Yes, we played a long game of Frisbee catch and of coarse some doggy treats
Abused dogs are frequently hit with objects; most know what an object in your hand means.
I've pulled my knife twice on dogs. The other time was with two pits running in the street, that then headed directly for me late at night.
They hear the click as it locks in place; that seems to unnerved them as well. They ran away.
It's the little things sometimes.
The key moment with animals is keeping them from attacking; it saves time and blood.
Fear with any animal is always counter productive.
They can sense it. Anger is much more useful.
Use anger only if it's needed with dogs; most just want to be your pal
The Story of Bob Barker
This pit bull picture below was a bit terrifying at first. As is my habit I was parked for the night along a deserted stretch of road in the desert.
As soon as I got out of the van a large dog started barking unseen in the darkness from about 20 feet away. He didn't sound friendly at all... I was yelling and cursing at him, had the walking stick out. I was pissed. Finally he stopped.
Figured that was the end of it.
No.
When I got up in the morning and walked around to my driver door, there he was laying right under it blocking my way, looking at me.
I sized him up; he was lean, with some cuts from obviously living in the desert.
He was in trouble, someone had abandoned him out in the desert miles from anyone. Estimated he been there for at least a week. Gave him close to a gallon of water. He lapped it up so fast I thought he get sick. It was July and it was very hot during the day.
I left him to go into town feeling bad but really couldn't take him.
Asked a friend I knew if anyone wanted a good looking, friendly brindled pit bull.
He decided to take him.
I went back... and Bob was gone.
I found him under an overpass taking shelter from the sun about a eighth mile away. He let me put a crude lease on him and I walked him back to the van. He even obeyed commands to heel and sit!
More water.
My friend's had him for almost 3 years now.
Bob Barker turned out to be a great dog, and now has a good home