Our labrador bitch's (and our) first litter left this weekend at 8 weeks old, super proud of them but now wondering how long it takes to get her back in 'show' condition. She has actually put on weight compared to pre-pregnancy but has had the post puppy moult. I'm not in a rush to get back showing her, it takes as long as it takes, but does anyone have a rough idea for the coat to come back through properly.

I'd suggest that it won't come back as fast as coming off a litter born into the Winter - when there's max. growth going on!!

Although once mine were retired from showing, and into maternal duties, it didn't matter, I had one who whelped a litter in mid-August and was looking good enough to go to Crufts the following year which was a waste of effort as that was one of the very few shows she wasn't even placed in.  She'd taken 2nd in Limit out of 12 the previous year, and was 2nd Open RBCC the year after that!!

I'd just concentrate on helping her rear her puppies, feed her well and exercise her when the puppies have gone, and see how she looks then.

In my double coated breed a bitch would be at her worst coat wise at 12 weeks after whelping and would not be fit to be seen until they were around 4 months old and probably not in decent enough coat until they hit 6 months when she would probably be back in season.

Sometimes the coat after a litter may be a bit strange in texture often wavy on the withers, and she won't be in her best bib and tucker until after the next moult.

Body condition may not fully recover for up to a year.