Logan, if you're referring to me - I said NOT ALL people depend on them, but a lot (majority is the word I used) DO depend on them - and that's what I dislike about them.

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Like bckrazy, I prefer to train my dogs on respect/trust.

Nala PULLS when she wants to. When on walks, and she pulls - I make her stop and sit. EVERYtime she pulls. There's no discomfort whatsoever in making her stop and sit, and generally it gives her the message to calm down. She realizes that she does not get to go any further/it doesn't get her there faster if she pulls on the lead.
It may take us longer, but she does get the message.

However, I used to walk my neighbor's Chocolate Lab years before I had dogs of my own. The dog pulled like crazy and they had me use a prong collar on him. Did it work? Not one bit. He HATED it. He was much more behaved on a normal collar.

They ended up taking him to obedience classes and worked with him almost 24/7 - last I've known he walks beautifully.