I feel that if a certain training isn't working for you or the dog, that it is best to try something new. I adopted an English setter from a shelter five years ago. He was 3 at the time. I took him to a wonderful training class using the clicker method. My dog did great when we were inside. Unfortunately, being an English setter and the possibility of having bad habits before we adopted him, he would bolt out of the yard and take off into the woods anytime he got the chance. It wouldn't matter if I had offered him steak to come when he was called. He went through the farm-type mesh fences, the invisible fence, chain link and at the end, the invisible fence wrapped around the chain link. He always came back but only when he was good and ready. We would have to take him for his walks on leash which wasn't any fun for him or us.
Finally my vet recommended a person who breeds and trains German short haired pointers. This man uses the electronic training collars and I had been told by the first trainer that if not done right, it could have the opposite effect on the dog.
I hesitated doing that but then a few years later when things weren't any better, decided to give it a try because the positive reinforcement of getting a reward just wasn't working. Tucker needed to learn to come when I called when we were outside. The new trainer told me that I no longer ask Tucker to come. I demand that Tucker comes. After two training sessions at $30 (he actually learned in one training session but I went twice to practice) and an investment of $200 for the Dogtra collar, I am pleased to say that Tucker always comes when he is called. It's amazing. Yes, he had to take some zaps in order for it to happen. But he did realize that I was in control and to listen to me. This collar has three modes. There is a pager that only vibrates the collar, a nick for an 'invisible fence type' kind of signal and a continual for up to 8 seconds for a very stubborn dog. I was not for hurting my dog to get him to obey me but the trainer explained it to me in a different light. He said the dog is the one who makes the choice to obey and it's his choice whether he wants to feel the signal or not. What would be worse? Having him escape the fence in our yard and getting hit by a car? Always needing to walk on leash and never having the freedom of a run?
It's been six months since I took that training and now I can proudly say that we go just about everywhere and he can be off leash. He has learned to come on command willingly and I hardly ever have to use the collar. It's only on as a reinforcement for Tucker to know that he needs to listen. One day after our walk, I took the collar off and realized I had forgotten to turn it on. The trainer told me that Tucker wouldn't have done so well if he hadn't been trained by the original trainer. Tucker knew to come to me when I called his name. He was just stubborn when we were outside. So both trainings were important for this dog. I know there are people who would NEVER use that training collar for their dogs and I've had a friend who put me down for it. But I believe it was the best investment because now Tucker can run off leash and enjoy being free and able to run at his pace, and be safe at the same time. We have gone snowshoeing in Hanover, Maine and walked around many dog-friendly parks. Tucker runs off and then back when I want him.
I recommend that kind of training for the stubborn dog who can never be off leash without bolting. I believe that it's BEST to first train the dog on the clicker method or other positive reinforcement methods first. Only use this method when all else fails.
Every morning when Tucker sees the collar, he starts jumping up and down for joy because he knows that it means he will be taking a walk.
I'm glad I took that chance because I love having fun with my dogs. I wish I had tried that a few years ago. I feel like I wasted five years of Tucker's life. But hopefully he will have five more years that will be jammed pack with daily walks and special outings to make up for all the lost time.

I spend day after day trying to undo the harm that aversive training has caused, and any comments referring to aversive training in the future will be deleted from the comment section.

It is not that I do not think that in the proper hands or that in some circumstances aversives cannot have some use, but I think the average person will take away the wrong message, and will think they can choose a quick fix, and in turn do more harm than good. Used incorrectly negative training methods can lead to many behavior problems, to include aggression.

There is no such thing as a quick fix in dog training. People need to realize that a problem dog can take a long while to fix especially if the behavior problem has been going for a long time.