Dogs With Blue Eyes: Meet These 6 Dog Breeds

Dogs with blue eyes are rare but beautiful! Let’s talk to six dog breeds who occasionally get the blue-eyed gene.

A blue-eyed Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
A blue-eyed Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Photography courtesy Amanda Labadie, manymuddypaws.blogspot.com http://manymuddypaws.blogspot.com/.
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Most dogs have brown eyes but there are some dogs with blue eyes out there. Love dogs with blue eyes? Let’s hear from six dog breeds that occasionally get the blue-eyed gene:

Siberian Husky

Blue-eyed husky dog.
Siberian Huskies make our list of dogs with blue eyes. Photography courtesy Eileen M. Gacke, shca.org.

We’re one of few breeds carrying a gene that can give rise to exquisite blue eyes. Aside from being among dogs with blue eyes, let’s talk arctic adventures. We were developed thousands of years ago in northeastern Siberia by the Chukchi people. Bred for endurance, our forefathers provided transportation over expansive areas. We were also bred for adaptability, enthusiasm and gentleness. And we socialized easily, sleeping with families on especially cold “three-dog nights.” Our breed standard calls for almond-shaped eyes of brown or blue. We can have two brown eyes of any shade, two blue eyes, one eye of each color or two colors in one eye! Our coat, by the way, varies in color, too, ranging from black to pure white. Our beauty is only surpassed by our sense of adventure: bring it on!

Border Collie

A blue-eyed Border Collie.
Border Collies can have blue eyes, too. Photography courtesy Amanda Labadie, manymuddypaws.blogspot.com.

We’re an exceptional herding dog, bred in the British Isles to control stock with an intense gaze. People say we’re the most intelligent dog breed. Who are we to argue? For good reason, we’ve been asked to explain the complicated merle (as it relates to blue eyes) topic. We Border Collies may have merle coats. Merle simply means our coats have an overall dilution of colors with streaks or splotches of darker colors. The more pigment dilution, the more likely we’ll land among the dogs with blue eyes. Now here’s an important health consideration: The merle gene is essentially a dominant gene. A dog carrying a merle gene will be a merle. A problem arises when both parents are merle, for double-merle offspring are at risk for serious medical problems, such as deafness and blindness. But in general, we merle (occasionally blue-eyed) beauties are healthy, eager to work and devoted companions.

Australian Shepherd

Love dogs with blue eyes? Some Australian Shepherds fit the bill. Photography courtesy Moira Cornell, asca.org. Photography by Bethany Howell, Dogs in Motion Photography.

We’re a dog of action, developed in the States to herd and help ranchers all day long. We herd with a loose style, using all of our skills (including throwing an elbow or hip!) to effectively control livestock. Some of us have beautiful merle coats, and the occasional blue eyes may be an extension of the merle pattering and are what secures us a spot in this roundup of dogs with blue eyes. Some of us may inherit a blue-eyed gene, too. Our expressive almond-shaped eyes, by the way, can be brown, blue, amber or any combination. We think we look especially exquisite when we have one blue eye!

Dachshund

A blue-eyed Dachshund.
Dachshunds may have blue eyes. Photography courtesy Vicki Antonio, dachshundclubofamerica.org.

Tough and determined, we were bred long ago in Germany to hunt badgers and vermin. To work underground, we needed a unique body shape. Our elongated rib-cage lets us efficiently process air. Our short legs fold readily, making for easy movement in tunnels. Some of us have a dapple (merle) pattern, expressed as lighter-colored areas up against the darker base color. And some dapples fit the bill for dogs with blue eyes with their partial or wholly blue eyes. Regardless of color, our eyes possess an energetic, agreeable appearance.

Weimaraner

A blue-eyed Weimaraner.
Weimaraners are among the dogs with blue eyes. Photography courtesy weimrescuetexas.org.

Some call us the “gray ghost,” referencing our elegant silver-gray coat. Some of us also have distinctive grayish-blue (but not pure blue) eyes. Colors aside, we were developed in Germany to hunt big game, and in time to hunt smaller animals. We’re celebrated for endurance in the field and courage. We’re also lauded for our exceptionally high energy. We can hike, jog, retrieve and excel in field trials. Primarily when you look into our eyes, you won’t be thinking about color. You’ll be noticing that our animated eyes have an expectant, “what shall we do now?” spark!

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

A blue-eyed Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
Cardigan Welsh Corgis are another dog breed that might have blue eyes. Photography courtesy Amanda Labadie, manymuddypaws.blogspot.com.

