While Aussies have diverse eye colors (brown, amber, blue, green, or combinations), truly rare eye colors are generally shades like deep green, very pale/oddly marbled eyes (beyond typical blue/brown mixes), or albinism (pinkish), though any pigment variation is normal; the most common "unusual" trait is heterochromia (two different colored eyes) or flecking, especially with blue or merle coats, but solid rare colors like green or very unique patterns are less common than standard brown/amber.
15 Rarest to Most Common Colors and Markings
Green, the rarest dog eye color, is most often found in Pitt Bulls but can also show up in Labrador Retrievers, Alaskan Malamutes, Beagles, and other breeds.
Heterochromia is caused by a lack of the pigment melanin in all or part of one eye. In dogs with heterochromia, the lack of melanin causes one of their eyes to appear blue or bluish-white. Heterochromia in dogs is often hereditary, meaning it is passed through their genetic makeup.
Heterochromia in dogs is common in breeds like Australian Cattle Dogs, Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Great Danes (harlequin coat pattern), Shetland Sheepdogs, Siberian Huskies and Shih Tzus.
Double merles can be confused with “mismarked” Aussies, in which white covers one or both ears and/or eyes. Mismarked Aussies have no more vision problems than any other Aussie, but because hearing is dependent upon pigmented hairs in the inner ear, any Aussie that has white over an ear could be deaf in that ear.
The top 3 rarest eye colors are typically considered red/violet, green, and gray, with red/violet often cited as the absolute rarest (less than 1%) due to albinism, followed by green (around 2%) and gray (around 3%), though some sources place heterochromia (different colored eyes) as rarest, also under 1%. These rare colors stem from extremely low melanin levels or unique light scattering in the iris.
#1 Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is famous for it's exquisite eyes. Just like their coat, their eyes come in a variety of colors, including blue, brown, hazel, or parti-colored. They are powerful, outdoorsy dogs that need a lot of exercise and training, but are sure to reward you with endless loyalty and kisses.
Lucifer's eye color varies by interpretation, often depicted as golden or blue in his angelic form and shifting to fiery red, black, or other intense colors in his demonic states, reflecting his fallen nature, with different fandoms and shows giving unique variations like carmine red or rose gold.
In the 1800s, the Basques began migrating to Australia to keep sheep. Their Pyrenean Shepherds crossbred with other working dogs, including Collies and Border Collies, creating the modern version of the Australian Shepherd.
Pups that are destined to have eyes that are very dark, almost black, will have dark irises of a midnight blue color from the beginning. In a puppy with split or marbled eyes part of the iris is dark like this pup's eyes, and the blue area is pale. This female from the same litter has eyes that stayed blue.
The BlueBay Shepherd - The rarest Wolfdog breed in the world.
While Aussies have many color patterns, the four main recognized types (colors) by breed clubs are Black, Red, Blue Merle, and Red Merle, with or without white and tan markings, showcasing the breed's striking variations in coat and eye color, including heterochromia.
Australian Shepherds are known for their relatively long lifespan compared to other medium-sized dog breeds. On average, these energetic and intelligent dogs live between 12 to 15 years. This longevity surpasses the typical 11 to 13 years expected for canines of similar size.
Physical appearance of Aussies
The harlequin shepherd is considered the rarest color. Most Australian Shepherds are tricolored, including a mix of white, brown, merle, harlequin, red, and black. The harlequin shepherd is considered the rarest color.
The Border Collie is widely recognized as the dog breed with the highest "IQ," consistently ranking first in intelligence studies for their exceptional ability to learn commands quickly (under 5 repetitions) and obey them (95%+ of the time). Other top breeds include the Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Doberman Pinscher, all known for their trainability and problem-solving skills.
The "heartbreak breed" typically refers to the Great Dane, nicknamed this due to their loving nature combined with a significantly shorter lifespan (around 7-10 years) and predisposition to serious heart issues like Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Other breeds, like the Bernese Mountain Dog, are also called "heartbreak" dogs because of high cancer risks, while some owners find giant breeds or those with specific conditions, like Cavaliers and Pugs (heart issues), or Irish Wolfhounds (DCM), heartbreaking due to their health and mortality, despite their sweet disposition.
Dogs say "I love you" through actions like leaning on you, making soft eye contact (releasing oxytocin), following you around, bringing you toys, licking, gentle tail wags, and cuddling, all signs of trust, affection, and bonding that show they feel safe and happy in your presence.
What Is the Most Attractive Eye Color Overall? The results of another large eye color survey mirrored those from the experiment detailed above. The responses in this case indicated that light-colored eyes — green, gray, blue, and hazel — are considered the prettiest eye colors overall.
Fact: Two blue-eyed parents can have a child with brown eyes, although it's very rare. Likewise, two brown-eyed parents can have a child with blue eyes, although this is also uncommon.
Taylor Swift's natural eye color is a striking blue, according to many reliable sources. People often describe her eyes as a beautiful blend of sky blue and sapphire. This particular shade of blue ranks among the world's rarest natural eye colors, which makes her appearance even more captivating.
Huskies, Alaskan Klee Kai, Miniature American Shepherds, and Australian Shepherds sometimes carry the blue eye variant. And it can show up in mixed breeds, too—provided they have a carrier of the blue eye variant in their ancestry. The trait is still quite rare.
As a result of their high intelligence, Aussies make excellent choices for many different careers. In addition to being amazing Seeing Eye dogs, they are also great hearing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs.
When Will My Australian Shepherd Stop Growing? As a medium-sized breed, the Australian shepherd typically reaches their maximum size and weight at 16-18 months old. You will note that they usually reach their maximum height at 12 months old and continue filling out until 16-18 months.