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This pose and forward angle pose are two where people tend to slide. Down dog, even though it is a "beginner" pose is really a very tough pose to master. So, if you are new to yoga, you have to be really patient with yourself in this one. I promise that one day it will click for you.

There is a general movement in this pose of the weight DOWN. A sense of heaviness to it. A lot of people new to the pose focus on getting that butt UP. That's really more of a function of the more you push DOWN into your hands and feet the more your butt goes UP. So, a lot of folks try to keep kind of light in the pose and end up sliding around whereas the real action is to really sink down into your hands and feet if possible, push down as if you are trying to go through the floor, and then that lengthening of the legs and torso just happens.

Also, generally, when poses go wrong, they go wrong wherever you touch the floor. So, check the position of your hands. In dog your middle fingers should point straight ahead and your other fingers should be spread wide apart. Push into the palms. I ALWAYS look at my hands and when I go into dog and make sure they are just right before going up. Then when I get up I check again.