Dogs with blue eyes

There is something charming and mysterious about blue eyes, especially when we are talking about dogs.

Most dogs have either brown or black eyes, and only a few breeds are known for their blue-eyed magnificent beauty.

There are several reasons of why some canines have sapphire eyes, including albinism, absence of pigmentation around an eye zone and some other genetical components.

Whatever the reason, it cannot be denied that dogs with blue eyes are very attractive. Here are some of the top breeds that are known for their incredible eye beauty.

Siberian husky

It is one of a few breeds that carry the gene HERC2 responsible for blue eyes. However, their eyes can also be other colors, including hazel, brown or parti-colored. 

Huskies look like wolves and known as very active, strong and outdoorsy dogs. They are also perfect pets for families with kids due to their kind and playful nature.

Australian shepherd

This beautiful dog with a merle coat and clear blue eyes first appeared in the United States in order to support and help farmers with cattle.

Being shepherd dogs they are characterized as extremely active, energetic and intelligent creatures with a unique talent to control domesticated animals.

It is also interesting to know that not all of them are blue-eyes: some Aussies have brown, hazel, or multicolor eyes.

The Dalmatian

You can easily distinguish this breed not only by their blue eyes, but also by the black and white spotted coat.

Blue-eyed Dalmatians are very beautiful but also quite rare:  cynologists even claim that the blue color of eyes in Dalmatian is one of the signs of deafness.

In general Dalmatians are known as dignified, athletic and regal dogs that can become perfect hiking or jogging partners for active owners or great loving and caring companions for kids.

German Shepherd

These loyal and very intelligent dogs may have sometimes either one or two eyes blue. Since it is a very rare feature, it is considered to be a generic abnormality.

Many dog owners are worried, if anything is wrong with blue-eyed German Shpeherds,  and  specialists say no –  there are no health defects or issues associated with blue eyes of German Shepherds.

Weimaraner

A silver-dim coat and blue eyes are the most particular elements about this breed. Weimeraners are originally from Germany, where they were used as hunting dogs.

This breed is well known for its loyalty, endurance, high level of energy and strength, which makes Weimaraner a perfect working dog and a family pet at the same time.

Border collie

These dogs with crystal clear blue eyes are often called the most intelligent dogs in the world due to their unique capacity to learn new commands and handle large cattle.

Many people believe that a border collie got their blue eyes from its ancestor – husky, however it is not true.

In reality it is their own unique feature. Since these dogs were bred as shepherd or farmer dogs, they are very active and outdoorsy, and are often obsessed with their owners.

Dachshund

These dogs with long-backed body, short legs and kind can have very attractive blue eyes, which makes their appearance even more unique. 

However, it is possible only in dachshunds with a very special color pattern known as double dapple. 

If the coat is solid dark brown or black, the chances that the dog will have blue eyes are very low.

What are genetic reasons of blue eyes in dogs?

If your dog has blue eyes, most likely there is a genetic reason of that. It does not mean that there is something wrong with the dog – most likely your canine either belongs to one of the blue-eyed breeds or just has some specific genetic characteristics.

The most common genetic reasons of blue eyes in dogs are the following:

The Merle gene

The Merle gene is one of the dominant genes, and it affects the color of not only eyes, but also skin and coat.

Therefore, usually dogs with the merle gene abnormality have not only blue eyes, but also patches on their coat and spotted noses. 

The most common examples of the breeds with such genetic abnormality are Australian Shepherd and double dapple Dachshunds.

An absence or lack of pigmentation around eyes

Many dogs with blue eyes have wide areas of white around their eyes, which is the sign of the lack of absence of pigmentation.

Depigmentation often becomes a reason of discomfort or even pain for your dog, so specialists do not recommend to walk the dog with depigmentation when it is too bright or sunny, or to buy special doggy goggles or shades that will protect the sensitive eyes of your canine.

A blue gene

There are some breeds that are born with unusual blue gene, which makes them unique and even god-gifted. 

Among such breeds are border collie, Weimaraner and Siberian husky.  Canines with this gene usually have either white or silver coat.

Albinism

This might sound unbelievable, but yes – there are albinos among dogs. It is a very rare and unusual mutation that may be either full or partial.

Albinism affects not only the eyes color, but also skin, coat and even blood vessels. A typical albino canine usually has white coat, very light clear blue eyes and pink nose.

Diseases that might make your dog’s eyes blue

Sometimes dog owners might notice that the eyes of their canines have turned blue. If this happened to your pooch, it is the reason to see a doctor. There are some health conditions and diseases associated with blue eyes, and the most common are the following:

Nuclear sclerosis.  This diseases usually occurs in canine at the age of 6 and older.  It does not lead to blindness and is not painful, so in most cases no treatment is needed.

Glaucoma. It is a health condition when the weight inside the dog’s eye is expanded.  It creates pressure in eyes and might lead to a complete blindness within a year.

Corneal dystrophy .  It is rather a health condition than a disease that does not influence the vision of your dog. It is even believed to be quite normal, so no treatment is needed. However, it is still recommended to see your vet in order to eliminate any other more serious diseases.