Light-colored eyes in dogs are captivating, in both humans and animals and also rare. eyes colored with the shade of sunlight is one of the prettiest eyes you could ever see.
According to the breed’s standards and what we have known, Golden retrievers rarely have eyes of any color other than brown.
So, Can Golden Retrievers have hazel eyes? No, All purebred Golden Retrievers will have brown eyes. A Golden Retriever’s eyes can be yellow, green, or blue on rare occasions, and is usually a sign of a mixed breed, that your puppy hasn’t reached adulthood yet, or eye problems such as blindness and other health issues.
Are you curious about golden retriever eye colors? Do you want to know if golden retrievers can have eyes of colors other than brown? Well, you have come to the right place, in this article you’d get an answer to every question, so keep reading.
Can Golden Retrievers have hazel eyes?
Hazel eyes are extremely rare in golden retrievers, it’s not that they cannot have hazel-colored irises, but it only happens for specific reasons.
Golden Retrievers don’t typically have hazel eyes. This would occur if the pup has a genetic defect that inhibits the brown pigment (eumelanin) in its eyes from properly developing, resulting in golden to amber eye colors. The eyes of almost all purebred Golden Retrievers are dark brown.
Another reason why Golden retrievers can have hazel eyes goes back to the merle gene; Because it produces eumelanin, a brown pigment in the iris, the Merle gene is responsible for eye color. Dogs with low eumelanin levels may have eyes that are hazel, blue, or green.
What are the normal colors of golden retrievers eyes?
The eyes of a Golden Retriever are dark brown or medium brown in color having a friendly and bright vibe. They should be of medium to large size.
Sometimes, breeders may employ genetic modification to breed dogs with green eyes. They will do it by using the Merle gene, which can modify a dog’s eye and coat color.
If a golden retriever has blue, green, or grey eyes, it is likely that they are mixed breeds or have a health condition that causes their eyes to become green or blue. You can learn more about the truths and myths of golden retrievers with green eyes here. I also have a guide on golden retrievers with blue eyes here.
Some golden retrievers are born with blue eyes due to a lack of eumelanin, but as they mature, their eyes become brown.
Some Golden Retrievers may appear to have yellow eyes, although they are still purebreds.
This would occur if the pup has a genetic defect that inhibits the brown pigment (eumelanin) in its eyes from properly developing, resulting in golden to amber eye colors.
Yellow or amber eyes are not necessarily symptomatic of a significant medical or hereditary issue that should be addressed.
Are hazel eyes rare for dogs?
Hazel eyes are extremely rare in dogs, and we can’t deny how adorable they are, there are some breeds that can have hazel eyes, the majority of these breeds are born with blue eyes. However, as they age, they may get hazel eyes.
With hazel eyes having a spot in the rarest eye colors in dogs, this leads to the golden retrievers with hazel eyes being more expensive than those with brown ones; since hazel eyes happen only once every blue moon, breeders are always on the search for one.
What dog breeds have hazel eyes?
Not all dog breeds have this enigmatic and endearing eye color known of hazel eyes. So, let’s have a look at the uncommon dog breeds with hazel eyes.
- Australian Shepherd
- American Staffordshire
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- English Springer Spaniel
- Greyhound
- Havanese
- Labrador Retriever
- Poodle
- Siberian Husky
Because the quantity of eumelanin pigment in the iris affects eye color, brown eyes in dogs are caused by an excess of eumelanin pigment, which we interpret as brown.
Hazel-eyed dogs have less eumelanin, which is likely owing to other genes that govern how much is generated. As a result, we see mostly light being refracted, with a trace of color thrown in for good measure.
Dogs can also have hazel eyes if breeders utilize the Merle gene to modify the color of the dog’s eyes and/or coat.
What is the rarest eye color for dogs?
Green eyes are the most uncommon eye color in dogs. Brown is the most popular eye color in dogs, with amber coming in a close second. Around nine br4eeds have a chance of having hazel eyes.
Some Golden Retrievers may appear to have hazel eyes, although they are still purebreds.
This would occur if the pup has a genetic issue that inhibits the brown pigment (eumelanin) in its eyes from properly developing, resulting in golden to amber eye colors.
Other reasons are that your dog may not be a pure breed or a merle dog, Merle dogs have even been found to have half-and-half eyes, which implies that each eye is partly blue and partially brown! Green eyes in a dog, on the other hand, may be the most uncommon eye color in dogs. Most people have never seen, and will never see, a dog with green eyes.
Hazel or amber eyes are not necessarily symptomatic of a significant medical or hereditary issue that should be addressed.
Related Questions
Can Labradors have hazel eyes?
Labradors can have hazel eyes, although it rarely occurs. Purebred Labs usually have brown eyes, yet A chocolate lab will have hazel or brown eyes, a Yellow Lab will have brown eyes and a Black Labrador will also have brown eyes. some Labrador Retriever dogs will have green or yellow-green eyes.
Can Goldendoodles have hazel eyes?
Goldendoodlescan have hazel eyes, they are a breed that has a variety of stunning coat colors, a Goldendoodle with vanilla color coat will have brown eyes, while champagne and chocolate will have hazel eyes. The variety is determined by the eumelanin which determines coat and eye color.
Can golden retriever puppies have hazel eyes?
Yes, golden retrievers can have hazel eyes, this goes back to the merle gene; because it produces eumelanin, a brown pigment in the iris, the Merle gene is responsible for eye color. Dogs with low eumelanin levels may have eyes that are hazel, blue, or green.
Helpful Resources
Golden Retrievers for Dummies by Nona Kilgore Bauer
Living with a Retriever: Recommendations and Sources
- Want the best diet for your dog? Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here – Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats!
- Looking for new toys? These toys will prove to be fun, engaging, and will stand their heavy chewing.
- Make them look GLAMOROUS with the best shampoos and conditioners and the best brushes here.
- Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find.
- Find my list of recommendations here.
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