14 DOG BREEDS WITH BLUE EYES
Is it a rarity? Or the stark contrast to typical brown eyes? Whatever the reason, the blue eyes on a dog’s face captivate us. If you want to find a blue-eyed beauty of your own, check out the 14 breeds described below. But first, you should learn a little more about blue eyes in dogs.
WHAT CAUSES BLUE EYES IN DOGS?
Brown is the most common color for a dog’s eyes. Unlike with people, blue eyes in dogs is relatively rare. That distinctive eye color occurs for one of the following 4 reasons:
1. The dog has a rare “Blue-Eye” Gene Mutation:
Let’s head back to high school biology class for a quick review of genetics. If one parent has a dominant gene for a certain trait, and another parent has a recessive gene for that trait, then the dominant gene prevails. In both dogs and humans, the gene that causes blue eyes is recessive. Therefore, both canine parents must carry that recessive gene in order for their puppy to have blue eyes.
However, in some dogs like the Husky, the gene for blue eyes is dominant rather than recessive. In a study done in 2018, scientists examined samples from DNA test kits for 6,000 different dogs. In Siberian Huskies, they found a genetic mutation near the gene known as ALX4 on canine chromosome 18. That mutation was strongly associated with blue eyes in Huskies. Researchers hypothesized that the mutation in that particular gene caused the Husky’s eyes to produce less pigment. The lack of pigment makes the eyes look blue.
Other dogs— such as Border Collies and tri-colored Australian Shepherds— can also have that dominant blue eye gene.
2. The dog carries the Merle Gene:
The word “merle” describes a color pattern on the coat of some dogs. It’s typically bluish- or reddish-gray with splotches of black or reddish-brown. The merle coat is caused by cells that are unable to produce pigment. The so-called “merle gene” can also affect the nose and eyes. Dogs with the merle gene may have noses that are partly or entirely pink and blue eyes.
Many dog breeds including Corgis, Dachshunds, Great Danes, Collies, and merle Australian Shepherds, to name only a few—may carry this gene.
3. The dog doesn’t have pigment around one or both eyes:
Dog breeds that have significant patches of white fur on the face may produce dogs with blue eyes. Because the fur can’t produce pigment around those areas, the nose, skin, and eyes may also be affected. The result may be blue eyes.
Examples of dog breeds in which white fur around the face may also result in blue eyes include Boxers, Collies, and Boston Terriers.
4. The dog is Albino:
Albino dogs have very little pigment throughout their entire bodies, which results in white coats, pink noses, and blue or light amber eyes. They are quite rare. Some breeds in which albino dogs have occurred include Great Danes, Collies, Labrador Retrievers, Schnauzers, and Pugs.
What about dogs with different colored-eyed?
A Native American myth claims that dogs with different-colored eyes can see both earth and heaven at the same time, which is a lovely idea. That condition, with one blue eye and one eye of a different color, is called heterochromia. Caused by either gene variations or a lack of pigmentation, heterochromia occurs in cats, people, and horses as well.
HEALTH CONCERNS WITH BLUE-EYED DOGS:
Some worry that blues eyes in dogs indicate underlying health issues. For the most part, the only health issue related to a dog’s blue eyes, like a person’s, is increased sensitivity to sunlight and bright light. However, there are a couple of exceptions.
If two dogs that carry the merle gene are bred, their offspring are called “double merle.” Those puppies have a much greater risk of health problems, including deafness, blindness, or both. For that reason, breeding merle carriers with other merle carriers is prohibited. As long as a carrier of the merle gene mates with a non-carrier, the offspring shouldn’t have any higher risk of blindness or deafness.
In Dalmatians, blue eyes can sometimes indicate the possibility of deafness, since the same gene that results in blue eyes is also connected with hearing loss.
If your dog’s eyes change to blue or become cloudy, this may indicate cataracts, glaucoma, or other eye diseases, and you should consult with your veterinarian.
THE 14 DOG BREEDS WITH BLUE EYES
Some dogs sport icy-colored irises as a breed trademark, while others may get blue eyes as a recessive trait. Other dogs with a particular coat color, specifically merle (mottled patches) or piebald (a white coat with spots), tend to get blue eyes passed on to them. Some of the most common breeds to have blue eyes include huskies, border collies, and Weimaraners.
If your dog has the merle or piebald gene, it cannot consistently create pigment, which would explain the light eyes. Some dogs, like huskies, have a higher likelihood of heterochromia—two different colored eyes.
