Icelandic hero Thor Bjornsson, famous for his role on the Game of Thrones series, has named his tiny Pomeranian pup an Icelandic name true to his heritage: Astrikur. The two have a following on instagram, mainly because of the adorable pairing of the two. The puppy can almost fit in the palm his hand she is so small, while Bjornsson, who plays The Mountain, also known as Gregor Clegane, is giant in size. Not only is he an acting sensation, he currently holds the World Record for keg tossing. Astikur has close to 25,000 followers on her instagram account while Thor has just over one million.

A breed known in Iceland is the Icelandic Sheepdog. About 1,100 years ago, Norse settlers traveled west across the Norwegian sea to Iceland, where they set to work on developing a new Scandinavian country on the uninhabited land. Among what they brought with them were spitz-like dogs that they would utilize to watch and herd sheep, cattle and horses. From these dogs developed the modern Icelandic Sheepdog, now a beloved national symbol.

The Icelandic Sheepdog is a bit smaller than its relatives abroad; dogs of the breed are also more prone to disease as a result of Iceland’s isolation. Icelandic sheepdogs possess the same fluffy coat as other breeds of sheepdogs, as well as curled tails. A dog of the breed may have a long or a short coat; regardless of its length, the coat will be thick and very waterproof. The breed’s personality and behavior is also similar to that of other varieties of sheepdogs; they tend to have a lot of energy, are resilient, agile and friendly. The facial expression of the Icelandic Sheepdog is typically friendly and happy; a dog of the breed will appear to want to be nowhere else than with their family. Dogs of the breed tend to make good companions, as long as they have the space to exercise and their “person” has enough time for them. Most Icelandic Sheepdogs live in the country where they can put their energy and herding instincts to work and help out their owners.

Three Icelandic Sheepdogs are featured on their own website. Snotra, Sprudann and Nella live with their owner, Maggy, as well as her husband and son. Maggy was born in Iceland, however now lives in Ohio. As she loves to photograph her three dogs, Maggy has created a website featuring photos of the beautiful pups over the years. Snotra, who was born in Iceland in 2004, is described as laid back and good with children. She loves to cuddle and enjoys having her belly rubbed. Spurdann was also born in Iceland in 2004. He is described as a sweet dog who is not afraid of anything and is full of fun and personality. Nella, the youngest of the three, was one of four puppies born in Maggy’s home in Ohio in 2008.