The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) is a beloved breed, and they have existed for more than a century. Often used by police forces and militaries due to their physical strength and protective nature, the German Shepherd has also become a household favorite for millions of Americans. But can these dark-eyed beauties have blue eyes instead?
A German Shepherd can have blue eyes, though this rarely happens. German Shepherd puppies are almost always born with blue eyes, but they grow out of this stage within a few months. Genetic mutations or cross breeding practices may also result in a blue-eyed German Shepherd Dog.
To help you better understand why German Shepherds have brown eyes and how they might occasionally have blue eyes, let’s take a closer look at this breed’s history, standard appearance, and other traits.
Blue-Eyed German Shepherds
In some cases, German Shepherd dogs can have blue eyes. In most of these instances, the blue eyes fade into dark brown eyes over time and are only seen in very young pups.
However, in some rare cases, blue eyes have been seen in purebred, adult German Shepherd Dogs. This pale coloration is the result of an extremely uncommon genetic mutation carried by both breeding parents.
The only other way to get a German Shepherd with blue eyes is to crossbreed it with a similarly-sized dog with naturally blue eyes. Still, dark eyes tend to be dominant over light-colored eyes, so the chances of breeding a puppy with mixed German Shepherd genes and blue eyes are minimal.
Generally, blue-eyed German Shepherd Dogs fall into one of three categories. These categories can be summarized as:
- The Puppy Stage
- Rare Genetic Mutation
- Mixed Breeding
To help you better understand why blue-eyed German Shepherds are so rare (and how you might be able to breed one), we’ve examined these three classifications in further detail.
The Puppy Stage
It’s rare to find a puppy that doesn’t have blue eyes. That’s because the iris, the colored part of the eye, is naturally blue when there’s no pigment present. This pigment, called melanin, is what gives the eye its “adult” color. It’s also what gives human beings their skin and eye color.
Puppies don’t naturally produce a ton of melanocytes right before or after they’re born. Many puppies don’t begin getting their actual eye color until they are several weeks old. This biological certainty means that virtually all German Shepherd Dog puppies will be born with blue eyes.
Rare Genetic Mutation
Purebred German Shepherds always have dark brown eyes—right? Well, for most growing puppies and adults, this is the truth. But GSDs are the product of more than a century of inbreeding, and this practice is infamous for bringing forth recessive genetic abnormalities.
Fortunately, the German Shepherd Dog doesn’t suffer from quite as many inbred health issues as other breeds (such as the English Bulldogs). Still, if the breeding parents both contain genetic material with identical recessive mutations, there’s a good chance that their offspring will exhibit those mutations.
As such, breeding parents with recessive genes for blue eyes may still have mostly dark-eyed offspring. But there’s a chance their litter could show the recessive trait for blue eyes.
However, if you were to breed a German Shepherd Dog with a naturally blue-eyed breed (like the Weimaraner, Australian Shepherd, or Siberian Husky), your chances of seeing blue-eyed offspring could be increased two-fold.
Mixed Breeding
If you’re a dog breeder or are merely hoping to breed blue-eyed German Shepherd pups, you may want to consider trying mixed breeding. You can increase your chances of getting light-eyed shepherding dogs by understanding Punnett squares, genotypes, and phenotypes.
A genotype is a specific set of genes that inform the body’s characteristics. A phenotype is a physical characteristic that can be seen and categorized. Genotype directly influences the phenotype. For example, if you carry the genotype for tall height, your phenotype will reflect this, and you will be taller than the average person.
Dog breeders benefit from being able to view the phenotypes of their animals and the resulting offspring. Using this information, they can begin to determine genotypes within their breeding pairs. This data allows them to choose breeding couples based upon genetic likelihoods.
Of course, canine genetic testing is also available. However, this type of professional testing is better suited to those hoping to avoid harmful congenital abnormalities due to inbreeding, not determining future litters’ potential eye color.
Still, it may be worthwhile to perform canine genetic testing on your most prized German Shepherd Dog and a purebred breeding partner with a long ancestry of blue eyes.
German Shepherd Dog Breed Overview
Many people know German Shepherds by their distinct coat length and coloration. These dogs also tend to be medium-to-large in size and have robust, sleek bodies. Like other types of shepherd dogs, the German Shepherd has a relatively slim snout and pointed face.
However, unlike other modern shepherd pups, the GSD almost always has dark, coffee-brown eyes. This difference is a stark contrast to the bright-eyed Australian Shepherd or the heterochromia-prone Blue Merle Collie.
Much of the German Shepherd’s distinct physical appearance comes from a long and storied history of inbreeding. The breed’s entire history can be traced to one man’s actions and passions, and that man was named Captain Max von Stephanitz.
History
The 1880s was a very different time. In Germany, the various kingdoms and princedoms were still getting accustomed to being unified into a single nation. And a nobleman named Max von Stephanitz was opting to learn about veterinary medicine rather than military wit.
Though the German cavalryman remained a member of the nation’s military until his death (hence the title of Captain), his true passion was animals. In particular, Stephanitz had a deep love for German shepherd dogs. However, there was no such standardized breed when he was growing up.
At the age of about 25, Stephanitz changed that. He acquired a gorgeous woodland hound that he felt exemplified all of a German shepherd dog’s best traits. He then proceeded to breed that pup and create the German Shepherd Dog breed.
Appearance
German Shepherds are medium-to-large in size. They have dark brown or black coats that trail from their heads to the tips of their tails. Beneath this dark layer of fur is a creamy, brownish-beige layer.
They tend to have muscular bodies built for running, jumping, and warding off larger predators. In many ways, their appearance is very similar to that of a wild wolf. However, generations of inbreeding have resulted in a standard coloration that is difficult to miss.
Exercise
Though the German Shepherd Dog isn’t the most active dog breed (Dalmatians and Siberian Huskies tend to be far more energetic), they’re still a relatively active breed that enjoys daily exercise and play. Bi-weekly trips to the local dog park and daily walks are a must.
This breed can become aggressive when not allowed to exercise and release pent-up energy. Inadequate training can also result in negative behaviors, including biting. Early training is necessary to curtail these unwanted behaviors. Still, German Shepherd Dogs are quite intelligent and tend to train very quickly.
Nutrition
Like many large active dogs, a German Shepherd Dog needs a rich, wholesome diet full of protein, heart-healthy oils and fats, and energy-sustaining carbohydrates. As such, a standard diet of store-bought dog kibble may not be enough to sustain them and keep them fit.
Incorporating fresh foods like yogurts, lean fish, and dog-safe grains and veggies is an excellent way to keep German Shepherds in tip-top shape. Of course, proper diet and exercise aren’t the only types of care that owners should supply.
Care
German Shepherd Dogs have medium-length coats that are extra thick to help them survive cold and wet weather. They require weekly brushing, but sometimes could benefit from bi-weekly grooming as well. They only need bathing every four or five months.
Final Thoughts
The German Shepherd Dog is a breed that goes back to the late 1800s and the German kingdoms’ unification. It is beloved for its loyal nature, intelligence, physical strength, and gorgeous appearance. Typically, a German Shepherd Dog has dark brown eyes.
However, a GSD may have blue eyes when born or due to a rare genetic mutation. A mixed German Shepherd pup may also have blue eyes, and the likelihood of this result increases when the non-GSD parent is blue-eyed.