I feel Like the worst mother in the whole world...

[TM lover]

This is going to be the unpopular comment but I am going to say it anyway. I believe in positive training and definitely use it BUT in my world, growling at me is totally unacceptable. My dogs are happy, healthy and well adjusted...they are also big spoiled brats that have received praise and positive training from the moment they came home but the first thing they were taught is that there is no acceptable reason to threaten me EVER. I can take anything I want from them anytime and I don't trade up. It is definitely a personal choice and I am sure there will be tons of comments about how wrong I am but I am just putting it out there as another view. In my opinion there are things that are totally non negotiable and this is one of them. I am all for a treat AFTER the dog gives up the "thing" but trading up is not rewarding her for doing the right thing but bribing her and personally I think that is setting her up for failure.

I agree with this. When your dog weighs as much as you do it is essential they know who is the alpha. My TM kept running down the street to play with a neighbors dog. At 6 months of age she was determined to get her way and she bit my arm when i tried to bring her home. I put her on her side like a mother dog would do and held her down to make sure she knew that was unacceptable. She never bit me again.