It’s All About a Gene Mutation Anytime an Aussie has different colored eyes, it is due to a gene mutation that is passed down from at least one parent. The mutation affects how much melanin is present in the eye. More melanin results in a
brown eye
, while a lack of melanin results in a blue eye.
Do
australian shepherds
with blue eyes go blind?
Blue eyes in Aussies: Having blue-eyes does not mean a dog is blind.
Can Australian Shepherds have blue eyes?
They often have two different colored eyes. Aussies might have any combination of brown, blue, hazel, amber, or green eyes Some Aussies even display more than one color within the same eye.
Do all Blue Merle Australian Shepherds have blue eyes?
Not all
blue merle aussies
have blue eyes However, it is prevalent. The blue merle color and pattern are caused by a gene that varies the amount of pigment in the hair, skin, and eyes. This often causes Australian Shepherds to be born with blue eyes.
How do you tell if a puppy’s eyes will stay blue?
Their eyes can go from blue to grey to blue again, or they can change from blue to grey to brown over the course of a month or so. By the time your dog is about 6 months old, their eye color is likely set and will not change as they get older.
Do dogs with blue eyes have sensitivity to light?
This kind of blue eye has nothing to do with the merle gene, white trim genes or the albino gene (which probably does not exist in dogs). These eyes are completely sound, though perhaps slightly light sensitive just as blue-eyed people are slightly more light-sensitive than those with brown eyes.
Do dogs with blue eyes have more problems?
Genetically, blue eyes are typically no indication of health issues ; however, dogs with genetically blue eyes have been linked to having hearing impairments, according to Washington State University.
Do blue-eyed dogs have trouble seeing?
In some dog breeds, blue eyes can be an indicator of possible vision defects. However, they do not necessarily mean a blue-eyed dog will eventually go blind While Siberian Huskies and other breeds normally have blue eyes, in other breeds this eye color occurs when two merle-colored dogs produce offspring.
Are blue-eyed dogs deaf?
Blue eyes, resulting from an absence of pigment in the iris, is common with
pigment-associated deafness
but is not, in and of itself, an indication of deafness or the presence of a deafness gene; however, in several breeds (Dalmatian, English Setter, English Cocker Spaniel, Bull Terrier), dogs (and cats) with blue eyes.
Do blue-eyed puppies stay blue?
Blue eyes during puppyhood All puppies have blue (or bluish) eyes when they first open them But by the time they’re about 16 weeks old, their eyes change to their true color—typically brown. So, if you’ve got a young, blue-eyed pup at home now, keep in mind their eye color may change.
What do blue eyes in dogs mean?
But for a dog that doesn’t naturally have blue eyes, a blue eye could indicate a disease called interstitial keratitis , “a corneal inflammation in which a bluish-white film appears over the clear window of the eye. It is caused by the same virus that causes infectious hepatitis,” according to WebMD.
What kind of shepherd has blue eyes?
A genetic variation can cause German Shepherds to have blue eyes, but it’s incredibly rare, and breeders consider it a fault, according to All About Shepherds. Shepherds with the variation are often called Blue German Shepherds.
How do you tell if an Aussie is a merle?
Red merle Australian Shepherds often have marbled eyes as well, with flecks of color in their irises granting them a deep, vivid gaze The dominant colors are blue with brown marbling, brown with blue marbling, and in very special dogs, one of each.
How much does a blue merle Aussie cost?
The average pricing of a standard-colored Australian Shepherd from a trustworthy breeder is between $750 to $1,000. If it’s a blue merle Aussie puppy, the estimated cost is around $1,500 to $2,500 What is this?.
What’s the difference between an Australian Shepherd and a blue merle?
What is this? These dogs have the iconic blue merle coat as a base color. However, unlike the tri color, these Aussies do not have the copper and tan markings on the coat. Instead, they only have
white markings
.
What age do puppies eyes change from blue?
It often takes nine to 12 weeks , starting from this point, for a puppy’s eye color to settle in and “stay.” The permanent eye color change can even happen as late as 16 weeks in age.
What is the rarest eye color for dogs?
Eye color in dogs is determined by the amount of melanin found in the iris. Brown eyes contain a high concentration of melanin, while green or blue have less. Most dogs have brown eyes, but there are breeds with pale blue, speckled, golden, or hazel colored eyes. The rarest color of all is green.
Do Australian shepherd puppies change color?
Some Australian shepherd puppies will change color This effect is uncommon and unpredictable, but an Aussie puppy can change colors. However, color changes are rare and can be due to age or spending time outside in the sun. They can also turn white in extreme cases.
Is blue merle rare?
Blue merle is actually one of the rarest Border Collie coat colors This coat color can only be produced in puppies by dogs who carry the dominant merle gene.
What makes an Aussie a merle?
The breed standards state that Australian Shepherds can come in some combination of two basic body colors (black and liver), one pattern (merle), and two trim colors (white and tan.) Of these, the pattern merle is described as two “colors”: Blue merle and red (liver) merle.
What is considered a mismarked Australian Shepherd?
Dogs with excess white markings , sometimes referred to as mismarks, or over-marked. Australian Shepherds with too much white are usually healthy(exceptions noted below). There are entire breeds that allow far more white than typical of Aussies.
What should I name my blue eyed dog?
Some of the best and most unique names for male blue-eyed dogs are Calvin, Denim, Diesel, Levi, Wrangler, Navy, Admiral, Polar, Ridley, and Frosty What is this? Some of the best and most unique female names for blue-eyed dogs are Atasi, Agave, Bluebell, Azure, Indigo, Mavi, Sandy, Icky, Doli, and Blau.
What are blue eyed dogs called?
Doxies with a merle coat will most often have blue-eye variations, including full blue, one blue and one brown, or even both colors in one eye. Bred for hunting badgers and rabbits, these dogs are brave and boisterous and make wonderful watchdogs.
What dog is GREY with blue eyes?
1. Weimaraner The AKC breed standard allows for blue-gray eyes, though most Weims have the soulful amber eyes we’re used to seeing. These jolly gray sporting dogs are energetic by nature and benefit from regular exercise, such as running.
Citations
https://www.thepuppymag.com/why-do-australian-shepherds-have-blue-eyes/
https://www.hepper.com/why-do-australian-shepherds-have-blue-eyes/
https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/blue-eyed-australian-shepherd