Hobbs (our FCR) is 4 and a half months old and for 90 percent of the time is clean.

However we keep having accidents two to three nights a week in our lounge. He is only allowed in there at nights and he will NEVER settle down (unlike in the kitchen where he will settle quite easily). And then every now again without any real signs a puddle appears! Every time he has an accident we do all the right things, don't make a fuss, try and distract him and then clean up properly afterwards. But it still keeps happening!

Any ideas??

I think the clue is in your post, he will never settle down in this area.........

Perhaps he feels uncomfortable in this area hence the puddles..........

He's fine if he is occupied with a rawhide chew or a kong but once he's bored with that he just wanders round exploring etc (you can imagine the mischief he gats up to as an FCR!!)

I am pretty sure he is not distressed. When he is in the kitchen he asks to go out but not in the lounge??

This may seem like a silly question but how does he ask in the kitchen?

If he goes to the door, does he know how to get to the door from the lounge?

The reason I ask is that many people pick up their dogs and carry them to the garden etc and the puppy does not learn its home geography and/or how to get from A to B, I think some dogs may also be less spatially aware than others (a bit like myself) :D and so need  a bit of assistance.

Just a thought, and I may be totally wrong...............

Hi jls22 :)

I can see tohme's point about not settling and perhaps your pup being unsure of how to ask out when in the lounge if much more used to the kitchen ;)  My pups over the years have invariably asked out by running round an object of furniture or back and forward mid-room to me for attention if they need out - something they obviously learn over time.  It may be that you are misinterpreting him being unsettled when he is in fact trying to let you know he "needs to go" - just a thought!

Regards, Teri