Thanks for this thread.

Dear Summertime, (I see a newspaper column in this!)
We've had a mixed shepherd that we got from the pound about a year ago. She was in the pound for 2 years and she's 4 years old now.

It's been a rough road, especially since neither of us had much dog experience. She behaves well around us. We go through the door first, she sits and comes when called. However, when we leave, which is about once every two weeks, she has an absolute tantrum. It hasn't gotten better since we've had her. If we close her up and are outside working, she's fine. But if we have on our "going to town" clothes, she throws a fit.

We've tried jingling keys, getting dressed but not leaving, but she always knows when we're really going out and when we're acting. If one of us leaves and the other stays, she's fine with it.

There are only two persistent problems that we have with her, but this is the biggest.

Thanks!