No more dog's life for Lars the baby reindeer

Lars the reindeer has been settling into a dog basket, copying his spaniel companions

A baby reindeer who was growing up alongside pet spaniels is getting ready to rejoin his herd after he appeared to be starting to think he was a dog.

Seven-week old Lars was born on a reindeer farm near Corby in Northamptonshire, but was struggling to thrive as his mother could not produce enough milk.

After two days, owner Angie Nelson took him into her house alongside her pet dogs and fed him every two hours, with her friend Helen Chown stepping in to help.

The pair have been delighted by little Lars' progress, but Ms Chown joked: "When I found him in the dog bed, I thought 'you do need to go back and learn to be a reindeer'."

The baby reindeer's mother was unable to produce enough milk

Ms Nelson, who hires out reindeer for events, said when attempts to help his mother produce more milk were unsuccessful, she felt the only choice was to hand-rear him.

She said while the nightly feeds were demanding enough, Lars' friendly nature meant he also wanted constant attention and would nuzzle her as she slept with him on the lounge floor.

Angie Nelson hires out reindeer for events, and had Lars at her own wedding

Friend and neighbour Helen Chown took over the reins while Ms Nelson slept following the night feeds and later went on honeymoon

After a couple of weeks, Ms Nelson said she felt comfortable enough to leave Lars in the kitchen at night with her dogs and they have been nestling up ever since.

However, she said it was now time "let nature take over" and move onto the next step of "changing him into a reindeer".

Ms Nelson has been bringing Lars up in her house alongside her two dogs

Ms Nelson said she was now preparing to choose him an older "buddy" from her herd that could look after him.

"It's important he becomes a reindeer now rather than a dog so he understands the herd hierarchy and what he shouldn't do," said Ms Nelson.

"It's about getting that buddy with him, so when he goes out into the bigger herd, he's protected and safe.

"He will be looking to the older one for reassurance because I can't spend my entire life in the field, which I probably would."

The friends have been keeping a close watch on Lars in the garden to prevent him from eating any poisonous plants

Lars attended the wedding of Angie Nelson and Justin Mumford

Lars' integration into the herd will signal the end of a busy few weeks for Ms Nelson, who juggled the unexpected arrival in her house with last-minute wedding plans.

Her friend and neighbour Ms Chown was passed the reins during wedding dress fittings and the honeymoon.

"I didn't want to get anything wrong because he was so tiny," said Ms Chown.

"Then it was just rewarding and, to see him now, he just looks amazing - it's like, 'yes, we've done it', so it's been fabulous."

There will also be a lasting reminder of Lars' time with Ms Nelson as he took a starring role in her wedding photos with her groom, Justin Mumford.

"The animals are the way of life here, so we were going to have the pictures of the dogs in the barn and, of course, I had to have Lars," she added.

Lars was pictured in Ms Nelson's wedding photo