Alert and dependable, we were bred to handle livestock and for overall farm duty. These days, we continue to exhibit a strong work drive, and can garner accolades in any dog sport. We’re star pupils of obedience and herding in particular. Now, instead of talking (yet again!) about how our short legs helped us avoid cattle kicks, let’s focus on color. Our coat comes in many shades, including red, sable, brindle, black and blue merle. Some of us blue merles fit the bill for dogs with blue eyes, or even one dark and one blue eye. What surprises most people is not my eyes, but how agile and quick I am!

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy Amanda Labadie, manymuddypaws.blogspot.com.

Tell us: Do you have dogs with blue eyes? What breed or mix of breeds are they?

This piece was originally published in 2017. 

Why read breed profiles?

Dog breed profiles help everyone, whether you have a mixed breed or purebred dog, to better understand and improve the quality of your dog’s life. If you have a mixed breed dog, read up on all of the breed profiles that make up your dog. Not sure what breed your dog is? There are a number of easy DNA tests out there to help you find out.

Read more about dog breeds on Dogster.com:

45 thoughts on “Dogs With Blue Eyes: Meet These 6 Dog Breeds”

  1. My dog is a long haired dapple dachshund with one purple eye and one light blue eye. He is my spoiled little pupster! His name is Doodle J Mendez. I love him to death and I take him everywhere. He is very loveable and loves to dig. He might as well have dug up my whole yard. If you can please tell me how to stop him from digging up my whole yard, Ive tried everything!

  2. I AM LEGALLY BLIND I HAVE A PITSKY NAMED APACHE HE HAS ONE BLUE EYE AND ONE HAZEL EYE MY EX. RESCUED HIM WHEN HE WAS 3WEEKS 0LD AND 2LBS HES 2YRS AND 80LBS NOW AND MY ESA. ALSO MY BIG SPOILED BABY.

  3. Pingback: 8 dog breeds with blue eyes – Dogbreedssmall.Com

  4. My Australian Shepherd/Flat Coated Retriever mix is gorgeous! One blue eye and one brown. Max was a rescue that provided his breeding. I wanted DNA proof at first but the 2 breeds are so clear. Max is black with a small amount of white on his chest and his muzzle is white with gray speckles. And those eyes!

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  15. I have a 20 lb. male Miniature Poodle, English Springer Spaniel, Shih Tzu mix who has straight white fur with tan undertone blotches on hips. Both his eyes are blue complete with black “eyeliner” top & bottom. Sometimes I see evidence suggesting he does not see as well as most dogs.

    1. Have some info about your dog not seeing as well. Like people dogs with blue eyes have harder times with light but see better in the dark than other eye colors. If I through my dogs to towards the sun he will lose it in the light even if not thrown directly into the sunlight. But in the dark he catches it every time.

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  18. Great info. Until I read this article, I did not have any idea about blue-eyed dogs. I have a Teckel dog with blue eyes ( both eyes). I thought it was a genetic disorder. Now I am happy to know its quality, not a disorder.

  19. My dog is a mixed breed – predominently Husky/Carolina Dog with some Lab & Collie thrown in! She has beautiful steel-blue eyes with the famous Husky eyeliner ?

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    1. Hi Kai —
      Please let us know what your dog looks like, or reach out to us at: https://www.dogster.com/team-dogster/

    2. Go to your vet An have DNA test It can tell you all the make up of your dogs history. I had it pulled on a female that was color of a blue healer but wrong body my male healer bread her an only 2 of 6 came out color of healer Agter having DNA test on her. Me an my vet had big laugh. No healer but 37% new found land 27% rodegezin ridgeback some German short hair pointer an various bull dogs the other 4 pups took after each breed wonderful surprise worth ever bit of the 80.00 for test that was 10 years ago might not b that expensive now

  22. I have a Shih-Poo with one brown and one blue eye and I’ve seen Shih-Tzus or Shih-Poos with two blue eyes as well

  23. Interesting article! I didn’t know Chihuahuas could have blue eyes. We had a beautiful blue merle Sheltie who had one blue eye and one brown eye.

  24. Did you forget Old English Sheepdog? I have had a female with one blue eye and my boy now, has two beautiful blue eyes. In addition I have had two males that sired litters with blue eye boys and girls!

  25. Stephanie Steinlicht

    As a Chihuahua lover, I do think you should mention this breed as the vast majority of Merles in it have Brilliant Blue eyes or one brown and blue or one half and half and the other either blue or brown. These are wonderful lovable dogs !

    1. just fostered a chihuahua mom who birthed 8 pups result- 1 brown long haired merle with two blue eyes
      1 tan short haired with white markings 1 brown 1 blue eye
      1 black girl with both eyes blue blue! the rest are shades of brown (8 pups)

  26. Please don’t forget the Catahoula Leopard dog. My catahoula, River, has beautiful eyes! One brown and one white/blue, in fact, her eyes are the first thing that people notice about her.

    Thanks for the cute article!

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