Dogs with blue eyes have a mesmerizing, icy glance that can stop you in your tracks. Beyond their striking beauty, these dog breeds are also captivating because of the rareness of blue eyes.
“Eye color is determined by the amount of pigment (specifically melanin) present in the iris,” Kathleen Bedard, DVM, DACVO, a veterinary ophthalmologist at VCA SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center says. “This is determined by genetic traits inherited from a dog’s parents.”
Keep reading to discover which dog breeds can have this unique feature.
Why Do Some Dogs Have Blue Eyes?
There are a few reasons why a dog might have blue eyes (or at least one blue eye):
Merle gene: This gene affects coat and eye pigmentation, often resulting in one or both blue eyes (or a mix of blue and brown in the same eye). A dog only needs one copy of the merle gene from one parent to express merle coloring. Piebald gene: This gene reduces or eliminates pigment in certain areas of the coat, resulting in white patches of varying sizes. It can sometimes lead to one or both eyes being blue. A dog must inherit two copies of the piebald gene (one from each parent) for the effects to occur.ALX4 gene (aka “the blue eye variant”): A specific genetic mutation found in Siberian huskies that causes blue eyes independent of coat color. Random genetic mutation: In rare cases, a dog from a breed that typically has brown or amber eyes may be born with one or both blue eyes due to a random genetic mutation affecting eye pigmentation.Albinism: This condition is very rare in dogs and can cause very light blue or pinkish eyes due to the absence of melanin.
Amanda Chambers, DVM, veterinary consultant for Embrace Pet Insurance, explains that while dogs with two copies of the merle or piebald gene—who are more likely to have blue eyes—face a higher risk of deafness or blindness, the issue stems from the underlying genetics, not the eye color itself. Because of these risks, responsible breeders avoid breeding two merle or two piebald dogs together.
“Additionally, since pigment (melanin) is protective against UV damage, there is some concern that dogs with lighter irises are at more risk of developing senile cataract with advanced age and excessive time spent out of doors,” Bedard adds.
But Chambers says many blue-eyed dogs are perfectly healthy.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the breeds most likely to have blue eyes and what makes each one special.
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.
