What’s it mean when a dog has two different colored eyes?
The short answer is nothing but genetics.
It’s a condition called heterochromia irides, and in most cases, that’s just how your dog was born. The different colors come from an uneven distribution of melanin in the eyes, often connected to coat color. Dogs, cats, horses, and humans can have this condition naturally.
Which is the good eye?
It’s too hard to choose, but unless the coloring was caused by illness or trauma, a dog born with heterochromia can see out of both.
Let Your Eyes Be the Judge
It’s a little uncommon, but if you’re watching for dogs with mismatched peepers, you’ll start to notice it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Although doing the scientific statistical analysis would be complicated (and potentially insulting to redheaded people everywhere), the prevalence of dogs with two different colored eyes seems to be similar to the frequency of red hair and freckles in people. Considering that both coloring variances have to do with melanin distribution, it makes sense.
Some are More Prone
Although occurring in all mammals, the phenomenon in dogs tends to trend more in certain breeds.
Siberian Huskies, Old English Sheepdogs , Great Danes, Australian Shepherds, and Alaskan Malamutes are the mostly commonly recognized AKC breeds to exhibit heterochromia.
How You Can Prevent and Treat Heterochromia
Good news! You can’t do either –and you don’t need to. More often than not, a pet with two different eye colors was just born that way. This beauty mark is a little extra bonus without any strings attached. Consider yourself lucky!
Don’t let that brown eye make you blue.
Before you discount the potential of a heterochromatic hound, consider some of the famous folks with heterochromia who went on to show at the top of their groups.