Jennifer,

I'm just reading what happened - so sorry for you and Teagan! As others have said, documentation with the authorities is the way to go.

Oh, Jennifer, I am so sorry about what happened w/ Teagan.
But quit beating yourself up over it. You already know how to prevent it from happening again...

File that report, and make sure to put the bus driver's name and phone number in there. That guy that hit you is a low life and there is no excuse for him hitting you.

Wow- I'm so sorry that happened to you Jennifer!!!

You should definitely report this guy. There is absolutely no excuse for him to hit you whatsoever.

Please let us know what happens!

Hope your leg heals soon!

Geez, I should have checked this thread one more time last night - I'm SO sorry to see what a turn it took Jennifer!! But right off the bat, I'll jump on the "file a report" band wagon - no question. I've filed a few in the past, thinking I may need them as backup one day, and while (thankfully) things never got THAT bad, it sure was nice to have the piece of mind that multiple documentation of my experiences existed in the safe, secure confines of the local police dept... it only takes a few minutes.

On the karma front, I think we've all been right where you are today - one minute you're puffing yourself up with pride that you and your dog have really been making handsome progress in training, and thinking that you have a good handle on things... and in an instant, one episode completely and frustratingly throws you back to feeling like you're at square one, and you have failed your dog. It ain't easy, but your experience proves two points: 1. that training, vigilance and respect require practice throughout a dog's entire lifetime and letting your guard down can ALWAYS open doors to accidents, and 2. that you're a very fine handler indeed for clearly recognizing #1 and knowing how you need to proceed to further avoid accidents in the future.

You really are doing wonderful things with Teagan, Jennifer, she's truly lucky to have you - don't discredit that long initial post, because all of it was very true. Give the sting of this current event some time dull, WRITE A REPORT , and then just get right back into working with your dogs. If it doesn't kill you it only makes you stronger, right?!

Cheers,
~Natalya

Isn't that how you fracture your tibia from that guy beating you up? I would be so furious because any men who hit women like that are unacceptable. I would have called police and filed a report.

I say file a report too. There's no excuse for physically assaulting someone except in self defense. The guy committed assault and battery and needs to be prosecuted for that. It's that simple.

I'm sorry Jenn to hear this. But no matter what Teagan may have done doesn't excuse this guys behaviour towards you. He sounds like a real hero and he-man hitting a woman.

You are to nice, don't let Teagan's bad behaviour negate the fact that this 'Man' (and I use the term loosely for him) assaulted you. Go to the cops as if he gets away with it, what will he do to the next person who p***** him off? Something worse or to someone even less likely to defend themselves?

You have to do what you have to do. Let the cops make the call. I have a friend who is a female who is a beat cop with the Toronto force, PM me and I'll pass her name to you if that helps.

I told Ed about this and his words were

"That guy needs to be charged with assault!!"

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

It's totally my fault. I don't muzzle Teagan when I take her out, I keep her leashed and with me at all times. I got tangled in her leash (trying to get her to go to the bathroom) and didn't see a man walking two dogs coming towards us. She was quiet (she always is when she wants to attack) and when I was detangling myself I dropped her leash by accident, and the second I did, she took off. I should've had her muzzled. It's my fault for not doing that when I can do things like drop her leash - by accident, it was an accident, but still - my fault. She's good if she knows I have her, but she knew the second I dropped it. I ran after her - she'd hurt the smaller dog, and the owner was kicking her, which is fine, and I got her off the dog and then he turned and started hitting me - which I don't blame him, I feel terrible, it was my fault. a bus driver who saw him hitting me stopped and said I should call the cops and gave me his name and number as a witness.

I've paid the vet bill for the dog.

I don't know if it's okay to post what happened or not. But I feel so ashamed, I feel like absolute scum. I'm never going to have her outside without a muzzle again - I should've thought. It's all my fault.

Jennifer -

I know exactly how you feel!!! 2 years ago my Lilly while being trained for DA, got a correction with her prong for returning barking at a passing dog that barked at her. When I gave the correction the metal snapped, it was a defective collar. I had no back up collar on with it...she traversed the street and proceeded to take on a GSD mix, who incidently had her on the retreat when I got my hands around her neck to seperate her from the leashed dog....the owner was also kicking her - which I had no problem with as well, except he was kicking me as well so I could not contain her, she kept getting free. She finally got a hold of his dog who he (the owner) was now holding on the ground in a head lock...and proceeded to stomp the two of us. Lilly never let go of the dog and I had to back off as he had shattered my thumb, severed a vein, turns out he severed a nerve as well and dislocated several other fingers. When he stopped assaulting us, I with my arms put Lilly in a head lock took her air away and seperated the dogs in less than 5 seconds. This man then left me in a pool of my own blood in the middle of the street with my arms around my dog. My 17 year old daughter had witnessed the entire event.

So here is the thing, yes we lost control of our animals, it was irresponsible and we know better...but it was an accident. After 2 1/2 years of feeling guilt and shame and awful fear for the dog I had let down (my own), I have come to realize had the other party been trained via Leerburg, these events would not have occured. The other owners would have stayed calm and helped us to control the situation instead of amp up the danger and the damage.

Accidents happen, but you need to not take responsibility for this mans actions....he is responsible for them. He could have helped by putting human well being before the dogs...but he did not, he was afraid, ill prepared and a coward! Don't you let him off the hook for that. It took me a long time...but I see it clearly now, had the owner been dog savy, he would have known how to calmly assist me in not making a bad situation worse.

I am so sorry you are going through this...but try to remember what I have said, hug your pup everyday, and remember no one has the right to injur you over a DOG FIGHT!!!!!!

Great post, Valerie.
That experience sounds absolutely hellish, but your reflection on it is spot on.

~Natalya