There is something quite special about a dog having blue eyes as I have already written three other articles on the subject.
This article is about small dogs with blue eyes.
This one looks at black dogs with blue eyes.
Whereas this article includes a list of 15 white dogs with blue eyes.
And my focus today is on grey dogs with blue eyes.
Two important things to say about blue eyes that I won’t focus on today are that all dogs are born with blue eyes, which then darken in the first few months of life.
And secondly, blue eyes are very common in older dogs.
Their eyes aren’t actually blue but they are cloudy and you can find out much more about this here.
No matter how gorgeous a blue eyed dog may seem, there are only a limited number of breeds in which blue eyes are encouraged or allowed.
This is because in many dogs blue eyes can lead to blindness and deafness, particularly if they have a double merle gene.
But in all the dog breeds included in the list today, blue eyes are perfectly acceptable under certain conditions.
To find out more about these breeds and the circumstances under which a dog is allowed to have blue eyes, read on.
[1] Weimaraner
Nicknamed the “Gray Ghost,” the Weimaraner is a picture of agility, endurance, stamina and alertness with a grace that’s almost aristocratic.
In terms of eye colour, they can be light amber, grey or blue grey.
First bred as big game hunters and later as small game retrievers, this breed has a lot of energy to spare and will require daily exercise, to avoid both physical and mental restlessness.
The Weimaraner breed is solid-colored with a short but sleek silver-gray coat but may sometimes have a small white spot on the chest. Friendly, gentle, and highly intelligent with good watchdog instincts, the Weimaraner is great for large families with kids but will need a firm hand in training.
[2] Siberian Husky
There are few dog breeds more eye-catching than the Siberian Husky. Their wolf-like build and stance as well as their innate friendliness are sure to draw attention in any crowd.
Their eyes may be brown or blue in colour. And they are allowed to have different coloured eyes as well.
Like most northern dogs bred for work, the Husky is built to run which means that giving them proper exercise may be easier said than done. Because of their high intelligence, they may act stubborn and independent and will need an equally strong-minded, firm, and experienced human parent.
The Siberian Husky has a dense, double-coat which will need to be brushed regularly and comes in different shades of grey – wolf grey, silver, and dark grey – mixed with white.
[3] Shetland Sheepdog
Like most dogs bred for work, the Shetland Sheepdog is active, alert, well-built, and intelligent. In the Shelties’ case, their innate intelligence is matched by their eagerness to please which makes them highly trainable and a favorite in dog sports circles.
Only merle Shetlands are allowed to have blue eyes. A dog with any other coat colour should have dark coloured eyes.
Shelties also has a rich double-coat but sheds considerably more than the Husky and will need to be brushed at least three times a week. The breed accepts three colors for the Shetland Sheepdog – black, blue merle, and sable with white markings.
The rare blue merle color pattern is actually diluted black which gives the coat a silvery or grey appearance and gives the appearance of mottled patches of color on an otherwise solid-colored coat.
[4] Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog, or the OES for short, is an adaptable, easygoing, and intelligent breed which matches his goofy exterior very well.
An OES is allowed brown eyes or blue eyes or one of each. Amber or yellow eyes are not allowed.
Despite its size, the OES does well with apartment living as long as they are walked daily.
As with most work dogs, the OES needs to be socialized early and trained with a firm hand.
The OES, also known as the Bob Tail, has a double coat that will need a lot of work. By far the shaggiest dog on this list, his coat is dense, thick, and fluffy. Their colors come in grey, black, grizzle, blue, or the rare blue merle, often with white markings.
[5] Great Dane
The Great Dane is proof that appearances can deceive. Despite its stern and intimidating demeanor, the Great Dane is actually quite friendly, smart, affectionate, and dependable, referred to by many dog lovers as a gentle giant.
They are great with kids, make for excellent family pets, and are not at all shy with strangers.
The Great Dane will have a short but thick and glossy coat. The breed accepts fawn and brindle, black, harlequin, mantle, and pure steel blue as colors for the coat.
Other colors also occur occasionally with this breed, including blue merle but rarely though quite impressive when it does appear.
Blue merle Great Danes should have a steel blue or brownish blue solid color with bluish markings or spotting.
Blue eyes are only allowed in Merles or Harlequin coloured Danes. And even then dark eyes are preferred.
The Great Dane is the tallest dog breed and can grow anywhere between 28 to 31 inches.The tallest Great Dane on record was 44 inches tall.
[6] Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Did you know that the Cardigan Welsh Corgis were originally bred to drive cattle to market?
Cardigan Welsh Corgis have a medium-length double coat that comes in red, sable, brindle, black. These colors can come with or without tan points, commonly with white markings.
The Cardigan Welsh coat also comes in the popular blue merle which gives it a mottled silvery grey appearance.
And blue eyes are only acceptable in dogs with blue merle coats
Their low, long bodies bely a strong and durable build that can withstand plenty of physical activities.
As with most work dog breeds, these corgis are smart as well as devoted, fun-loving, and easily trainable but are also easily bored.
[7] Dappled Dachshund
The Dappled Dachshund is distinguished from other dachshunds because of the adorable spotting pattern that appears on its coat that comes in three types – smooth, long-haired, or wiry.
