If you are a big "Game of Thrones" fan, this might be the ultimate "collectible"!

A breeder in Oregon has started the Dire Wolf Project, creating dogs that resembles the real-life prehistoric dire wolves (Canis dirus) which walked the Earth about 10,000 years ago.

Lois Schwarz, who has been breeding dogs for over 40 years, decided in 1987 to focus on American Alsatians. And as the Alsatian got more wolf-like, she realized that they were similar to the extinct dire wolves.

American Alsatian (from Dire Wolf Project website)

And so, with the assistance of the National American Alsatian Breeder's Association, Schwarz is breeding dogs that sort of resemble the dire wolves of old -- but are definitely intended to be friendly pets.

HBO uses Northern Inuit Dogs to portray the Stark direwolves, but they don't always make the best pets. So through the Dire Wolf Project, you might have your chance to have the best of both worlds!

Via Blastr