Would someone please advise - my [large breed] bitch has a 3 day old litter of 11 so I am dividing them into 2 groups to feed.....how long should I leave each group suckling for I order for them to receive enough milk? Thanks in advance.

I would not split them up but have them all with Mum and latch smallest pups on most often, as the bigger ones drop off.  Most bitches have 10 nipples, and with a big litter soon learn how to lie so that they can feed.

Bitches even in my medium (20kg) breed have managed to feed large litter of 12 - 14 with no more than plenty of food for Mum, and an attentive breeder making sure they all got fair dibs. 

Separating pups for any time from Mum would upset my bitches too much and would possibly stress them so that lactation was affected.

Totally agree with the above comment, this was a concern we had a number of years ago when we had a litter of 13. Leave them all with mum and you will see them rotate themselves.

Thank you to you both - there is so much conflicting advice out there

I'm another for leaving them all with mum.   I've not had a litter of more than 9, but other than perhaps latching the smaller puppies on, to a middle teat which they could cope with more easily, didn't split them up.

> there is so much conflicting advice out there

I agree.  But now you have advice from very experienced breeders.  It would seem they are unanimous in their advice.   

If you do feel that some are not gaining as much as others, you may be wise to try some bottle feeding to supplement but if you don't have to do this, so much the better.   And I'd not want to be doing this until end of week 2 going into week 3, IF NEEDED.  You may, on the other hand and provided they are all doing well, have to be starting weaning at least by the end of week 3.

Don't split them up or leap to bottle feeding.  Instead, if any of them are not gaining enough, give them 'private nursing time' with mum - so remove the bigger pups just long enough for the smaller to get milk first, then put the others back right away once the smaller have had their fill.

Thank you for this.....I did wonder whether I ought to start weaning a little earlier than 4 weeks.

I start weaning if the rate of weight gain starts to decrease, as each week they should be gaining more than the week before, if it starts to level off I have started giving sloppy porridge consistency puppy food and formula/water from when their eyes are open, but nearly always start them off at 18 days (just a taste once, then next day twice, so by 21 days they are taking a little 4 times a day) so they are used to solids before I worm them at 3 weeks.