A German Shepherd Mix with a Blue Eye
You may have noticed that German Shepherds, as with many dogs, tend to have brown eyes. You may have wondered if this is a standard trait that never varies, or whether German Shepherds ever have blue eyes. Perhaps you even saw a dog once with blue eyes that otherwise resembled a German Shepherd, but you weren’t sure of the breed due to the animal’s eye color.
Can German Shepherds Have Blue Eyes?
It is very rare, but due to a genetic variation, yes, adult German Shepherd Dogs can indeed have blue eyes. The vast majority of adult German Shepherds have a brown eye color. Mixed dogs may have blue eyes as well.
Although most breeders consider the trait a fault, many dog owners find the trait an attractive quality.
This blue-eyed trait occurs in a variation of the breed known as “blue German Shepherds.”
Blue German Shepherds
A “blue” German Shepherd
German Shepherds with blue eyes, but which also feature traditional markings, are often called Blue German Shepherds. This is not only because their eyes often stay blue even after adulthood, but because the recessive gene that causes the blue eye color can also cause the darker patches of hair on the animal to appear more blue or silver in hue rather than the usual black.
There are three possible variations in the coloring for Blue German Shepherds, including: blue and tan, blue and dark brown (also known as sable,) and blue and black. The blue and black variation often appears as an overall dark gray or bluish gray.
The gene responsible for this color variation is sometimes referred to as the “double blue gene” or the “liver recessive gene.” The presence of this gene causes the pigmentation in the hair that would normally be black to appear diluted, and thus more blue, silver or gray in hue.
The same gene causes the diluted pigmentation in the eyes, which can cause a blue GSD to have eyes that are blue, pale brown or yellow.
Is There Something Wrong With Blue GSD’s?
The color variation in eyes and hair in blue GSD’s is caused by a recessive gene. The same type of gene variation occurs in humans, causing different hair colors and eye colors.
Some dogs, such as the Doberman, can suffer from skin conditions due to the same recessive gene, but as far as is known, there are no health problems or other defects associated with the recessive gene that causes blue eyes in German Shepherds.
Many breeders wish to avoid mating animals with this gene where possible, especially if they want to sell dogs that will be shown because the AKC will disqualify blue German Shepherds from shows.
However, as with all German Shepherd dogs, this variation in breeding does nothing to disqualify the animal from being a healthy, beautiful pet for the average dog owner. Who doesn’t love a blue-eyed boy–or girl dog?
They should form a blue shepard registry special for that color. They are beautiful
Yes! My girl is GSD blue and tan – her eyes stayed blue for 6 months. Eyes are now honey amber.
I agree a registry for Blue German Shepherds would be great.
Hello, I live in Australia and would love a Blue GSD. Is this possible? Cheers Maddie
I have a solid blue gsd male pup for sale. three weeks old. solid blue hair, blue nose, and blue eyes. in Kentucky, usa
We lost our 12 y/o GSD (red and black saddleback). My son has his heart set on a blue eyed GSD which I thought wasn’t possible until I researched. I’m hoping to find a plush coat that will stay blue/grey with light eyes (I’ve seen photos of some as adults with the most beautiful pale hazel/greyish/greenish eyes… hard to describe). Would love to see any photos of available puppies. We live in NYC area (import is OK depending on price).
I have some puppies like this.
Do you still have any puppies left with blue eyes that are full blooded (registered) German Shepherd?
Info interested In ky
I’m im Kentucky as well, would like info about your German shepherd ! I already have a female blue German shepherd !!
Still available?
Would love to learn more about getting a blue GSD. Live in Nashville.
Taylorw22@live.com
I’m in West Virginia and have 1 blue eyed blue and tan female and 1 black with tan paw female brown eyes and beautiful markings still available.
I have a SOLID blonde all over female german sheperd with her left eye all brown and her rigjt eye is brown with a ice blue spot in it. Shes gorgeous.her father was a white gsd and her mother was a sable gsd.
I have a 7 month old female. She has one blue eye and one brown eye! She is a blue silver and cream color. She is simply beautiful! She’s very smart, loving, and extremely protective!
The ones that are born should be loved and celebrated because they’re awesome animals, as are all dogs. I think anyone who gets to be a dog parent to a blue eyes doggo should feel lucky and privileged. (As should all dog owners).
BUT
No, there shouldn’t be a registry, there shouldn’t be intentional breeding. People are so selfish and vane. It’s a recessive gene in a breed that has already been bred beyond the point of a genetic disaster (at least in North America) because selfish people think dogs are decoration or trophies. This only leads to more congenital health issues, both physical and mental, and animals dying too young, suffering needlessly before they do. This already happened with white “shepherds” because oooh so pretty! (Which of course, they are!). There are reasons for the breed standard and no, it’s not so that a bunch needy selfish people can get trophies. In the case of GSD it exists so that healthy working dogs can be bred to an expected standard while preserving the health of the population long term. Let’s not breed decorations, please. One dog can live to be 15 and the next could die a 7 year old cripple or worse.
Well said!
HI THEY ARE SO CUTE :3
How much for the blue male pup in. Kentucky. Highly interested.