THis is an Old adage to the way things were back then. If you whip your woman and your dogs they will mind you and respect you more. Not my way of thinking but oh well,,,,

The Walnuts were harvested like pecans, with long cane poles. The harder and more you struck the limbs the more walnuts fell to the ground.

So there you see, "A woman, a dog and a walnut tree—the more you beat ‘em, the better it be.” I made a rhyme,,,,LOL