i have a black lab that is in the correction phase of training, my question is how do i issue a correction with a prong collar? if i am correcting him for breaking a down stay do i want to correct him by popping the leash downward to get him back into the down? if i walk away and he breaks his down stay how do i correct that? when that happens he usually runs around before i can get to his long line. do i call him to the come/front position where he broke the down and then down him again. when should i issue the command?

A correction with a prong should always be a "pop" with the prong snug and situated high up on the neck behind the ears.

If your dog is getting up from a down when you walk away, then you are going to fast. Don't give the dog the chance to get up and run around, don't let go of your line and you will have no problem grabbing it again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Anticipate what the dog is going to do, if the dog is consistantly breaking the down be ready for it happening. Make sure the down is solid before you move any distance. Start with just one step away, then go back to the dog and reward, when that is pretty solid take two steps away.. you get the idea. If the dog gets up, take it back to the same spot, put it back in a down. Forget other commands (come) whilst you are working on this. Pick a behavior, train that one behavior for now, only once the dog understands can you introduce or start using other commands too. Keep focused on one thing at a time.

For every single time you put that dog in a down and wander off (then giving the dog the chance to get up and haul off) you are taking steps back. Never put a dog in a position where it can fail.. especially when you cannot correct for the failure.

THis is more of an owner problem than dog problem. You should have the long line on before you start the training - not after it begins and you have a problem. With a long line on you simply say NO !! real the dog in and take him back and correct the dog - then make him stay when you are one step away.

I recommend that you spend some time studying my 4 hour Basic Dog Obdeince DVD http://leerburg.com/302.htm