On the knee damage... I was shocked at how little actual force was required to hurt me when my 50lb dog made a running U-turn near me and bumped the outside of my knee with her hindquarters.

She literally immobilized me without really trying, she was just playing with another dog. I remained standing, in pain, and shifted my weight to my other leg. I couldn't take a single step. Nothing to lean on. I stood there for a long time (maybe three minutes), thinking it would improve. Then the neighbor came out her back door, and I yelled for her to go into my house and get my mother's walker. And that's how I slowly got into the house. The pain eased after an hour or so, but I felt it with every step for over a week.

That incident made me realize how easy it would be to incapacitate someone that way. Guys can protect the family jewels and maybe even grab your foot if they're quick, but they can't do much to protect their knees.

Sue