Can Golden Retrievers have blue eyes?

Blue eyes are not that common in dogs, but they are rare and beautiful. This distinct feature may be present in several dog breeds, including huskies and Australian shepherds. But have you ever seen a blue-eyed golden retriever?

There are a lot of misconceptions concerning blue-eyed retriever dogs that may leave a lot of people confused! Although golden retrievers can have blue eyes, there is no such thing as a purebred golden retriever with blue eyes.

Continue reading to learn more about blue-eyed golden retrievers. Today, I’ll explain whether or not a golden retriever can have blue eyes, as well as a lot more about this uncommon trait. So, keep scrolling…

Golden Retrievers with Blue Eyes: Insights

As I’ve mentioned, Golden Retrievers can have blue eyes, but it is very rare. They typically have brown eyes, although some may have amber or green eyes. The color of a Golden Retriever’s eyes is determined by genetics. And the genes responsible for blue eyes are not commonly found in Golden Retrievers.

In order for a Golden Retriever to have blue eyes, it must inherit two copies of the gene responsible for blue eyes, one from each parent. This is why blue eyes are so rare in Golden Retrievers.

Blue eyes can also be found in golden retriever mixes such as the golden Aussie, golden retriever pit bull mix, or Goberian husky.

However, in most cases, a healthy, purebred golden retriever will not have blue eyes! As you can see, the blue-eyed golden retriever is more of a riddle than it appears. The Golden Retriever breed standard is the best technique to determine whether these dogs are “real” or purebred goldens.

According to the American Kennel Club, the eyes of a standard golden retriever should be “ideally brown, medium brown acceptable.” This implies that you can’t register a golden retriever as a purebred if they don’t show the AKC’s qualities.

Also Read: Why Does My Golden Retriever Have Watery Eyes?

A “non-conforming” golden retriever is a blue golden retriever. Although the breed standard specifies that blue golden retrievers are not preferred, this does not prohibit the occurrence of blue golden retrievers. In a family of two purebred, brown-eyed golden retrievers, a blue retriever can be born. The main difference between these puppies and others is that they have acquired a pair of genetic defects for blue eyes from both parents. In every other way, these blue golden retriever puppies should appear and act like any other purebred golden retriever.

While these rules may appear to be useless and may even exclude perfectly healthy dogs, the major purpose of breed standards is to prevent separate breeds from becoming rare over time. It takes many years of organized and careful breeding to produce a dog breed for a certain purpose, such as guarding, hunting, retrieving, herding, and so on. Without strict breeding standards, all of those characteristics are at risk of being lost in future generations.

What Makes A Golden Retriever Blue-Eyed?

Blue eyes in golden retrievers can be due to a bunch of reasons. Among all, crossbreeding is the most common cause of blue eyes in golden retrievers.

The other reasons would be-

Recessive Genes

The genes that are responsible for developing brown-colored eyes in dogs are dominant, which is the key reason why so many dog breeds have brown eyes.

According to the breed standard, golden retrievers should have brown eyes, and they were deliberately bred for many generations to exhibit this trait. As a result, recessive genes that cause blue eyes have become less common than before.

There is a very small chance that two golden retrievers that carry recessive genes for blue eyes are bred together. If by any chance this does happen, some of their offspring may inherit blue eyes.

Cataracts 

Cataracts are an eye disease that causes the lens of the eyes to fog, making them seem hazy or blue. It can form slowly or quickly and can be caused by damage, illness, hereditary abnormalities, or old age. The larger and cloudier cataracts develop, the more probable they will cause total blindness.

If you notice your golden retriever’s eyes turning from brown to blue, take them to a vet right away. Any changes in the color of your dog’s eyes might be an indication of serious eye illness, so don’t dismiss it as a normal occurrence.

Also Read: How To Know If Your Golden Retriever Loves You?

Nuclear Sclerosis

Nuclear sclerosis, also known as lenticular sclerosis, is a painless illness that causes a blue or translucent fog in the eye’s lens. This condition is common in middle-aged and elderly dogs and is thought to be a natural component of aging.

Because both cataracts and nuclear sclerosis cause cloudiness or a bluish color in the eye, dog owners mistake one for the other. It’s crucial to note that this condition isn’t the same as cataracts because it doesn’t impact the eyesight of dogs that have it.

You probably won’t be able to tell the difference between these two disorders at home, so if you detect a change in the color of your golden retriever’s eyes, take it to an expert.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by increasing eye pressure within the eyeball. This disease is characterized by insufficient aqueous fluid drainage, which can be caused by tumors, interocular hemorrhage, uveitis, injury, or lens damage.

Albinism

Even if you haven’t seen one, you’ve probably heard about albino dogs. Albino animals lack the genes required to produce melanin, the pigment that provides skin and hair color.

Albino dogs have white hair, pink skin, and pink noses due to a lack of melanin. While albinism is uncommon in dogs, it can occur and cause a golden retriever’s eyes to be blue rather than brown.

Also Read: How Often Should A Golden Retriever Be Groomed?

Are Golden Retriever puppies born with blue eyes?

Because the eye pigment melanin hasn’t fully grown, all golden retriever puppies are born with blue eyes. However, this does not guarantee that your dog’s eyes will remain blue forever. When golden retriever pups are roughly four weeks old, their eyes begin to change color from blue to brown.

Keep in mind that most golden retriever puppies will not open their eyes until they are around two weeks old, and even then, their eyesight is poor. Their vision will improve as their eyes mature, and their eyes will progressively change color from blue to brown.

Conclusion

Purebred golden retrievers have brown eyes, not blue eyes, that are kind and expressive. While all golden retriever pups are born with blue eyes, they begin to change color to brown at the age of four weeks. Blue eyes in golden retrievers are typically indicative of ocular problems, such as:

• Cataracts
• Cataracts
• Nuclear sclerosis

If your golden retriever’s eyes begin to change color, take them to the vet for a thorough examination!