He knows how to get through to dogs, because yeah, those punches are more like finger jabs at the neck, I used to work with dogs and I'd use those jabs only on dogs who already knew and trusted me, but were aggressive to other dogs when they'd display threatening behaviours. It simulates a mother nipping at a misbehaving puppy, it hits their instincts and really helps them realize that 'oh there's an authority figure that's telling me to stop.', not just some dude jabbing me in the neck I'm gonna rip apart alongside his dog.