Has anyone any tips on getting a bitches figure back following whelping.  Although its too soon yet, as pups only a week old, but I have heard Evening Primrose Oil is very good (dont know strength), also to let pups occasionally suckle well after weaning.

If it is just a week after whelping, I'd expect the bitch to lose a considerable amount of weight still. Mine looks worst after about 5- 6 weeks when they look like RSPCA cases and you can't feed them enough whatever you do.

I don't think you should worry about her "getting her figure back". Just give her all she wants to eat of high quality food at the moment. She will decide when she wants to stop feeding her pups, not you. When her pups have gone still continue to feed her a good diet she needs to build up  her strength again. Having pups takes a lot out of some of them.

if you mean getting nipples etc back to pre-pregnancy form then drying up the bitch after pups are weaned instead of letting her dry up naturally helps so does plenty of excercise and swimming

I was told to do gentle walking when finished weaning to bring the back and muscles back to strength.  Will stop the back sagging.  only gentle at first to build it up back to normal then a little on top.  Hope this helps.  i think you can start at about 4/5 weeks if mum wants to leave the pups for 10 mins.  otherwise hang on.

I wouldn't be starting at 4/5 weeks.  They still have a good way to go, and then there is the awful coat loss.  Plenty of nutrition to help her come through it more quickly.

It takes months to get back into show condition.  I certainly wouldn't be trying to hurry a bitch through this.

In coated breeds your lucky to get them back in the ring by the time the pups are old enough to show.