If your dog has amber eyes and it’s an Old English Sheepdog or American Eskimo Dog, forget about showing him or her in a conformation ring because according to their AKC breed standards, amber colored eyes in those breeds are objectionable, if not a complete fault.
If, however, your dog is an Australian Shepherd, Clumber Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Cirneco dell’Etna, Weimaraner, Brittany, Ibizan Hound, Irish Water Spaniel, Pharaoh Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sloughi, or Chesapeake Bay Retriever, you’re in good shape because the standards of those breeds permit (in writing) amber colored eyes.
Depending upon the dog’s coat color, amber eyes are also acceptable in a Poodle, Neapolitan Mastiff, American Hairless Terrier, Curly-Coated Retriever and Bedlington Terrier, but review the breed standard before filling out any entry forms.
Pharaoh Hound puppies are born with blue eyes thatchange to a light gold or yellow color during early puppyhood, then begin to darken into a luscious, if not haunting amber color in adulthood. We suspect their amazing eyes are why some of us are disarmed when a Pharaoh Hound smiles or blushes. Still, even those puppy eyes seem to look into our soul:
Photo of “Zeke” as a puppy by Bekki Pina, shared with the kind consent of owner, Martin L Del Prince, and Bekki Pina
As an aside, amber eyes result when eumelanin (a pigment) produced by the dog is diluted, or it’s modified by recessive genes in the B or D series. Liver dogs (bb) have amber eyes, as do “blue” dogs, and dogs whose color is known as “Isabella” (dd).
If discussions about color involving the alphabet (like “bb” or “dd”) befuddle you, visit this terrific website!
Thanks for using the American Eskimo Dog as an example of a breed where amber eyes are not allowed. Nice to see. My first Eskie had light brown vs amber eyes. Still not preferred, but acceptable. Fortunately his two sons both have dark brown eyes which is the preferred color for the breed.
Have a friend with a Weimaraner and I find her amber eyes haunting. Its not just the coloring that contributes to their Grey Ghost nickname.
Thanks for the feedback, D R!! And you’re so right about those amber eyes being haunting! It’s like they can see into our soul.
You didn’t include Appenzell Sennenhunds. They also have a variety of Havana Brown that is also bb genotype. Puppies are born with blue eyes and turn amber as they age. The Black tri-coior Appenzellers (BB and Bb) are born with dark eyes that stay dark.
We didn’t include the Appenzell, Sheryl, only because there is no mention of “amber” in the AKC breed standard, which is actually the FCI standard. It reads, “. Colour : in black dogs dark brown, brown; in havana brown dogs lighter brown, but as dark as possible. Gorgeous breed in any event!
The breed standard for the Spinone lists ochre as the eye color rather than amber. As someone who doesn’t show our dog, i has no idea until I looked it up. It would be interesting to know what the interpretation of that particular color is from different judges.
My sister just became a dog mom to stray dog who looks like your dog. Could you tell me what breed is your dog
Chesapeake eye color ranges from amber to yellow and they too have bright blue eyes as puppies. I have noticed over the years that the longer the puppy’s eyes stay blue, the lighter the eventual eye color will be. And that many young dogs, with lighter, yellow colored eyes, will darken to the amber color after 2 or 3 years. Pup in attached photo has yellow eyes now but here, pictured at 6 months they still looked blue-green.
Really interesting, Julie, and a terrific picture! Thanks for sharing with us and our readers!
What can I say? I’m a sucker for the amber/yellow eyes of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Windows to the soul indeed!
They really are, Mike.
Oops, wrong photo attached 😲 but those two are the dam and grandsire of this pup. All 3 have light yellow eyes, that looked blue til 5 or 6 mos.
LOL, much more helpful, Julie, though the picture of the sire and dam IS lovely
I have a Belgian Malinoise with Amber eyes. I understand she cannot be in Akc. Shows is this true . they look just like a wolf’s eye. Why is that
This is true, Mary, the breed standard call for brown eyes, and preferably dark brown…
This is my mutt I fell in love with at a shelter the minute I saw these beautiful eyes! Any ideas on her dominant breed?
This is my mutt I fell in love with at a shelter the minute I saw these beautiful eyes! Any ideas on her dominant breed? She’s intelligent, happy and loving.
No clue about her breed, D., but we’d guess there’s a bully in there somewhere. She does have lovely eyes.
Jack, our 3 month old F1B Goldendoodle started out with bright green eyes which have now turned to an olive green, will they turn to amber in time?
Linda, Jack is adorable, but we don’t have any experience with Goldendoodles as we are a purebred dog centric site. Perhaps one of our readers might have an answer?