For Starters, Please break 'Face-Stay-Heel" into Three Separate Exercises. If the dog does not know any of them, poor girl is probably extremely confused! Teach each one separately, and once she is doing them, then add them together.
I am going to take it "Face" is your 'Watch me' or 'Look At Me' Command? Have your girl near you, call her name, then immediately say 'Face' - the Second she looks at you (mark her) by saying "Yes", then immediately give her a treat.
**It helps to give the treat in the same plain or line of site as your eyes. - What I mean by that is, imagine you are Cyclopes (the cartoon) and you shoot laser beams out of your eyes, in straight lines. That is the straight line you would follow with your treat (Right from in front of your face, down to the dogs face.)**
I'm not to sure how you are training stay or heel. I usually say "Sit" or "Down" and the dog will sit.... and stay there until I say.. so Sit basically means Stay as well, and Down also means Stay as well.
..And Heel, is that a competition heel, right by your side in perfect position? Or is it more of a chill beside me and loose leash walk type of heel?
Youtube is your friend here. Search up some youtube videos and you will get a better idea of how to present the treat and get your dog to listen. (Luring).
I could not imagine boarding my dog for four months, and don't feel it creates the same bond and relationship as if you trained them yourself. However, I do believe you can do it! Keep working at it with your training, ask them to clarify and explain things better if you need, read a training book from the library, watch some youtube videos (choose the way you learn best), and Stick to it! |