First of all, I think that there is a lot to learn from both methods, and absolutely nothing to gain from bashing one in favour of the other: it only alienates the two schools of thought from each other and generates animosity.
"[L]ack of discipline and direction by the dogs owners" is not "due to the positive only approach": of course you can be disciplined and provide ample direction (it is actually much easier and more efficient to use a clicker and treats for communication) for your dog using positive reinforcement.
I really don't see how positive only training methods can cause anxiety except in a lack of direction, which I already mentioned is entirely possible to achieve if you are consistent. However, shouting at, choking, yanking, hitting, rolling, and generally intimidating your dog are all things that are clearly much more likely to cause anxiety. It's a very odd point to make.
"It doesn't even work on humans, so damned if I understand how it can work on dogs that live by basic instincts" If your boss tells you that you have been doing good work and will increase your pay, of course you will continue to do that good work and even do better than before. If your boss threatens you with a pay decrease and demotion, you're more likely to look for another job that will treat you better, or you will do the work but without enthusiasm or happiness. So damned if I understand why this person doesn't see how it works on humans.
Positive reinforcement doesn't, when used the right way, bribe dogs to do things. It is meant to mark and encourage behaviours. Also, it is essentially impossible to not "punish" a dog; withholding a treat or attention etc is negative punishment, therefore "positive-only" is a falsity.
Working outside of a dog's threshold at first is meant to acclimate the dog to the distraction, and you definitely don't continue to work outside of its threshold. Clearly this person does not understand it the method at all.
Having said all that, I do agree on a few points, namely that: - "[M]ore traditonal balanced trainers do NOT account dominance being the cause of ALL or most issues", - Some (by no means all) dog trainers using positive reinforcement do not give their dogs enough boundaries and tend to coddle their dogs instead of following through with their training. Positive reinforcement requires dedication, consistency, patience and hard work. - No dog should just be put down; there is always a way to work out what is best for each particular dog. I have trained my dog, and met a few others whose dogs have been trained in a very careful mixture of both methods based on the dog's personalities. We are often greeted with gratitude and amazement at how quickly and calmly we can manage our dogs. We spent a lot of time, money and energy getting to know our dogs, building their trust and developing a training style. It is still hard work, and it took commitment and consistency (I think I drove/am driving my family up the wall), and days when it all seemed hopeless. I really think that research and dedication are a dog-owner's best friend, and articles like this one just serve to confuse the situation even more.