Pepper has taken over

We are having some difficulty with our JRT female regarding house breaking and general obedience.

Problem #1: Often, despite taking her out on a regular basis, she will urinate right in front of us. She then acts like she knows she was bad and rolls over on her back in a submissive manor. How can we get her to let us know when she needs to go? She is reluctant to go out into the back yard (that's where we put her to do her business) but when the front door is opened she is launched like a scud missile.

Problem #2: In the back yard (fenced) she is very aware of us. In the front yard (open to the street) she might as well be deaf. She completely ignores us until we get close and then she turns on the afterburners.