I use "place" when I want her on my left side, for that I started simple. I would hold a treat in my fist so she can smell it, say "place" and then move my hand from right to left behind my back so she ended on my left side, same as above. Once she was in place I raised my fist so that she was looking, once there was eye contact she got a "good girl" and her treat. It didn't take that long for her to understand what I was asking. For "front" it is roughly the same thing at the beginning, I start with her on a leash say the command and lead her to where I want her with the treat, which is directly in front of me, once there is eye contact again she gets the treat. After she knows where she should be for the command front, I started moving farther away (she was on a 20 foot lead). I would put her in a down stay, then use the au pied and front commands. She is only 5 months, so is still a work in progress and at this point we only train when set up for success. If she is wrestling with her buddies, I won't attempt it, as I know she is too distracted and I want only success at this time.
At 4 months I say only do brief 10-15 minutes max a few times a day and make it the BEST part of her day! You want training to be soooooo much fun!