When’s the last time you saw a dog with blue eyes? Considering the fact that only 5 percent of all dogs are born with baby blues, we’d wager it’s been a minute!
“Blue eyes can mean a number of things,” says Laura Robinson, DVM and medical advisor at Pawp. “Sometimes, it’s a genetic variant that causes blue eyes, like in huskies, while there is another gene that causes blue eyes in dogs who are ‘piebald’ or in dogs that are mostly white.”
She adds that there’s yet another gene that causes the blue eyes associated with merle-colored dogs. (Merle refers to a genetic pattern in a dog’s coat and on their skin that creates spotted patches of pigmentation. It’s common in Australian shepherds. You may have also noticed these black spots on dogs’ tongue.) “When a dog inherits two copies of the merle gene, that is when problems arise,” she says. “These ‘double-merle’ pups are often completely white, born blind and deaf, and may have abnormally small eyes or abnormal irises. For these reasons, it’s widely considered bad practice to breed two merle carriers.”
Dr. Link Welborn, the North American Chief Veterinary (NACV) Officer at Covetrus, adds that albinism is another reason dogs have blue eyes. While dogs with blue eyes may be more sensitive to light than dogs with green eyes or brown eyes, Dr. Robinson says that unless they are a “double-merle” carrier, these pups can almost always see just fine. However, you should be concerned if your dog exhibits signs of poor vision, or if they had dark eyes that turned pale, cloudy, or blue-ish. “Sometimes as dogs age, their eyes can appear to turn a ‘blue-ish color,’ which can be indicative of eye health problems such as cataracts or glaucoma, which may affect the dog’s vision quality,” says Dr. Robinson. “If you notice this in your dog, call your vet.” Find out if dogs can see color.
Now that you’re up to speed on why there are dogs with blue eyes, let’s get to know 12 of the most popular dog breeds that are known to have this rare physical feature.
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12. German shepherd
This large dog breed has a regal and sophisticated air and is also known for being wicked smart. That’s one reason why they are an excellent breed for K-9 units, and why they have a reputation for being loyal guard dogs. Their athletic builds and courageous attitude also help on that front! While it is quite rare for German shepherds to have blue eyes, it can sometimes occur due to genetic variation.
Sources:
- Laura Robinson, DVM and medical advisor at Pawp
- Link Welborn, DVM, the North American Chief Veterinary (NACV) Officer at Covetrus
