At What Age Do Australian Shepherds Eyes Change Color?


age that australian shepherds eyes change color

You may be shopping for an Aussie and want a certain eye color like blue for example. Unfortunately there is no way to guaranty a young Aussies eyes will be that color.

There are ways to put the odds in your favor so if both parents eyes are blue you will definitely have a much higher percentage of them being and staying that way.

So at what age will an Australian Shepherds eyes change color

Aussies eyes usually begin their final stages of color changing at around 3-4 weeks. After that they color will get slowly different. So something like a dark blue at 3-4 weeks could turn into a lighter grayer blue by 12-16 weeks. Yes the process is slow and nothing is guaranteed. 

Yes so it takes time to get that definite and final eye color and unfortunately that comes after the 8 weeks you will have the puppy. So definitely make your purchase of your new family member based on more then just eye color.

If both sires have blue eyes or green eyes then it is likely their offspring will also have blue eyes or green eyes. If both parents have different covered eyes there is a slight chance that they will also have one of each color also known as heterochromia. However, this is more likely if the mother or father already have heterochromia themselves.

Our tri colored female mini aussie’s mother actually had heterochromia, but she ended up with two brown eyes. Our blue merle does have blue eyes but merles usually have more of tendency to have blue eyes.

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Australian Shepherd Eye Color Information

For the first two weeks a puppies eyes are actually closed and after that they slowly open up. Then at the beginning their eyes are blue so enjoy this stage as it might not last that long.

Around 21 days to a month is where you can start to see that final color that you will enjoy the rest of their lives. The most common color in Australian Shepherds is a darker deeper brown color. So you will probably notice their eyes darkening up a bit into a more brown color at this point.

As we stated this final stage doesn’t happen quickly and will take up to 3-4 months to see the actual final color of their eyes. So be patient and it will happen take pictures before and while the changes are happening so you can always look back on them.

Blue eyes are in a much smaller percentage of Aussies, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put the odds more in your favor. With blue merles they have more of a chance of having blue eyes as well. So take a close look at the sires and if the breeder will let you know about their parents then you will be able to see a pattern.

There is always the option to get an older puppy or dog at an animal shelter like the ASPCA where you will definitely know the dogs eye color.

Australian Shepherd Eye Color Chart

Here is a look at a chart that shows you the percentages of what the offspring will loo like based on the parents. Now don’t put to much belief in this as dogs are all different just like people and Aussies are no different.

australian shepherd eye color chart

How To Choose Your Aussie Pups Based On Eye Color

Blue eyed Aussies are highly sought after and with that comes an increased price of course. But blue eyed dogs aren’t always the best option especially if you live in a state like Arizona where you get sun all year.

This is because blue eyed dogs just like humans like pigment that results in sunlight sensitivity. So if your Aussie is going to be outside working the farm all day everyday in Arizona you might want to consider a darker tinted eye like brown for your Australian shepherd.

This is of course completely up to you as it isn’t going to hurt them most likely they just won’t be able to see as well with it being so bright outside. And they unfortunately don’t make sunglasses for dogs like they do people.

There are a wide variety of shades to pick from. So you don’t have to stop at one Aussie we love ours and have a tri colored and blue merle both with different eye colors. The blue merle has blue and the tri has darker brown eyes.

Related Questions

Will My Australian Shepherds Eye Change Color?

Yes your Australians Shepherds eyes will change color after a couple weeks of being a puppy. By 3-4 months they should be at their final color after going through a slow process of changing.

How Do You Tell If A Puppy’s Eyes Will Stay Blue?

It is tough to tell if a puppy’s eyes will stay blue, time will only tell after 3-4 months you will have your answer.

When Can You Tell A Puppies Eye Color?

After a few weeks you will be able to have a general consensus of your puppies eye color. Then the transition to the final shade of that color will continue to change until around 3-4 months old.

Do Aussies Keep Their Blue Eyes?

Aussies will keep their blue eyes if they continue to stay blue after a few weeks and the final shade of blue will be present after about 3-4 months. If the blue eyes start to get a brown tint in them after 3-4 weeks then it is more likely they will change to that color instead.

Final Thoughts

Eye color can be tough to decide on when picking out your breeder and puppy. That is why this should be last on the checklist for a priority on your puppy. I know it is tough to say that, but the temperament and other history of the parents should also be considered.

Check back to the parents of the parents as well if possible to make an even better decision. Overall eye health should be a big concern however. Blue eyes will be sensitive to light so brown eyes will take on a more of a sunshine state much better.

 

Tab Winner

Hello my name is Tab Winner. My wife and I have been around Australian shepherds for 20+ years and we definitely love them. We currently have a pair of Toy Aussies one is a Tri-color and the other is a blue merle that are both 10 and 11 years old.

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