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No more dog's life for Lars the baby reindeer

Zoe Applegate
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East
Helen Chown The reindeer laying in a blue plastic dog basket on a blue cushion. This is next to a dog bowl and it is in the corner of a kitchen.Helen Chown
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'."

Angie Nelson A close-up of the baby reindeer, that has soft white fur, upright ears and big dark eyes. He is laying his head on grass in front of a hedge.Angie Nelson
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.

James Polley Photography A white reindeer foal standing on a bail of straw, with Angie Nelson stroking its neck. She is wearing a wedding dress. A black and white spaniel dog is standing next to the brick wall of the barn.James Polley Photography
Angie Nelson hires out reindeer for events, and had Lars at her own wedding
Kate Bradbrook/BBC Helen Chown, who had blonde hair tied in a loose pony tail and is wearing a lilac T-shirt and black rubber gloves, lays on the grass with the reindeer sniffing her hand and standing near her. Two spaniels are next to the deer and looking at Angie.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
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".

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Angie Nelson, wearing a floral top and green shorts, is kneeling on her quarry tiled kitchen floor next to a silver double oven and has one hand on her spaniel's stomach and another hand on the side of the reindeer.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
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."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Angie Nelson kneels on the grass next to her friend but is keeping an eye on the reindeer, that is looking at the camera. Helen Chown is wearing a blue patterned top and denim bottoms. Kate Bradbrook/BBC
The friends have been keeping a close watch on Lars in the garden to prevent him from eating any poisonous plants
James Polley Photography A white reindeer foal standing in front of bails of straw. Angie Nelson and Justin Mumford are sitting on a bail in their wedding outfits, including her white wedding dress with its train spread out. A black and white spaniel dog's head pops up in the bottom right corner. James Polley Photography
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.

Supplied by Ms Nelson Angie Nelson is in a white strapless beaded and lace wedding dress, sitting on a hay bale next to her groom, who is wearing a morning suit. The white baby reindeer is leaning against them and a liver and white-coloured springer spaniel is walking across the barn floor.;Supplied by Ms Nelson
Lars was pictured in Ms Nelson's wedding photo

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