Basically, all daschunds have only one coat color, making the Dappled Daschund stand out with its grey motley spots that comes from the rare merle gene.
And yes, you’ve guessed it, only Dappled Dachshunds should have blue eyes.
Independent, stubborn and energetic, the Dappled Daschund can be quite the handful despite its small stature, especially for first time dog owners. However, what they lack in chill they more than make up for in cuteness and for being the life of the party.
[8] Miniature American Shepherd
The Miniature American Shepherd is a solid work dog bred for herding despite its size. It shares the same notable characteristics as other working dogs – they are bright, energetic, and agile. They are also incredibly loyal and make for devoted pets.
This eye-catching breed has a medium-length double coat with an outer coat that can be either wavy or straight. The accepted breed coat’s colors are black, red, red merle, and blue merle.
And unusually in this selection, blue eyes are acceptable in all of those coat colours!
Both the male and female MAS feature a mane and frill, but it grows thicker on the male.
The blue merle variety for the MAS doesn’t come with any marbling or speckling or mottling or any noticeable patterns. Instead, they have a black base coat that fades to bluish grey.
[9] Chinese Crested Dog
Unlike almost all of the dogs that we’ve covered in this article, the Chinese Crested dog is a true couch potato and would love nothing more than to lounge around the whole day.
Despite the chill demeanor, they are surprisingly agile and athletic and can jump quite high – they just choose not to. Perfect for apartment living and highly affectionate, the Chinese Crested dog is great for families with kids; just don’t leave him alone for too long.
Are blue eyes allowed? There are definitely lots of blue eyed Chinese Crested out there, but the breed standard is a little vague.
It just notes that lighter coloured dogs have lighter coloured eyes.
This small breed has two varieties, the Hairless and the Powderpuff. The Hairless variety still has hair on its head, tail, and feet (kind of like socks).
The Powderpuff variety has a double coat that is straight and somewhat dense with a short silky undercoat. Both varieties have minimal grooming needs, making the Chinese Crested Dog a very low maintenance but loving pet.
[10] Catahoula Leopard Dog
Also a working dog breed, the rare Catahoula Leopard Dog is smart, energetic, and willful but – as with the other work dogs in this article – needs early socialization and a firm hand in training, making the breed better suited for experienced dog owners.
These dogs are allowed to have eyes of any colour, including blue.
The Catahoula Leopard is known for being as tough as it gets and is quite assertive and stubborn. However, when trained and socialized properly, they can also fit in very well in a large family unit.
The Catahoula Leopard is a short coated dog that is known for having a lot of variations in patterns though their colors are mostly black, white, and grey. Their patterns include leopard, solid, brindle, and patchwork.
The patterns are a result of the merle gene which creates patches of colored hair mixing with the solid colored coat, leading to some interesting looking coats for the breed
[11] Rough Collie
The Rough Collie, or the Long Haired Collie, is one of the most recognizable breeds in the world, thanks to its beautiful multi-colored double coat that comes in a mix of brown, black, tan, white, and on rare occasions, grey.
Blue Merles may have merle or china coloured eyes, but dark brown eyes are preferred.
Despite the long hair, the Rough Collie only needs one brushing per week, keeping the grooming needs minimal.
Although famous as a herding dog, the Rough Collie can show exuberant high energy when playing outside but can quickly switch to a more relaxed personality when indoors.
This breed is loving, affectionate, devoted and highly intelligent but is also easy to train. They are also very sociable creatures and love children as well as other pets, small or large.
[12] Smooth Collie
While the Rough Collie’s distinctive coat is majestic, the Smooth Collie’s short, flat coat gives it a more dignified and reserved look that is no less attractive. The Smooth Collie’s coat comes in sable, white, tri-color, and blue merle which gives the breed a silvery blue with black appearance.
Much like the Rough Collie, the Smooth Collie are very sociable creatures and highly intelligent, responding well to training and even welcoming more things to learn and loves mental challenges. They are loving and loyal and make for great pets for families with children.
[13] Border Collie
The Border Collie are known for being incredibly energetic, even among other working dog breeds. They are also highly intelligent and trainable, making them the perfect fit for dog sports and dog shows to give them an outlet for all that energy. Like both the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie, they also make for great family pets as long as they are exercised well and are not allowed to gather up any pent up energy. With that in mind, the Border Collie is best suited for outdoor country living.
The Border Collie’s has a double coat that comes in two types – smooth and rough. The breed’s coat also comes in black with white markings, black without white markings, red and white, solid color, bi-color, tri-color, sable, and merle which gives a silvery grey appearance.
[14] Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd, or the Aussie as it is affectionately known, is very smart, highly active, and work oriented. This breed thrives in having something to do, often described by their owners as tireless. Like other working dog breeds, their energy has to go somewhere or it will develop into anxiety and some pretty bad habits. While the Aussie is considered trainable, the breed is still better in more experienced hands.
The Aussie has a medium double coat with straight hair that come in the colors of black, red, blue merle, and red merle. All of these color variations can come with or without tan markings and with or without white markings.
