· Dog Breeds  Â· 3 min read

Do Red Merle Australian Shepherd Have Blue Eyes?

Do Red Merle Australian Shepherd Have Blue Eyes? Australian Shepherds make devoted, caring, and responsible employees. All of which contribute to their greatness as family dogs. They are the 17th most common dog breed throughout America for this reason.

But were you aware that the Aussie is also one of the more distinctive breeds? There are various variants within each of the four approved coat colours of the Australian Shepherd. However, additional colour combinations are stunning and fashionable if we consider non-traditional colour palettes.

There are several choices for brand-new owners to make. You have alternatives even if it’s not an easy decision.

What Shades Can You Get An Australian Shepherd In?

The four approved colours of Australian Shepherds are black, blue merle, red, & red merle. Although they may be bred in many hues, only those four shades are permitted in official breed-sanctioned contests. Australian Shepherds come in various hues, yet their merle coats & striking blue eyes are what make them most well-known. According to American Kennel Club, Australian Shepherds come in four hues: black, blue merle, red, or red merle.

However, there are only two genetically significant hues: black and red. Therefore, the diluted versions of red and black hues are known as blue merle and red merle, respectively.

Remember that Australian Shepherds have been working dogs, and their colouring is usually neglected during breeding. Instead, they are cultivated for disposition and practicality. Therefore, you’ll often find many more colours, including tri hues and degrees of brown, if you’re looking at a functioning line of Aussies.

Do Red Merle Australian Shepherd Have Blue Eyes?

No, blue eyes are not usually a result of the merle gene. Patches of the body’s pigment become lighter due to the merle gene. The dog will have brown eyes if these patches do not match its eye colour. Their eyes might be different colours as well.

Blue eyes are often regarded as the most desirable when producing a blue merle dog of every breed. However, they are not assured, and there is no practical method to breed for them because of how the merle gene works.

Random areas of the dog’s body will become lighter in colour due to the merle gene. The eyes would lack pigment and look blue if these areas of lightened pigment covered them. The eyes will stay brown if not situated in a diluted region.

There is no practical strategy to breed towards blue eyes since the merle gene operates arbitrarily and may even alter somewhat throughout the dog’s life. The puppy may not have blue eyes, even though both parents do.

Although blue eyes are often linked with Australian Shepherds with blue merles, not all of them do.

There is no method to breed the merle dog expressly for blue eyes, and mating two merles together is never a good idea. This will result in more pups with blue eyes, but it will also result in puppies with a double dosage of the merle gene, which is usually deadly.

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