The Russian Brown Bears are practically the same as Grizzlies. While they often aren't aggressive, they can be, and if they do attack little people aren't very able to preserve their lives when attacked by predators weighing up to a ton, as they do where I grew up. About a decade ago a teenager was attacked by a mother who felt he was a threat, and he managed to beat her to death with a stick. A singular achievement IMHO.
I'd rather depend on a .44 than a stick.
With animals you can only caress. Kindness and affection subordinate better sticks or pistols.