Blue-eyed Schnauzers have been around for a couple decades but the source of the blue-eyes is highly debated. Some people think the stunning blue eye color in Miniature Schnauzers comes from the introduction of the Merle or Piebald gene, likely through an Australian Shepherd or Pomeranian. Other people insist it is a very rare genetic mutation that just showed up in a litter.  Since it was beautiful and different, a pup with blue eyes was kept and bred.  This introduced the blue-eyed gene into the miniature schnauzer breed. Embark Vet DNA testing shows that dogs with blue eyes carry a genetic sequence that includes a duplication gene. This duplication causes the disruption of pigment deposits on the iris of the eye during the development phase and results in blue or partially blue eyes.

If a blue eyed gene was introduced as a result of using a breed other than schnauzer, and is established  in the DNA, then, if the blue-eyed dog continues to be bred back to a purebred Miniautre Schnauzer, eventually, when DNA tested, the blue-eyed Schnauzer tests as 100% Miniature Schnauzer.  If the blue-eyes are the result of a genetic mutation, the dog will also test as 100% Miniature Schnauzer and the DNA test will indicate that the blue eyes are of unknown origin.  

Our blue-eyed schnauzers have been DNA tested through Embark. Their blue eyes are of unknown origin and all of them test as 100% Miniature Schnauzer.  Even our blue-eyed girls test as “unlikely to have blue eyes”.  Want to read more about what Embark is learning about blue-eyed dogs? You can read the article here.

Blue-eyes in schnauzers are dominant so if you breed a dog with blue eyes to a dog with brown eyes, some of the pups will have blue eyes or 1 blue eye/1 brown or a partial blue eye. That is why we can have litters of pups where some pups in the litter have blue eyes and some pups have brown eyes.

There are no health issues associated with schnauzers with blue eyes. These striking blue eyed Miniature Schnauzers are just as beautiful, smart, loving, and affectionate as any other Miniature Schnauzer. If you choose to add a blue-eyed schnauzer to your family, that pup will be a wonderful, healthy family pet that will be talked about wherever you go with your Schnauzer.