Dogs with blue eyes are mesmerizing, especially when they have a beautiful coat of grey, black, or white fur.
Brown eyes are thought of as the default for dogs, so when dog lovers see canines with icy blue eyes instead, it’s hard not to fall in love.
Grey Dogs with Blue Eyes
Grey dogs are the most likely to have bright blue eyes. After all, dogs with a deep grey coat are often called “blue dog breeds” due to the hint of blue in their fur.
So, these glistening eyes match that magical fur perfectly.
Here are some lovable grey dogs with blue eyes.
Weimaraner
Weimaraners are known for their thin steel-colored coats, and they’re sometimes referred to as Germany’s “Grey Ghosts.”
If you look closely, these friendly canines have much more distinct eyes than most breeds. Their eyes are never a chocolate brown color, but instead, they’re often hazel, amber, and in some cases, bright blue.
The blue goes perfectly with their silver fur, but don’t be fooled by their beauty. These large dogs are overly energetic and are sure to keep you on your toes!
After all, the first Weimaraners were bred to hunt boar, bear, and deer for royalty.
Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds were bred to be hard-working herding dogs.
They have high intelligence and they love to be kept busy, even in a regular family household.
However, they often thrive in a home that has plenty of space, including a fenced-in or wireless fenced yards, for them to run around and play.
This breed has one of the most distinct coat colors out there, with a mixture of grey and brown, speckled with dark spots and white patches.
Yet, their signature look wouldn’t be complete without their beautiful eyes. While some Australian Shepherds have regular brown or amber eyes, many have blue eyes, and some even have two different colored eyes!
Neapolitan Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiffs are gentle giants with sweet, wrinkly faces. They’re loyal dogs who have made excellent guard dogs since ancient Rome.
They typically weigh anywhere from 110 to 175 pounds, so even just looking at them is enough to make an intruder run away in fear.
They can have a few different coat colors, but the most common and most beloved is their silver grey color.
Sometimes they have only brown or amber eyes, but with silver fur, it’s more common to see green or blue eyes instead. Although, their mesmerizing eyes can sometimes be difficult to see around their wrinkles.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Catahoula Leopard Dogs are an interesting mix of colors. They could be labeled as a dull grey, but some of them certainly look more brown.
Either way, they have notable spots on their body, much like a leopard. Blue eyes and hazel eyes are much more common than brown for these dogs, and they can even have two different colored eyes.
These dogs might not be as well-known as some of the other grey dogs with blue eyes, but they are incredible working dogs that are capable of many different tasks, including hunting and herding.
Black Dogs With Blue Eyes
Grey and blue go perfectly together, but black and blue contrast each other. Some dog parents can’t stop staring at a dark-colored dog with piercing blue eyes.
It’s likely because black dogs with blue eyes look so tough, yet so delicate all at the same time. So, here are some majestic dogs that share these distinct traits.
German Shepherd
While German Shepherds are most commonly a mixture of brown and black, they can have solid black (or even solid white) variants.
These athletic pups are most commonly seen with brown eyes, but ones with blue eyes are incredible to witness.
German Shepherds make excellent working dogs because of their high energy levels and impressive intelligence.
They can make loyal companions as well, but they require an experienced family.
Even in a household setting, they’ll need intense exercise daily and plenty of fun activities to keep their mind busy, such as puzzle toys and lots of training sessions.
Border Collie
Border Collies are another breed of highly intelligent dogs that were bred for herding. While they’re usually not all black dogs, they still have blue eyes regularly.
They usually have a black and white or red and white coat, with eyes of any colors from blue to hazel to brown.
Border Collies are natural born athletes, so they need a home where they can run and play to their heart’s content. More importantly, they need mental exercise just as much as physical exercise. So, they adore mental stimulation toys, training sessions, and agility courses.
If Border Collies become bored, they might get into trouble or develop destructive behaviors (check out our article on heavy duty dog crates for some advice on suitable crates).
Great Dane
Great Danes aren’t always solid black, but the ones with gorgeous blue eyes usually have a black or grey coat to match.
Yet, brown is certainly the most common eye color for these pups.
Great Danes are one of the tallest dog breeds out there, standing 28 to 34 inches and weighing 110 to 175 pounds.
This intimidating structure has earned them the nickname, “Apollo of Dogs.”
Despite being so large, these dogs can be couch potatoes though. They enjoy exercising and going on adventures, but only if it’s paired with quality naptime afterwards.
Their height can cause them lots of health problems, especially with joints, so regular vet visits are crucial for this breed.
Small Dogs With Blue Eyes
Not all blue-eyed dogs have to look big and strong. Some smaller breeds have a gaze that’s just as charming as the larger dogs.
These striking blue eyes make some of them almost look like fluffy stuffed animals.
