Dog breeds with blue eyes
Blue eyes are common in some breeds and rare in others, and in many breeds they only occur with certain coat colors. These are the breeds in our data where blue eyes are allowed by the standard or occur regularly.
17 of 162 breeds in our database
Alaskan Klee Kai
Small, 6–25 lb
Blue eyes: brown, blue, hazel, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, double
- Nature
- Loyal, Intelligent, Vigilant
- Lifespan
- 13–16 years
Australian Shepherd
Large, 40–65 lb
Blue eyes: brown, blue, amber, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, double
- Nature
- Smart, Work-oriented, Exuberant
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
Border Collie
Medium, 30–55 lb
Blue eyes: brown, amber, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, double
- Nature
- Energetic, Affectionate, Smart
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Medium, 25–38 lb
Blue eyes: dark brown, brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, double
- Nature
- Loyal, Affectionate, Smart
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Large, 50–95 lb
Blue eyes: brown, amber, blue, green, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Short, smooth
- Nature
- Independent, Loyal, Watchful
- Lifespan
- 10–14 years
Collie
Large, 50–75 lb
Blue eyes: dark brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Long, rough
- Nature
- Devoted, Proud, Graceful
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
Dachshund
Medium, 16–32 lb
Blue eyes: dark brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Short, smooth
- Nature
- Curious, Friendly, Spunky
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
Dalmatian
Large, 45–70 lb
Blue eyes: brown, amber, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Short, smooth
- Nature
- Dignified, Outgoing, Smart
- Lifespan
- 11–13 years
Great Dane
Giant, 110–175 lb
Blue eyes: dark brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Short, smooth
- Nature
- Friendly, Patient, Dependable
- Lifespan
- 7–10 years
Miniature American Shepherd
Medium, 20–40 lb
Blue eyes: brown, blue, hazel, amber, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, double
- Nature
- Intelligent, Good-natured, Devoted
- Lifespan
- 12–13 years
Miniature Dachshund
Toy, 8–11 lb
Blue eyes: dark brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Short, smooth
- Nature
- Curious, Friendly, Spunky
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
Mudi
Medium, 18–29 lb
Blue eyes: dark brown, brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, curly
- Nature
- Loyal, Intelligent, Active
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
Old English Sheepdog
Large, 60–100 lb
Blue eyes: brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Long, double
- Nature
- Smart, Gentle, Adaptable
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years
Pomsky
Medium, 20–30 lb
Blue eyes: brown, blue, hazel, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, double
- Nature
- Playful, Curious, Vocal
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
Shetland Sheepdog
Small, 15–25 lb
Blue eyes: dark brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Long, double
- Nature
- Playful, Energetic, Bright
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
Siberian Husky
Medium, 35–60 lb
Blue eyes: brown, blue, bi-eyed
- Coat
- Medium, double
- Nature
- Loyal, Outgoing, Mischievous
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
Weimaraner
Large, 55–90 lb
Blue eyes: amber, gray, blue
- Coat
- Short, smooth
- Nature
- Friendly, Fearless, Obedient
- Lifespan
- 10–13 years
Good to know
Blue eyes in dogs have more than one cause. The merle and piebald (white-spotting) coat patterns, which involve the PMEL and MITF genes, can both produce blue or odd-colored eyes. A separate 98.6-kb duplication upstream of the ALX4 gene is strongly linked to blue eyes in Siberian Huskies, and the same study found it in non-merle Australian Shepherds and in Alaskan Klee Kai. Outside those breeds it is rare.
The coat gene matters more than the eye color. In a 2009 study of merle dogs, 0.9% of dogs with one merle copy were deaf in both ears, against 15% of dogs with two copies. 12 of the 17 breeds above also appear on our merle page.
A breed standard that allows blue eyes does not promise them. Many standards accept blue only with certain coat colors, so ask a breeder what the parents' eyes look like and whether they were hearing tested.
Sources
- Deane-Coe PE, et al. Direct-to-consumer DNA testing of 6,000 dogs reveals 98.6-kb duplication associated with blue eyes and heterochromia in Siberian Huskies. PLOS Genetics, 2018
- Strain GM, et al. Prevalence of deafness in dogs heterozygous or homozygous for the merle allele. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2009
- American Kennel Club: Dog breeds directory and breed trait ratings
Breed traits come from AKC breed standards and trait ratings. Individual dogs, and especially mixes, can differ from their breed.