Do All Aussiedoodles have Blue Eyes?

We know that many human babies are born with blue eyes which either change color or remain blue. Is this true also for fur babies and, more specifically, Aussiedoodles? Are they all genetically predisposed to have blue eyes throughout their lives? How common is it for an Aussiedoodle to have blue eyes? Can you tell what color eyes your puppy will develop? Join us into an insightful journey of Aussiedoodles and their eye colors.

Aussiedoodles do not all have blue eyes. They might have blue eyes if they inherit the dominant Merle gene from the Australian Shepherd. However, they can also have gray, amber, brown, green, and marbled eyes. Some Aussiepoos even have one green eye and one blue eye.

Are you keen to have a blue-eyed pup? Want to understand how it all works and what to expect? Do all blue-eyed dogs inherit health problems or are these unfounded myths? Carry on reading as we explore the world of Aussiedoodles and their eye colors.

Table of Contents

What Determines Eye Color?

Eye color and coat color are closely related in the dog world and both are determined by genetics. Dogs who carry the merle gene can sometimes have blue eyes. Australian Shepherds can be affected by this trait.

Having a Merle dog can influence the coloring of the coat, eyes, nose, and paw pads. It’s very possible Aussiedoodles therefore will inherit the blue eye gene. You can read more about the merle gene and the potential issues that it can cause in our article is the merle gene bad?

If my Puppy has Blue Eyes, will they Stay Blue?

When puppies are born, they do not open their eyes for about two weeks. When they do begin to open their eyes, they are usually pale blue, although some can appear grayer. This light color is caused by the iris not containing much melanin. The color of the eyes turns as your puppy gets older depends on how much melanin there is.

At around three weeks old you will notice your dog’s eyes starting to darken – if indeed they are going to. So, generally speaking, you will know quite early on what color your dog’s eyes are going to be. Of course, looking at the parent colors can also be a good indicator. The blue merle gene is usually dominant so if the parent used in the breeding process is a Blue Merle Australian Shepherd, then it’s this trait that will pull through.

You can also get red Merle Aussiedoodles and these can have a range of eye colors, including blue. Their coat Colors usually include tan, red, and white, and again, they can have two different eye colors.

By the age of 10 weeks, your Aussiedoodles eyes should be the color that they will stay. However, in some instances, this can take up to 16 weeks.

Common Blue-Eyed Breeds

Husky
German Shepherd
Dalmatian
Border Collie
Australian Shepherd
Daschund
Weimaraner
Pit Bull
Shetland Sheepdog

Dangers of Breeding Merle on Merle

You might have very particular requirements for your new pup and are holding out for a guaranteed blue-eyed one. This is fine, and lots of breeders are very experienced in this field. However, you should be aware of some of the downsides to purposeful breeding, in particular, merle on merle.

A double merle is the result of two merle dogs being bred together producing puppies. This means that the puppies can inherit the gene from both parents, and this isn’t always good news. Mostly, a double merle will have a white coat which isn’t usual for their breed. So, if you see a pure white Aussiedoodle being advertised you should be very wary. Double merle dogs have a great lack of pigmentation which causes the coat to be white. Sadly, it also means they can also be deaf and blind right from birth.

Breeding merle on merle doesn’t mean all dogs born into the litter will definitely be born with the double merle gene. But each puppy born has around a 25% chance of inheriting it. The ones born healthy are the ones who are highly desired and, therefore, the most profitable.

It’s important to point out that not all dogs with blue eyes will encounter health problems and be blind. This risk occurs when you produce a double merle and most dogs with blue eyes live perfectly long and healthy lives.

Are Blue Eyed Aussiedoodles Expensive?

Dog prices can often come down to coat color. The rarer a coat type, the higher you can expect to pay. Merle coats fall into this category so yes, you can expect to pay more. If you have your heart set on a specific-colored dog then save some extra dollars.

Other things that bump the price up will be the number of breeders in the area, the reputation of the breeder, and the demand at that time.

Our Final Thoughts

If your Aussiedoodle has blue eyes then they have inherited these from the Australian Shepherd. It doesn’t necessarily only come with Merle coats – any coat color can have blue eyes if the genetics are there.

Aussiedoodles can also have two different colored eyes. This is called heterochromia and arises when both parent dogs have the heterochromia gene. Within the litter, a few of the puppies will likely be born with these two eye colors when both parents have the gene.