Note that the American Kennel Club (AKC) specifically disqualifies many blue-eyed purebred dogs from the show ring, as while an individual dog might have blue eyes, the eye color might be technically considered a fault for that breed. But that doesn't mean the dog can't make a wonderful pet.
Blues eyes are undoubtedly beautiful, but if you notice your dog's eyes are suddenly turning blue or cloudy, have your dog checked for cataracts or glaucoma.
WARNING: When two merle or piebald carriers breed, their litter is at much greater risk of health issues, such as being born deaf, blind, or both. This breeding is considered inhumane. However, a dog with a heterozygous merle or piebald gene bred with a non-carrier dog is safe.
(1) SIBERIAN HUSKY
One of the first dog breeds to come to mind when you think of blue eyes may be the Siberian husky. These stunning dogs commonly have iconic, icy-blue eyes that mirror the tundra of their native land. They can also have brown eyes or a heterochromatic combination of both. Wolf-looking Siberian huskies were bred for companionship and pulling loads by dogsled, making them perfect dogs for families who like to stay active.
Breed Overview:
★ Weight: 35 to 60 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Double-layered coat in black, gray, red, brown, tan, or white.
★ Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years.
(2) AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
Australian shepherds that have merle coloring have a higher likelihood of getting impressive light blue eyes. These dogs tend to have a higher chance of getting a mix of both blue and brown eyes. The herding Aussie is brilliant and full of energy and excels in agility competitions. They are best suited for an active home.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 18 to 23 inches.
★ Weight: 40 to 65 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Thick coats can be found in a variety of colors and patterns, including spots, splotches, or merle.
★ Life Expectancy: 13 to 15 years.
(3) WEIMARANER
The Weimaraner is known for its sleek, silver-gray coat and loving, active personality. Their kind eyes can be amber or blue, a perfect complement to the breed's iconic silver-gray coat. These happy, high-energy pooches were bred in the 1800s in Germany for hunting and grew in popularity as companion dogs. They are great with children.
Breed Overview
★ Height: 23 to 27 inches.
★ WEIGHT: 70 to 90 pounds (males); 55 to 75 pounds (females)
★ Coat & Color: Smooth, silver-gray coat
★ Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years.
(4) BORDER COLLIE
These dogs are considered one of the most intelligent breeds with a thoughtful, intense gaze. The border collie’s eyes can be varying shades of brown, gold, or blue. Blue eyes are more common in merle-coated border collies. With endless energy and high intelligence, these dogs thrive with mental and physical challenges, including agility competitions.
Breed Overview
★ Height: 18 to 22 inches.
★ Weight: 30 to 55 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: A long coat that can be smooth or rough in white, black, gray, blue, chocolate, and red; most are either two-toned or merle.
★ Life Expectancy: 10 to 17 years.
(5) DACHSHUND
Blue eyes may not be desirable in show dachshunds, but they are still a beautiful trait. Doxies with a merle coat will most often have blue-eye variations, including full blue, one blue and one brown, or even both colors in one eye. Bred for hunting badgers and rabbits, these dogs are brave and boisterous and make wonderful watchdogs.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: Standard: 8 to 9 inches for standard; miniature: 5 to 6 inches.
★ Weight: Standard: 16 to 32 pounds; miniature: up to 11 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Short, long, or wirehaired; colors include red, blue, black, chocolate, and cream.
★ Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years.
(6) CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI
These small yet strong dogs are known for their unique features, such as short legs, long bodies, and large, upright ears. To add to their unique looks, the Cardigan Welsh corgi can also have striking blue eyes.
Like the dachshund, a Cardigan may have two blue eyes, one blue and one brown, or even both colors in one eye. These unique eye colors are most common in corgis with merle coats. Though Cardigans with light eyes are not desired in the show rings unless they have merle coats, they still look stunning.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 10 to 13 inches.
★ Weight: 25 to 38 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Dense double coat in black, white, red, cream, merle, sable, and brindle.
★ Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years.
(7) GREAT DANE
These gentle giants turn heads with their size alone, but a Great Dane with beautiful blue eyes is an eye-catcher. Most Great Dane puppies are born with blue eyes that change to brown as they mature.
Dapple-coated harlequin and merle Great Danes keep their baby blues their whole life. These large dogs make loving, protective watchdogs and are surprisingly adaptable to homes of all sizes.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 28 to 32 inches.
★ Weight: 140 to 175 pounds (males); 110 to 140 pounds (females)
★ Coat & Color: Short coat in black, brindle, fawn, blue, merle, or harlequin.
