A McKellar man allegedly punched, kicked and stomped on his wife's head after she rejected his claims that he had not meant to hit her earlier.
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The alleged victim required hospital treatment for her injuries, which included a serious cut across her forehead, a court has heard.
The 35-year-old father of two appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault, and resisting arrest.
Court documents said the defendant had punched his wife in the stomach after she reprimanded him for kicking his pet dogs for causing him to almost trip over.
The man allegedly stormed off but returned 10 minutes later claiming he had accidentally hit the woman while attempting to strike the dogs.
He then allegedly admitted to the punch and apologised.
But the man is accused of then becoming angry during a subsequent discussion about domestic violence and punching the woman to the ground.
He then allegedly hit her twice more, kicked her in the head five times, and then stomped on her as she tried to get away.
Court papers said she suffered a large cut to her forehead and a bloody nose.
Police arrived about 9.25pm, and reportedly saw the defendant had blood on his hands and boots.
The accused allegedly said: "I just lost it at the missus."
The man allegedly resisted police and spat on an officer when the officer attempted to seize his boots as evidence.
The prosecutor did not oppose bail on Wednesday, saying any risks of reoffending could be reduced by bail conditions to ban the defendant from drinking alcohol and contacting the alleged victim.
The court heard the man could live with a work colleague.
But Magistrate Bernadette Boss expressed concern that the work colleague had a wife and children.
Dr Boss said the charges were "exceedingly serious" and the evidence meant prosecutors had a strong case against the defendant.
"This is not someone getting intoxicated and lashing out," Dr Boss said.
"This is a sustained attack ... [that started on an innocent animal, and then moved onto someone] he'd ordinarily be expected to protect.
"How can I be satisfied that this type of attack will not continue?"
But the magistrate granted bail after the man made an impassioned plea, which included a pledge to give up alcohol.
"I am a decent man. I am a decent human. I am not a coward. [But] my actions last night were the actions of a coward," he told the court.
"I love my family. I live for them.
"This will not happen again. Please give me a chance."
The man will reappear in January.
