get it. Protect the property from all enemies foreign and domestic. But now the property dynamic has changed and the OP refuses to change.

I will not bash the OP for not liking his neighbor or the situation or even reacting out of character. Most people are emotionally attached to what they have worked, sweated, and bled to own and maintain. No Christian always acts or reacts like Jesus would. We should but we don’t. We are just fallen people that have been forgiven by a perfect Savior.

Jesus said to love our neighbor. Thankfully He never said I had to like them ... LOL!! I have a difficult neighbor that drives me nuts with some of the crap she pulls. But at the end of the day I have to be the better person and make the effort to show her love, grace, and mercy as much as I want to strangle her sometimes … The struggle is real!

This will not end well for the OP and his dog especially if, like he states, his dog eventually climbs the fence and gets aggressive with the neighbor. Idk about Texas but Louisiana law allows you to put down any dog that acts aggressive toward you on your own property. You can also sue the dog’s owner for real or “emotional” damage. The liability coverage that is part of homeowner’s insurance may not cover you if you have an aggressive, large, or dangerous dog breed and didn’t disclose it especially if your dog climbs the fence and attacks an innocent person on their property.

Instead of blaming the neighbor it is time for the OP to take reasonable action to rectify the situation. It is not the dog’s fault. From the narrative given it is not the neighbor’s fault either. The OP has to adapt. Adapting is tough.

Just my 2 cents.
Big Hutch

I have really enjoyed this thread. It is very similar to what has happened and what is continuing to happen with my parents on the property around their 25 acres.

My parents built on a portion my great great grandfather’s original homestead in the edge of the family pecan orchard. There were only 4 houses on the mile long parish (county) road for almost 100 years. Their house (and my great grandparents house) were the last houses going south so no houses for at least 3/4 mile. They never thought anyone would ever want to build on the wooded property next to them. I grew up being able to walk out the back door and hunt squirrels, rabbits, and deer. We shot crows out of our pecan orchard and shot skeet and doves in our pastures. It was a dream for a country kid.

Now, the land has been cleared around our family homestead on 2.5 sides and houses and neighbors are everywhere. The neighboring property is now incorporated into the city. Its hard for a man to take a leak on our property without somebody looking to see what you are doing. It is a major and drastic change that my parents (same age as OP) don’t like. My Momma actually has contemplated moving because she has “neighbors so close”.

How does this relate? The bottom line is the OP is 70+ years old and never thought the property north of his fence line would sell or at least never thought anyone would live there. Now he has a neighbor and just that fact alone irritates the piss out of him. What probably adds to his irritation is that the OP probably could have bought the property in the past for a reasonable price but didn’t. My parents could have bought the neighboring too but thought it was overpriced. (Maybe not but that is often the case with lots of landowners I deal with on my job.).

The dogs barking are annoying. Most people won’t tolerate that for long. Whether he admits it or not the OP is legally or morally responsible for the situation. He admits he trained/encouraged his dark to bark at anything around his north property line. I get it. Protect the property from all enemies foreign and domestic. But now the property dynamic has changed and the OP refuses to change.

I will not bash the OP for not liking his neighbor or the situation or even reacting out of character. Most people are emotionally attached to what they have worked, sweated, and bled to own and maintain. No Christian always acts or reacts like Jesus would. We should but we don’t. We are just fallen people that have been forgiven by a perfect Savior.

Jesus said to love our neighbor. Thankfully He never said I had to like them ... LOL!! I have a difficult neighbor that drives me nuts with some of the crap she pulls. But at the end of the day I have to be the better person and make the effort to show her love, grace, and mercy as much as I want to strangle her sometimes … The struggle is real!

This will not end well for the OP and his dog especially if, like he states, his dog eventually climbs the fence and gets aggressive with the neighbor. Idk about Texas but Louisiana law allows you to put down any dog that acts aggressive toward you on your own property. You can also sue the dog’s owner for real or “emotional” damage. The liability coverage that is part of homeowner’s insurance may not cover you if you have an aggressive, large, or dangerous dog breed and didn’t disclose it especially if your dog climbs the fence and attacks an innocent person on their property.

Instead of blaming the neighbor it is time for the OP to take reasonable action to rectify the situation. It is not the dog’s fault. From the narrative given it is not the neighbor’s fault either. The OP has to adapt. Adapting is tough.

Just my 2 cents.
Big Hutch