I have a 9 month old border collie that I have had for 2 1/2 months from an RSPCA centre.  When we are in we have no problems as she will jump up at the window and hover around the back door when she wants to go to the toilet.  But she seems unable to hold herself when we are not in or at night.
We have tried to get in a routine of going out in the morning, then at lunch when I go home from work.  Then again before bed time.  She will do a wee when she goes on walks so this isnt a problem. 
Is it normal that she cant hold herself in the periods we are not around.  She hasnt had a scrap of training from the age of 0-6 months so in effect she has only had 2 1/2 months training.  Any advice is welcome!!!  Please!

Hello
Welcome to the forum

I have 2 8 month old BC'S and I must admit we have the same problem, not all the time I have to say but every now and again we come into the kitchen and there is a puddle on the floor, it's not because we don't do the every hour let them out routine they just seem to do it.

Have you tried not leaving water down at night?? we stopped doing this and now they go through until about 7.30 am without weeing. Obviously make sure she has enough during the day.

Maybe it's just a BC thing (ha-ha)

Hope that helps a bit, someone else will give more advise I'm sure

It always takes an older puppy longer for the penny to drop (sorry!) about housetraining & as you say she hasn't had any training you are really starting from scratch so 2 1/2 months isn't that long. She can hold it physically, she just can't do it mentally yet. It may be partly because she's not yet secure with you yet & is anxious when she's not with you. Can you confine her, either with a cage or by barricading her into a smaller area when you are out? Also changing her feeding time as well as restricting water might help. She will get there in the end, just be patient with her.

Thank you for your suggestions so far I will take them on board.  She is doing very well considering and I am really happy with her so it isnt a major problem.