Tell me, was Jesus being positive and uplifting when He called the begging Greek Syrophoenician Woman a "dog?" Lol. Jesus constantly got into the faces of people. He encouraged no one. He spoke axiomatic statements of The Law.
You seem to miss it: unlike the rich man that did not offer himself to the beggar (Lazarus) that sat without the gate:
Luke 16:20-21 KJV
[20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Interesting that the dogs came and licked his sores. Unlike the rich man,
Jesus extended mercy to the woman:
Matthew 15:26-28 KJV
[26] But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. [27] And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. [28] Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Prophetic and fulfill by Jesus concerning dogs.
Exodus 22:31 KJV
[31] And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Judges 7:5-7 KJV
[5] So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. [6] And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. [7] And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
So yes, it was a show of mercy.
