We've only used positive training, with one exception. Our dog, Jake, hates our horses and used to always run into the horse field and nip at them. We tried positive training, but it wasn't working in that situation. We feared Jake would get kicked and badly injured, or worse. We borrowed a shock collar (my husband tried it on himself first) and that shock collar is finally what trained him not to go into the horse field. We only needed to use the shock collar one day and he hasn't gone into the field since, he now stops at the fence, and doesn't go through!