I went the food / clicker route and I came to the realization that it can be taught by anybody. Trainers like Cesar "Dog Whisperer" Milan are the real dog trainers. People that disagree don't know anything about dogs. Sorry to burst your bubble, but they are not furry people.
Food/clicker training can be TAUGHT by anybody because it has scientific proof behind it, because it WORKS for the vast majority of dogs, and it doesn't require constant physical force and correction to get results! Reliable results! Duh... you never hear of positive, reward-based training making a dog aggressive. It is the easiest, most enjoyable and safest method of training any animal.
In 8 weeks of consistent clicker/treat-based training you CAN get a happy, obedient, reliable dog off-leash. Both of my dogs achieved that in less than 8 weeks as puppies. It might not produce the same instant results as correcting your dog so much that they shut down, but it also isn't creating any behavioral, internal issues or fearfulness.
"Dog training" and "dog supression" are not the same thing. Dogs are not furry people, just like people are not hairless dogs. Attempting to communicate with dogs as if you're a dog based on a bogus alpha/pack theory that emphasizes destroying the will of your dog is barely even humane. The question is, why do people continue to use harsh punishments and corrections in dog training when they don't need to? I guess it feeds some sick urge inside of them to dominate poor defenseless animals.