Huskies with blue eyes – The guide on husky eye colors

Siberian Huskies are mostly known for their amazing eye colors, especially that icy blue color that some say traces back to their origin in the cold and icy conditions of Siberia.

But did you know that they can actually change eye color and even have different colored eyes? Read on to find about Huskies with blue, brown, bi-eyes or even parti (or split) eye colors.

Siberian Husky eye colors

Let’s take each eye color that a Husky can have – and it’s a pretty great range of colors, and talk about them a bit. Do note that the variations presented in this article are in the breed standard, as being recognized by the American Kennel Club. So all of them are acceptable.

Blue Eyes

The blue eyes are what made Siberian Huskies so well known. Probably due to the rarity of this eye coloring in other breeds.

And you can’t blame people. Those amazing bright blue eyes are mesmerizing. Do note that the blue nuances cand vary from light ice to even dark blue. It’s hard to tell which of them are cuter. They all are!

Also, please note that blue eyes does not mean that your Husky is prone to eye problems. It has nothing to do with that.

My Husky boy, Loki, also has blue eyes. But don’t let him fool you with his pretty stance! He’ll dig up that yard faster than your average excavator. (here’s how I controlled his digging urges)

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Brown Eyes

Usually, brown eyes look very vibrant on Huskies. Especially on a Husky that has a light-colored face. The contrast shows them off beautifully.

As with blue eyes, shades can vary from a light brown to even dark brown.

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Bi-Eyed

Pretty rare, but this refers to Siberian Huskies that have different eye colors. One is blue and one is brown.

Bi-eyed or bi-colored eyes in Huskies are pretty rare. It is said that ~2 out of 5 huskies have blue eyes, and 2 out of 5 have brown eyes. From the remaining, about 15% have bi-colored eyes and 5% parti-colored eyes.

Parti or Split eyed

This is indeed rare and one of the rarest variations in Husky eye coloring. Parti eyed means that one of the eyes has two shades of coloring in them: blue & brown.

They look amazing and somewhat freakishly. I’m quite amazed that my Husky lady is parti eyed, as her right eye has some blue shades while the majority of the eye is brown. It looks amazing.

Why do Huskies have blue eyes?

Huskies and other dog breeds with blue eyes have even fascinated scientists. So at a DNA testing startup, they set out to explore this question by looking at possible causes that might cause blue eye color in dogs.

And they found some info! In what is probably the largest study to ever compare dogs’ complete genetic profiles, they found a genetic tweak that can cause blue-eyed dogs. They published a study here, in the PLOS Genetics journal by Adam Boyko and Aaron Sams of Embark Veterinary, Inc.

The researchers tested the DNA of more than 6000 dogs whose owners purchased DNA test kits. (to identify their dog’s breed and eventual health issues)

In this study, they found out that a genetic mutation near a gene known as ALX4 on canine chromosome 18 is tied to those amazing blue eyes in Siberian Huskies. (apart from humans, where blue eyes are caused by a genetic variation of genes called HERC2 and OCA2)

The mutation of the aforementioned ALX4 gene leads to a decreased pigment production in the eye – this makes them appear blue. So now you know the scientific explanation of those lovable eyes.

Just to be clear: there is no blue pigment in the eye. It’s about the way light enters and exits the eye, thus creating that blue nuance. As a correlation, think about the sky – it looks blue but outer space is not blue.

Siberian Husky puppies’ eye color may change

Yes, when they first open their eyes, at around 2 weeks old, all Siberian Huskies appear to have blue eyes. But that’s not a guarantee.

They can even change their eye color as late as 4 to 5 weeks old. After the 5 week mark, that’s probably their permanent eye color… but I have heard of Huskies changing eye color even later.

And these are our amazing Siberians eyes

I hope you found this article useful, and if you did make sure to share it with other dog lovers! Some people have the idea that Siberian Huskies are of true breed only if they have blue eyes. And that is false information – both in the normal sense, but even if you want to participate in a competition with your Husky, the colors mentioned in this article are ok and all of them great.

Also, you should love and care for your dog no matter the eye coloring. They are our amazing friends, and Siberian huskies can prove to be especially loving and caring.

If you liked this article, you’ll love my comparison between Malamutes and Huskies I wrote here.