Your dog’s eyes really do feel like the window to its soul. These beautiful, colorful orbs will tell you so much about what he or she feels and can give you information that you’ll need to take care of him or her. Not all dog eyes, though, are the same. Some are a little rarer than others – including blue eyes.
Blue eyes are rare in dogs and tend to be most common in just a handful of breeds. Below are some of the dogs in which blue eyes tend to be a little more common.
Article Summary
Dog Breeds with Blue Eyes
Alaskan Klee Kai
This might not be a breed of which you’ve heard before. This breed does look like a little Husky, which means that blue eyes are fairly common.
These little dogs are getting more popular every day, mostly because they’re so cute. They have a ton of energy, though, and are absolute terrors if they ever get off-leash. That means plenty of training, of course, and a lot of patience. The good news is that a properly trained pup will end up being incredibly affectionate and a great dog for any family.
Australian Cattle Dog
While the AKC lists dark eyes as the standard, blue eyes are still very common with this low-maintenance breed.
Like most working dogs, these dogs need a lot of exercise to stay happy. These are dogs who need obedience training early on to get the most out of them, but they tend to be fantastically happy when they’re properly trained and socialized. Definitely look at this dog if you love an energetic pup and have a lot of patience.
Australian Shepherd
The various Shepherd dogs all have a tendency towards blue eyes. The American Kennel Club lists blue eyes as part of the breed standard regardless of the dog’s coat color and many of these dogs actually have heterochromia.
This breed is incredibly agile and full of energy, but they’re also dogs that absolutely love their human companions. Though they need plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy, they are the perfect type of dog for those who have families.
Border Collie
Border Collies often have blue eyes, even if blue isn’t necessarily an AKC ‘preferred’ color across the board with these dogs. With a number of different coat colors and patterns, these dogs are among the most easily identifiable long-haired dogs in the world.
This is another one of those breeds that absolutely loves to be around humans and that does a great job when properly trained. They tend to get mischievous when they don’t get enough exercise, though, so think about enrolling this kind of dog in an agility training course early on.
Boxer
Yes, Boxers can have blue eyes. The AKC again doesn’t consider this a good thing, but most owners love the feature.
Boxers are big, goofy family dogs. They’re active, but they can be trained to be fantastic pets. The biggest issues with this dog tend to come from its size, which means that you’re going to have to lay some ground rules while the Boxer is young so that it doesn’t end up becoming a danger to itself in a crowded home.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
It’s not that surprising that Catahoulas can have blue eyes. After all, these dogs tend to come in just about every color you can imagine.
These dogs are fantastic animals in general, but they take a lot more work than you might hope. They’re incredibly territorial and require significant amounts of training, and even then you’ll be left with a dog that requires much more attention than you might hope.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cardigans are another type of dog that trends towards blue eyes in merles, at least according to the AKC. Though not quite as famous as their Pembroke cousins, these dogs are nonetheless fantastic pets.
Cardigans are perhaps best known as companion dogs. They are usually happy, love to play, and have a ton of energy. They have just enough energy to play around but not so much that it makes them a hassle for city dwellers, making them an ideal pet no matter where you happen to live.
Cocker Spaniel
The AKC doesn’t like it when Cocker Spaniels have blue eyes. This is a little odd, though, since so many people think that the blue-eyed look is great!
Cocker Spaniels tend to be very popular. They’re playful, happy, and love people. They’re great companion animals, though they do require a little bit of extra work to be good with kids. Once trained, though, they are fantastic athletes who really don’t put too much strain on their owners.
Dalmatian
According to the AKC, Dalmatians are another breed that tends to have blue eyes. Honestly, though, most people are going to spend more time staring at this breed’s spots.
Dalmatians are good-looking dogs, but they’re not as easy as you might think. These famous dogs are just as famous for being hard to train and they require a lot of exercises to stop them from getting destructive. This makes this dog a fantastic fit for those who love to be on the go, even if they take some extra training to get along with families.
Dachshund
Yes, the famous Weiner dog can have blue eyes! More common in dappled dachshunds than their mono-color brethren, blue eyes are rare but definitely not unheard of.
Dachshunds have a reputation for being stubborn and requiring a lot of maintenance, but these challenge dogs can be great family pets who love to play with kids of all ages. Prone to back injury, this is one breed that doesn’t need too much exercise but that will absolutely thrive if given the proper kind of attention.
German Shepherd
Typically one of the most popular breeds in the United States, the AKC notes that there really are some German Shepherds out there who have very dark blue eyes. Handsome dogs who need a lot of maintenance to look their best, are dogs who are perfect for families.
