It’s healthy knowledge that German Shepherd dogs have a wolfish look, ferocity, devotion, and a noble disposition. Although originally bred to herd sheep and protect flocks from predators, German Shepherds have expanded their roles significantly in this German shepherd eye color chart.
A German Shepherd’s typical life includes working as a police dog and going on exciting trips with its owners, eagerly picking up new abilities, and having fun in the garden.
German shepherds often have brown eyes. Different shades of brown may be found based on the amount of pigment. The amino acid melanin influences the shade’s intensity.
It’s not uncommon to see these dogs with green, brown, or grey eyes; blue is only the second most common hue. Read on to learn about the varied eye colors seen in German Shepherds and how to live with one.
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.
Milan Kundera
Dominant and Recessive German Shepherd Eye Color Chart
| Dog Eye Color | Dominant | Recessive |
|---|---|---|
| Brown | Yes | No |
| Blue | Yes | Yes |
| Green | No | Yes |
| Amber | No | Yes |
| Hazel | No | Yes |
| Heterochromia | No | Yes |
Brown-Eyed GSD
As the most frequent kind, brown eyes are first on our canine eye color chart. Lots of dogs come in a range of brown tones, from almost white to almost black, so you’ve undoubtedly seen them all.
Brown eye color is a trait shared by many dog breeds and is thus common in both purebred and mixed-breed dogs. The genetic predisposition determines the brown eye color for increased melanin production in the dog.
Blue-Eyed GSD
Next up, we have the enticing shade of blue. Blue-eyed dogs are unusual and uncommon. It is a recessive trait in some dogs and part of the breed standard in others; the most well-known dog with blue eyes is the Siberian Husky.
Many coat colors and patterns, such as merle and piebald, are associated with lighter eye color because their genes cannot synthesize enough melanin.
Green-Eyed GSD
It is said that dogs with green eyes are the rarest of all eye colors. No one has ever seen a dog with green eyes has led some to question whether or not such creatures exist. All dog eyes are stunning, but these green ones are incredibly stunning.
Amber-Eyed German Shepherd
According to the above German Shepherd Eye Color Chart it is not a dominant color. Amber eyes are yet another unique canine eye color. It is often understood that this eye color combines pale blue and orange or yellow.
Some breeds with particular coat hues also tend to have this eye color. Amber eyes are familiar in dogs with liver, Isabella, and blue coat colors.
Hazel-Eyed GSD
Many people don’t even realize that brown eyes are an uncommon variant.
In most cases, puppies with blue eyes eventually turn to hazel as they become more significant. The closest comparison would be a warm yellow to orange.
The merle gene, which also influences the coat color, may have a role in the reduced pigmentation of hazel eyes compared to brown eyes.
Heterochromia In German Shepherd
The term “heterochromia” is derived from the Greek words “heteros,” meaning different, and “chroma,” meaning pigmentation, and is used to describe a condition in which both eyes are a different hue.
Other animals, such as cats, horses, and even people, occasionally experience this behavior.
A lack of melanin in one eye causes it to look blue and white in dogs with genetic heterochromia, while the other eye is a rich brown. Likewise, illness or injury might trigger this phenomenon. It is important to keep track of German shepherd growth and health to avoid major issues.
Green and Amber-Eyed GSD
German Shepherds’ eyes may range from brilliant green to dark brown.
German Shepherds often have green eyes. The reason for this is that green is a common variation of brown. In addition, my favorite eye color for German Shepherd puppies is a shade of brown known as amber.
Black and Red Eyed GSD
The AKC also recognizes the black and red German Shepherd as a stunning coat variant. This color is best used for showing bloodlines rather than working GSDs, in contrast to most other colors on the list.
There is a striking resemblance between the black and tan German Shepherd and the black and red variety. One distinction is the presence of a reddish brown coloring where formerly there was tan. Compared to the tan pigment, this red one is quite potent.
The sun’s rays make these crimson spots seem less intense (e.g., a strawberry blonde). Their black fur still has the same markings—a black mask on one side and a black saddle on the other—as the other variants.
What color of eyes do German Shepherds have?
Brown eyes are the norm for German Shepherds. The breed standard recognizes explicitly and encourages this coloring. Many German Shepherd dog breeders want to produce offspring with brown eyes.
People with brown eyes tend to be the majority. To get brown eyes, the dog only has to inherit one gene. However, most other canine eye color genes are recessive, meaning the dog needs two copies of the gene to produce the alternate eye color.
What is the rarest German Shepherd color?
The Isabella hue of GSDs is the rarest, followed by liver and blue. Read more in this German shepherd color chart.
Liver Colored German Shepherd
Liver is a unique coat color for German Shepherds since it results from a small number of possible breeding scenarios.
Like the more common black and tan coat, liver GSDs feature dark black markings around the snout and eyes. Coats of a rich reddish brown and eyes of amber make them very striking.
Most of them are solid colors, but you can also get them in combinations like liver and white or liver and tan.
Blue Colored German Shepherd
The golden-brown to amber hues of a German Shepherd’s eyes provide the breed with an air of mystery that befits its stunning appearance.
Their coat color, blue or gray due to a recessive dilution gene, does not make them more prone to any health issues than the more common black and tan breed.
Isabella-Colored German Shepherd
Rarer than rare is Isabella-colored German Shepherds, commonly known as lilac German Shepherds. Their unique coloring is a consequence of a recessive gene for both blue and liver.
Conclusion
Typically, a German Shepherd will have brown eyes. Blue or liver eyes are less common in this breed. Heterochromia is also possible in German Shepherds when each eye has a different hue.
Your German Shepherd’s eyes are a window to his health, so any changes might cause concern. For more info, navigate to the above German shepherd eye color chart.
Consult your veterinarian promptly if you see any such change. Your German Shepherd’s gorgeous eyes may require emergency medical attention.