Eye color

[Amaruq]

I know that GSD are supposed to have dark eyes. But could someone explain in laymen terms how the eye color genetics work? I have seen a wide range of eyes from almost black to an amber/gold color. Do GSD ever have blue eyes like the Huskies, Border Collies, Aussies and Corgis?

[Minnieski]

Someone once told me that they had a "blue shepherd" that had blue eyes - didn't see it for myself and not sure if I believe it though. I know the fur color dilution can be blueish, but I thought the eyes were still brown. Hopefully someone can shed some light on this too.

[AbbyK9]

I believe there was a member some time back who had a black/tan pup that had one blue eye and one brown eye, who posted some photos of the dog. The general consensus at the time seems to have been that a blue eye is not possible in b/t German Shepherds?

[mjbgsd]

I think i remember that dog, I remember seeing half of it's eye blue/brown but I also think they said it was GSD/husky.

[Fodder]

Originally Posted By: AmaruqHuskies, Border Collies, Aussies and Corgis?

...adding Collies, Sheltie, Dalmation, Heelers, Great Danes, Catahoula, English Bulldogs & Daschund to that list. (wow, more than i thought when i started typing it).

Personally, i believe it can happen to any breed on a fluke, especially after seeing it with my own two eyes on a Cocker, a Lhasa, a Boston Terrier, and on this guy:





although i'd probably expect a Panda Shepherd to come out with funky eyes before any of the more traditional color gsd.

[Amaruq]

Originally Posted By: Camerafodder

...adding Collies, Sheltie, Dalmation, Heelers, Great Danes, Catahoula, English Bulldogs & Daschund to that list. (wow, more than i thought when i started typing it).

But is it an ACCEPTABLE eye color for any of the breeds that you listed? I have not studied all of the standards but I know in the 4 breeds I listed that blue eyes are acceptable in the show ring.

[Chris Wild]

I believe spontaneous mutation causing a blue eye can happen with any dog of any breed. Some breeds do carry genetics for blue eyes, others (GSD and the Rottie pictured) do not.... but the occasional mutation can occur.

[AbbyK9]

Could you, or someone reading this thread, explain the genetics behind eye color and what would cause a mutation to bring up blue eyes in a dog like the Rottie or a GSD?

[Fodder]

Originally Posted By: Amaruq

But is it an ACCEPTABLE eye color for any of the breeds that you listed? I have not studied all of the standards but I know in the 4 breeds I listed that blue eyes are acceptable in the show ring.

i didn't look up each of those breeds individually. but where blue eyes are recessive in huskies or dalmations - i read that it is dominant in merle or dapple dogs. so i'd assume, if its a breed that merle or dapple is allowed in the ring, then the eyes are allowed as well. (acceptable but not desired including one blue eye, both, or partials) i looked up great dane, blue eyes are found in merles... but merles are not allowed to be shown.

[pupresq]

I think the blue eyes of blue dogs are different genetically than the blue eyes that show up in other breeds. Having a dilute pigment gene does change eye color - liver dogs have amber eyes, for example, but I suspect that genetically their eye color is a perfectly normal color, it's the dilution gene that prevents the pigment from being there and makes them look the way they do. In contrast to the blue eyes on a black and white Husky or Border Collie etc which seem to be actual eye genetics at work rather than a side effect of something else.

I'm interested in this too - we see such a diversity of dogs and mixes of dogs come through our shelters, it makes your curious. There's a Puggle sort of thing at one of the shelters I work with right now with ice blue eyes - very weird looking dog! Also interested to learn the genetics of the multi colored eyes - I believe that's called "cracked ice" ices, at least in Catahoulas.