Civil Pooch - Positive Dog Training by John Buginas, San Francisco Bay Area

No.

Dogs trained using positive reinforcement training still have rules and regulations about their behavior. Positive reinforcement training can be used to keep a dog off a couch or bed if the owner decides. The decision to let a dog on a couch or bed has NOTHING to do with the style of training.

Positive reinforcement training takes advantage of scientifically pr oven manipulation of consequences for behavior. 

• You give dogs things that make behavior you want to have happen increase as consequence. They learn that if they do something, they get something good.
• You withhold the good stuff when they don't do what you want. 

Positive reinforcement training talks about consequences and says nothing about being permissive. In fact, most positive trainers implement 'Nothing for free' programs and ask that their dog perform basic obedience for all good things. Such as food, praise, walks and playing with the owner.

What positive trainer generally do is NOT use pain to train, especially when training basic obedience. There is NO need whatsoever to inflict pain on a dog to get them to do any of these common behaviors

• Sit
• Stay
• Come when called
• Wait
• Lay down
• Stop jumping up
• House training
• Stay off furniture
• Competition obedience
• Competition Agility
• Tracking
• Pulling on a leash
• Barking and lunging on a leash
• Fear of strangers
• Fear of other dogs

Rare exceptions may be in cases where the dog would otherwise be euthanized due to severe behavior problem and even then, only when administered by a professional trainer.

No, positive training is NOT  permissive. Owners can chose to be permissive, but the training technique says nothing about how it is applied.