So, here are some small dogs that can have beautiful blue eyes.
Shetland Sheepdog
Shetland Sheepdogs, often referred to as “Shelties”, are like small versions of the Rough Collie, weighing anywhere from 15 to 25 pounds.
They have an adorable fluffy coat with a mixture of brown, black, and white patches. Brown is a popular eye color for these little dogs, but blue is also fairly common.
While they’re much smaller than similar breeds, they can be just as active and intelligent.
They’re often raised by farmers to herd sheep, chicken, and ponies.
In the early days, many humans preferred the small size of these herding dogs because it meant they didn’t require as much food, making them easier to care for.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cardigan Welsh Corgis are the lesser known Corgi breed, after the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
The most significant difference between the two breeds is that Cardigans usually have a long, fluffy tail.
They also tend to have more color varieties, such as grey, red, and brindle. These more unique color patterns are often paired with icy blue eyes.
Like Dachshunds, Cardigan Welsh Corgis have a long body and short legs, but they can still be great working dogs.
They are excellent at herding cattle, but if not trained properly in a household setting, they might try to nip at and “herd” animals and humans.
So, despite being small, these pups need plenty of exercise.
Alaskan Klee Kai
While the Alaskan Klee Kai is not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, this tiny Husky-like dog is beloved by many.
They often weigh anywhere from 8 to 23 pounds, but they still have the adorable appearance of a Husky, complete with pointy ears and fluffy coat.
Like Huskies, these small dogs can have piercing blue eyes, which match perfectly with their grey and white coats.
However, unlike the breed’s larger counterpart, these little dogs were bred specifically to be companion dogs rather than working dogs.
They can still be small bundles of energy though, so they thrive when they get plenty of playtime.
White Dogs with Blue Eyes
White dogs with blue eyes aren’t quite as common as the rest, but they can be just as incredible.
White is already a soothing and delicate color, but adding blue to it makes it even more lovable.
That’s why white dogs with blue eyes are often a favorite for dogs lovers. Here are some lovely white dogs with blue eyes.
Siberian Husky
Siberian Huskies are usually grey with white on their bellies, but pure white Huskies are possible too.
In fact, Huskies seem to be one of the few dog breeds that are more likely to have blue eyes than brown eyes.
As many people know, these dogs were initially bred for pulling sleds, so they love exercising and playing in the snow.
They can be incredibly loyal and lovable, but their high energy makes them only suitable for experienced dog parents who don’t mind a little cold weather and playing around with husky toys.
Huskies are also very talkative, so they’ll be sure to let you know when something is bothering them.
Dalmatian
Everyone is familiar with Dalmatians due to their white coats with beautiful black spots. They might not be a pure white dog, but they can have charming blue eyes.
They’re known for accompanying firefighters and for starring in a classic Disney movie, but there’s a good reason you don’t see them as pets often.
Dalmatians can have an independent side, and it’s common for them to experience territorial behaviors if not properly trained.
So, they need a family who’s willing to spend extra time training and socializing them.
If their family is willing to put in the extra work, then they can certainly be loyal, loving companions.
What Causes Blue Eyes In Dogs?
Blue eyes aren’t the standard for dogs, not just in terms of looks, but based on scientific observations.
In humans, blue eyes are a genetic variation, but in dogs, it doesn’t work quite like that. It’s inherited by a recessive trait for both dogs humans, but for dogs, it’s a mutation that causes the eyes to appear blue.
Researchers discovered that the blue in a dog’s eyes isn’t a pigment at all, but rather, it’s based on the way the light enters and exits the eye.
Sort of like how the sky appears blue. It’s caused by a duplication of genetic information, which causes the eye to appear blue instead of brown.
It was discovered that the mutation occurs near a gene called ALX4, near canine chromosome 18.
This small difference in the order of genes causes this remarkable appearance. Genetics can be extremely complex, so the order and timing of these genes can make all the difference for how any creature looks.
Therefore, if you have a dog with blue eyes, they truly are special.
The science behind dogs with blue eyes can be complicated and confusing, but that doesn’t take away from their incredible looks.
Blue eyes can be hard to come by, so when we see a dog with brightly colored irises, we can’t help but admire them.
The Problem With Blue Eyes
We get it – these dogs are GORGEOUS. The reality is if you do see blue eyed dogs in shelters or rescues they get scooped up quick. After, all looks matter to most people.
But in many cases these dogs may be found in online pet stores or local retail pet stores.
The problem with this is that you do not know where these dogs are really coming from. Many puppy mill breeders will try to create dogs with blue eyes because they know the can make a lot of many doing so.
So, if you are looking for dog that has blue eyes, please use caution, try to adopt, or at the least do your research if you decide to buy a puppy!
