Can anyone offer a solution to our almost 1 yr old who barks at night .It is usually at the neighbours cat but ...what can we do to get a full nights sleep and not wake the other neighbours.

Simple.... let him sleep inside. For the life of me I can never figure out why people prefer to have their grass guarded at night and not their family. I much prefer knowing that if anyone tried to get inside my house that the dogs would alert me and I certainly don't like the idea of the dog being the prime target for the intruder to poison, spray oven cleaner in its face or worse, to gain entry to the home.

Denise has a point, but you are missing something. Should a scoundrel try to break in, one or more people/dogs will INEVITABLY be harmed.
But for the solution, I guess Denise is right. My dog sleeps outside in warm weather, but sleeps in my room in cold weather. I wouldn't really suggest to make the dog shut up permanently, because you never know when a thief tries to steal your car (like what happened to me).

Hi Kuthra

Keep the dog inside. You can't control cats (especially mating season they go off round my neighbourhood. I keep a stash of golfballs to throw out the window at them!)He is still young at 1 years old, it happens. Dogs are pack animals and will sleep alot easier being close to the pack. If you use a collar or anything then he won't be able to bark at anything outside so rather keep him inside to warn if someone trying to get in. If they steal anything outside - its annoying but thats what insurance is for. Good luck!

Hi Kuthra,
Billy has the run of the house and access to the backyard via a dog door. Very occasionally he barks at the cat a couple of doors down (it teases him by walking along the fence). I just go and get him and bring him inside. In fact, that ploy works so well now, that when he's had a couple of barks (at anything really), and I get up to go and get him, he's already 3/4 of the way back indoors!