If there’s a downside to the German Shepherd, it’s that they need a lot of stimulation to stay happy. They’re smart but trainable and they’ll absolutely want to stick around you as much as possible. The good news, though, is that you can turn this desire to please into some great skills in the fields of tracking or even agility.
Great Dane
Great Danes can have blue eyes with certain color patterns. Regardless of their eye colors, though, they remain gentle giants.
While Great Danes definitely still look like guard dogs, the truth is that the modern version of the breed is a big goofball with a ton of energy. While they’re actually great with people, they aren’t great for those with small children simply because they are so big.
Neapolitan Mastiff
The AKC doesn’t particularly care for blue eyes in these dogs, but they’re definitely big enough that no one will argue with them about it!
These are huge dogs who are neither common nor easy to care for. They’re very smart and independent guard dogs who were bred to work alone, so this means that they’re both slow to trust and tough to train. With this said, a solid training regimen can turn this dog into a sweet companion animal that simply needs a lot of exercise to stay in good shape.
Old English Sheepdog
These Sheepdogs have a number of eye colors, among which one is blue. Unlike many, though, the blue eyes that these dogs possess are definitely very light.
So, what can you expect from this classic breed? A lot of energy, but not as much as you might expect from a sheepdog. You’ll need to train this type of dog early to get him or her to like people, but when you get done you’ll have a dog who is incredibly loyal. This isn’t a dog for novices, but it can still be a fantastic pet.
Pitbull
Blue eyes are literally the only eye color that the AKC and UKC don’t approve of in this breed. With that said, many Pitbull owners find the blue-eyed look to be absolutely adorable.
Pitbulls are descended from terriers and bulldogs, so you’re going to wind up with a dog who is both full of energy and who is very strong-willed. This means a lot of training for the dog, of course, but it also means that you’re eventually going to end up with a playful pup who will become a much-loved member of your family.
Shetland Sheepdog
Sure, not every Shelite has blue eyes but even the AKC does admit that they tend to show up from time to time in these small herding canines.
Smart and skillful, these dogs are great for those who want a dog who is easy to train but not so good for those who need a dog who doesn’t want attention. This dog is definitely one that will love you, but he or she is going to love you and want to herd you from place to place at the same time.
Shih Tzu
This is another dog that tends to have light blue eyes, even the AKC considers this a fault in the breed.
With a long, shiny coat, this is one high-maintenance dog. Though you’ll spend a lot of time grooming this kind of dog, you’ll spend even more time enjoying the dog with your friends and family. A real hit with kids, these are dogs who are full of personality. Though tricky to train at best, this playful breed definitely needs a home in which playtime is mandatory.
Siberian Husky
Though the American Kennel Club does not that many Huskies have brown eyes, it’s not uncommon to see a Husky with at least one blue eye. In fact, these dogs are prone to heterochromia and tend to have a fairly unique look about them.
Huskies are smart, energetic, and don’t need to be washed very often. At the same time, they’re stubborn, hard to train, and need a lot of input from their owners to stay happy. If you’ve got the time and energy, though, these can be great dogs.
Weimaraner
According to the American Kennel Club, Weimaraners can have lovely blue-gray eyes, though they’re generally more apt to have amber eyes. These dogs definitely use these eyes to their full advantage, though, as these pretty dogs tend to be exceedingly clever.
If you’re a fan of blue-eyed dogs, this breed has a lot of perks. They’re easy to take care of when it comes to grooming, for example, through their ears do need special attention. They do, however, tend to be a little harder to train than you might hope and they’re always just a little smarter than they should be.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What breed of dog can have blue eyes?
Many breeds can have blue eyes. From Huskies and Pitbulls to Shih Tzus and Cocker Spaniels, blue eyes are an uncommon color in dogs but they certainly aren’t a color that is unheard of. It’s always good to check the AKC breed standards to figure out if blue eyes are a possibility in a breed.
2. Are blue eyes in dogs bad?
Blue eyes are only bad if a dog’s eyes start to turn that color later in life. In those cases, a cloudy blue color generally indicates that something is wrong with the dog’s eyes. In most cases, though, blue eyes are just a natural part of a dog and they don’t mean anything beyond the fact that the dog carries the gene for having blue eyes.
3. What does Blue Eyes mean in a dog?
Blue eyes don’t really mean much in dogs most of the time. Generally, blue eyes just show you that the dog is carrying genes for that eye color. If a dog does start to develop cloudy blue eyes later, though, this can be a sign that the dog is suffering from some kind of ocular health issues.
4. What is the rarest eye color for dogs?
Green is the rarest eye color in dogs. This can vary a bit by breed, of course, with both amber and blue running close in the contest for the overall rarest eye colors in the canine world.
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