How often should my dog be nursing her puppies?

Puppies need to nurse every few hours in the first few weeks of life. Most mothers will nurse their puppies for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 4 hours. Some puppies may need to nurse more often, while others may be able to go a little longer between feedings. As the puppies grow, they will start to nurse less frequently. By the time they are about 8 weeks old, they should be able to eat solid food and no longer need to nurse.