Were they kicking or just using their feet to prop them? Using your feet is often seen as not polite, but that is human opinion. Dogs don’t necessarily perceive it that way, and feet are closer to the dog and is not actually perceived by the dogs as aggression. Hands coming down is probably scary

Sounds like you need to take her to dog training, and learn also that some dogs are protective of their food. If she is demonstrating aggressive behavior, you might be too close to the food or too interested in the food. You need to leave her alone when she eats. Give her 15 mins with it when you go do your thing. If she doesn’t eat it, remove the food until the next meal. She will then learn that food is not available all the time and will grow hungry and cherish it and becomes grateful you brought it. You need to demonstrate you are the owner and in control by deciding when to eat and NOT, when to play and not. You sound like you are letting the dog make decisions, so she thinks you are inferior to you and can do anything to you. Do not let her sleep in your bed and you need to learn confidence and leadership. The fact that you cannot control her and feel a bit scared until you found a stick says that you are afraid of many things and not a confident and capable owner. If I can tell, a dog can sense it way more. Your dog thinks you are theirs and not the other way. You are probably the type that feels guilty if you don’t please your dog. You need to change that attitude. When she lunges at you, hitting her is the right response but NOT enough, You need to immediate grab her collar firmly and drag her dog on the floor and don’t let go, Then lower your voice and say no! very loudly as to intimidate her to immediately put her below you showing her you are the boss and even her biting does nothing to you to dominate her. Then spank her butt very hard once with your hands, and say “bad! No!” Immediately after this take her to a small enclosed, ark space for time out – without food, water or access to anything, say time out and close the door. Leave the dog for two hours, come back in with no expression on your face to check their attitude if they look guilty and humble themselves, you talk to them about what they did and tell them it was wrong with a firm, serious but not angry face and look at whether they are submissive and listening to you and wagging their tails to show they want to please you. If they are not, don’t talk to them and close the door for two more hours, until their attitude is completely one of humility and listening to you. Then you put the leash on them and lead them back to their crate and make them go in until meal time, and this time, you tell them what you want them to do, such as saying “eat!” If they don’t within 5 minutes, leash them back into the crate and remove the food until the next meal. Do not soften your stance until they submit to you. As a leader, next please or pay them affection until they have done something you commanded and did it well. Remember, dogs need owners and leadership, not soft maids

No one honestly say they never hit their dog. Dog trys to tear the head off family pet its been buds with for 5 plus years, or bits a child when the child playing alone by itself or the dog turns on u its owner. A good smacking is due and natural.
As much as I love my dog, she recently out of the blue severly injured my cat when my slept on my lap. One hand loving the dog, cat sleeping n me drinking coffee. Unable to intervine n it only took a second for the bitch to injure cats eye, mouth n who knows what else. Unfortunately, I cant afford a vet so cats suffering. I beat the shit out that bitch. The following day, as everyone took their normal 5 plus years on my bed for the night. The Bitch attacked my other cat when she sneezed. Sneezing cats r common in my house, nothing new. I beat that bitch with a broom stick.
Unless a 5 year old dog has dementia, which she wouldnt remember being beat anyway, there no excuse for attacking.
I find it difficult to put my dog to sleep. Its difficult to beat her too. The shock,rage n defending the family vic takes over n as a parent u do what is needed to protect the vic.
My dogs training was smacking n hitting Free. She did n still does gets praises n treats for jobs well done. However, my dogs a bit too smart. She will repeat bad behavior to get another treat. Example, barking while standing on window, no, down. She gets her treat for listening. As soon as I leave the room she will jump back on window n bark. I say no down from the kitchen she comes running looking for a treat. She will repeat this behavior just to get treats n learns nothing. When treats run out she refuses to listen until ahe hears me say damn it. Now Im pissed. My point is some dogs r not trainable with nicey nice live n understanding. Certain dogs challange their owner/ parent daily all day as mine does. It doesnt matter what it is that bitch challanges me same things everyday. Its tiering. Why keep her? She is great guard dog everyone is affraid of her thus I have not been robbed. I live in the hood. Shes a mommies girl, snuggles n is very affectionate n so one. If anyone would really like to help like free training or donate to taking my cats to the vet please do. Ill leave my friends email on my next post. Id leave my cell number however Im sure idiots will just say stupid stuff like why have pets if u cant afford a vet, ur awful u beat ur dog n so on. Everyone most evwryone expects to have an increase in income when first obtaining a pet. 15 years later my cats age I certainly didnt expect to go from corporate manager to disabled person n have one 4th the income. Shit happens. Abandoning my fury kids ciz income fell wasnt n isnt an option.

I live in the hood n need my big dog. Unfortunately aIll be putting her to sleep soon.
 I am an extremely fair parent, everyone gets a treat at treat time. If dog treats ran out no one gets a treat. Senior cat treats run out no one gets a treat. Bedtime everyone has the same spot for years. There is nothing new, nothing changed,in the house hold. Same ol us. Shockingly, dog going for kill over a sneeze.
How can I possible love my dog?
Currently, the fog is locked out of all the roomd except living room. She lost privledge of sleeping with ne n the cats.
Wrote this in the dark, patdon errors

Working dogs are different, my family breed gun dogs (labs) and on a rare occasion the male of the group has had a sting backhand or slap with the leash and he respects it – but rarely and only when he has challenged his owner strongly. This would damage/break some dogs so definitely not for all, but needed for some.

Totally depends on the animal but I do believe there is
Occasionally a place for physical discipline for some. Best totally aboided for others.

If you get too mad to look after a child or a dog, just leave the room momentarily and calm down using your big amazing adult human brain. Hitting is wrong, lazy and ineffective. We’re better than that.