★ Life Expectancy: 6 to 8 years.
🙏 In order for others to benefit, Please Share the article on your social media.
(8) CATAHOULA LEOPARD DOG
These dogs are known as leopard dogs for their spotted coats, which can come in a wide array of colors, including blue, red, gray, black, cream, or chocolate. Their eyes can also come in blue, amber, green, brown, or a combination.
Most Catahoulas have merle patterns or leopard-like spots of multiple colorings. An American-bred working dog from Louisiana, it hunted and herded and needs a lot of room to run and expend its energy.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 22 to 24 inches.
★ Weight: 50 to 95 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Short coat can be a wide variety of colors but is most notable for its leopard-like spots or merle markings.
★ Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years.
(9) ALASKAN KLEE KAI
The Alaskan klee kai looks a lot like a miniature husky, although, unlike its larger relative, it was bred for companionship and not work. The klee kai can have icy blue, brown, hazel, or green eyes. These smaller-sized canines make great small companions and excellent watchdogs.
Breed Overview:
★ Height:13 to 17 inches.
★ Weight: 10 to 20 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Thick coat, typically darker on the back (black, red, or gray), the top of the head, and around the eyes with white legs, belly, and lower half of the face and muzzle.
★ Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years.
(10) PITBULL
The pit bull is another dog often born with blue eyes that change color as they mature. However, blue-eyed mature pit bulls do exist, often accompanying blue-, gray-, or brindle-coated pits. The name "pit bull" is a general term for breeds that include the American Staffordshire terrier and the American pit bull terrier. These “bully breeds” can be very active and loving companions.
Breed Overview:
★ Height:17 to 21 inches.
★ Weight: 30 to 65 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Short coat in black, white, blue, gray, brindle, fawn, red, or brown.
★ Life Expectancy: 8 to 15 years.
(11) DALMATION
These black-and-white spotted beauties most often have dark brown eyes, but can have blue eyes as well. Dalmations are affectionate, smart dogs originally bred to guard horses and coaches while on the road, and they are still excellent guard dogs. Of course, they are also strongly associated with fire stations, where they serve as the traditional firetruck companion.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 19 to 24 inches.
★ Weight: 45 to 70 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Short, smooth white coat with black or brown spots.
★ Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years.
(12) ENGLISH BULLDOG
Technically, blue eyes are a disqualifier for the show ring, but that doesn't stop some English bulldogs from sporting baby blues. These muscular, courageous, but friendly dogs were originally bred in England during the 13th century for use in bullbaiting, but today, they are affectionate companion dogs, as well as a national symbol of Britain.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 14 to 15 inches.
★ Weight: 40 to 50 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Short, smooth coat in a variety of combinations of white with fawn, brindle, or red.
★ Life Expectancy: 8 to 10 years.
(13) OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG
You can't always easily see the eyes of these shaggy dogs, but Old English Sheepdogs can have eyes of brown or blue, or one of each. These large, muscular dogs were originally bred to help drive cattle from place to place, and they are still protective of their families.
Old English Sheepdogs are friendly, affectionate dogs that get along well with children, but they do need regular exercise, and of course, that shaggy coat requires a great deal of grooming.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 21 inches and up.
★ Weight: 60 to 100 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Long, shaggy double coat in white with blue, merle, or gray markings.
★ Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years.
(14) ALASKA MALAMUTE
Although blue eyes are not that uncommon in the Alaskan Malamute, the AKC considers them a disqualifier from the show ring. This powerful dog is one of the oldest breeds of Arctic sled dogs, and their very thick coats, muscular builds, and large size make it clear that they were born to work hard. These days, however, most are family pets, and they are friendly, gentle, and playful dogs. They do require training from a young age, regular exercise, and plenty of grooming to keep that beautiful coat in good condition.
Breed Overview:
★ Height: 23 to 25 inches.
★ Weight: 75 to 85 pounds.
★ Coat & Color: Thick double coat in white plus almost any other color.
★ Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Perhaps blue eyes in dogs are even more of an admirable trait because they’re so rare. When you see a blue-eyed, full-grown dog, it can make you stop for a second look. It’s a very intriguing characteristic. However, if you are in search of a blue-eyed dog, be sure you’re aware of any health complications associated with them so you can ensure you can give them their best life.
Remember, you can always select an adult dog from a rescue or shelter that already has proven blue eyes are official personalities, so you know exactly what type of dog you’re getting. They would certainly be thankful to have found a forever home.
🙏 If the article was useful, feel free to leave a Comment & Share it on your social media.
.png)
No comments