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The Prong Collar, also called a Pinch Collar
The appearance of the prong collar, also called a pinch collar, calls to mind some variety of mid-evil torture device. It infuses one with a John Wayne Gacy sort of charm as you patrol the local sidewalks with the thing attached to your dog.
The pinch collar, which is composed of interlocking metal links, is constructed with blunt prongs. Those small metal extensions create an even pressure around a dog's neck by gathering and pinching the skin as you snap the collar tight, by popping the lead.
While the prong collar resembles a torture device, and it does make the dog uncomfortable, in reality, it is an altogether humane instrument, and it is an indispensable tool for people who must deal with strong dogs that pull against the lead.
The prong collar is not for all dogs. It is not robust enough to contain an aggressively belligerent dog, for whom the dominant dog collar may be more appropriate. Also, it may be too harsh for some extremely timid dogs, and it should not be used with young puppies. However, for the great majority of dogs who pull against the lead, the prong collar is not only appropriate, it is a godsend.
When using a prong collar you should always pop the lead. It was designed and is intended to be used in that manner.