I had a play the other night where the dribbler gave the defender a fore-arm to the face. I called an offensive foul(noone complained). My question is the call, is it player control or is it pushing? Can the dribble push?

Along the same lines, when a post player hooks the defender, is this holding or player control?

(NF) 4-19-6 A player control foul is a common foul by
a player while he/she is in control of the ball or by
an airborne shooter.

of the plays you described
Play 1: Player control

Play 2: personal foul probably holding.

(NF) 4-19-6 A player control foul is a common foul by
a player while he/she is in control of the ball or by
an airborne shooter.

of the plays you described
Play 1: Player control

Play 2: (without the ball)personal foul probably holding.
(with the ball) player control

If a defender has established legal guarding postion and a dribbler plants a forearm to his face, not only do you have a player control foul/charge, but you may well have an intentional foul which would give the defender 2 free throws as well as his/her team the ball out of bounds at the spot nearest the infraction.

Unless you rule a foul intentional, any foul by a player with the ball is a PC foul.