Spaniel Dogs
  • Home
  • Dog Boarding
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Training
  • Explore
    • Differencio
    • Want to Know
No Result
View All Result
Spaniel Dogs
No Result
View All Result
Home Blue Roan Cockers

Do Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels have Blue Eyes?

by Biswaindu
February 8, 2023
in Blue Roan Cockers
0
Blue Roan Spaniel
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Pedigree blue roan cocker spaniels do not have blue eyes. While it is true that the newly opened eyes of rowans have a bluish tint, the color stabilizes into a deep brown/ black by the time they are 14-16 weeks old. Roans in whom the blue color persists are either of a mixed pedigree or are born with heterochromia of the iris caused by melanin deficiency that gives the eyes a partially or entirely blue appearance.

Blue eyes in the Australian Shepherds, Siberian Husky, and the Alaskan Klee Kai are considered normal as these breeds carry the blue eyes variant in their genes. But in blue roan, blue eyes indicate a genetic disorder and are often accompanied by other problems of deafness and sterility. Alternatively, blue eyes in senior blue roans can signify cataract, glaucoma, or corneal dystrophy and are associated with severe vision deficit.

A Word About Blue Roans

Blue roans are Cocker Spaniels belonging to two breeds of the spaniel dog, namely the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel, with the word Cocker being imparted because of their specialization in hunting the woodcock bird.

While the species differ in fur size, temperament, and agile nature, American and English Cocker spaniel breeds both have roan color patterns ( a pattern with heavily mottled white areas), out of which the blue roan is most popular.

Blue roan cocker spaniels have originated from the English Cocker Spaniel and share the ECS characteristics of heavy fur with an energetic spirit. Technically they are not blue but get their name from the bluish hue created by the layer of black and white fur combined with a layer of white.

Blue roan cocker spaniels do not have blue eyes. They are often confused with blue-eyed Merle Cocker Spaniels because of similarities in coat colors though they are entirely different breeds.

Blue Roans, Merle Cocker and Blue Eyes

Merles are a breed of cocker spaniels with an unusual coat of black and gray hairs resulting from the merle gene mutation. Merle cocker spaniels are identified through their mottled gray fur coat with accompanying features like blue or odd-colored eyes and sometimes mottled skin pigment. Merle genes are not just found in cocker spaniels. Other breeds, like Dachshunds and Great Danes, have them as well. 

The unique merle coat has been attributed to changes in the oligo length (short synthetic strands of DNA or RNA) that can again result in different coat appearances, from fully pigmented coats to those with diluted intensities.

Cryptic 25-55 bp
dilute 66-74 bp
standard 78-86 bp
Harlequin 81-105 bp

 

Note here bp represents base pair-it impacts the oligo length and results in the pigmentation changes.

 

Unfortunately, the genetic uniqueness of merle cocker spaniels also gives rise to visual and auditory defects, especially in litters produced by merle parents. Merle puppies tend to be born with cyclic neutropenia ( an immunodeficiency disorder characterized by recurrent bacterial and inflammatory complications ) that significantly decreases their life expectancy.

On an unrelated note, Harlequin merle puppies resemble piebald puppies banned in European and American countries because of their thin coats and susceptibility to skin cancer and other complications. And it’s not just potential breeders that face problems with them, as even Kennel Clubs refuse to accept them. These dogs usually have solid white coats and blue irises and are often deaf and/or blind with associated sterility. The deafness in this condition is neither dominant nor recessive but linked to a dominant gene that disrupts pigmentation and leads to deafness with other systemic complexities.

Piebald is a recessive allelle of the S gene where the dominant gene os expressed as a solid color and the recessive genes (3) are chiefly Piebald, extreme piebald and Irish spotting. these genes affect the fur coats of merles and determine the dilution of the fur pigments.

Genetic transmission of deafness in dogs with the recessive alleles of this pigment gene is less clear. Unfortunately, it is difficult to raise a puppy with vision and associated hearing problems, and breeders often euthanize them to avoid a future litter of defective puppies. Even after getting adopted, the vision and hearing deficits result in tendencies of startled biting with an accident-prone life, and many of these pups are short-lived.

The ideal way out is to carefully choose a blue roan pup instead of a merle spaniel. Some of the characteristic features of blue roans being 

  • Dark brown or black almond-shaped eyes in contrast to the roundish eyes of merles. 
  • Long low, set, flappy ears, whereas merles have moderate-long ears that are higher set than roans. 
  • Freckles across their legs and muzzles 
  • The coat color is intensely black and white with similar colored fur that solidifies with time. A merle has irregular blotches of fur set on a lighter background of the same pigment, such as solid black on gray. 
  • Solid black patch around the eyes, nose, and back

Conclusion

Blue roans, as a rule, are not blue-eyed. If you have fostered or adopted a blue-eyed roan, ensure that your pup stays inside the house, as blue eyes are associated with problematic vision, especially when exposed to the sun. Keeping in mind their light sensitivity, it is a good idea to enable them with shades to help in better visibility during the daytime.

dogs lost and found
Subscribe To Newsletter

If you are a dog lover then, Subscribe to our weekly newsletters. No Spams!

Enter your email address
ShareTweetPin
Biswaindu

Biswaindu

Biswaindu is a freelance writer and loves to write on topics related to Health, Wellness, and Spirituality. He is a graduate in Electrical Engineering and writes well about Technical Product Reviews too.

Related Posts

Best Gifts for Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels

Best Gifts for Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels

February 21, 2023

Initially bred to serve as gun dogs, Blue roan cocker spaniels are medium-framed energetic dogs. They need a lot of...

How much are Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels?

How much are Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels?

February 18, 2023

Blue roan cocker spaniels are immensely cute, there’s no doubt in that. However, apart from their eccentric coat patterns and...

Blue Roan Spaniel Life Expectancy- Five Deciding External Factors

Blue Roan Spaniel Life Expectancy- Five Deciding External Factors

February 16, 2023

As majestic and ethereal the Blue roan spaniels may seem, these pups have an average life expectancy of 13-14 years....

Turn Your Dog into Genius

Genius Dog 300 x 600 - Animated

Popular Posts

  • Dogs Anal Gland Removal- Pros and Cons

    Dogs Anal Gland Removal- Pros and Cons

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels – Five Facts to Know Before you Pet them

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How do you tell if your Dog has a Tick or Scab?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • When will my Cocker Spaniel Lose his Puppy Coat?

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What is a Cockador?- All that you want to know

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent Posts

Caring for Your Spaniel Dog
Interesting Facts

Caring for Your Spaniel Dog: Tips and Tricks

March 6, 2023

Spaniel dogs are known for their affectionate nature and playful personality, making them a popular choice for many families. However,...

Read more
Best Gifts for Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels

Best Gifts for Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels

February 21, 2023
How much are Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels?

How much are Blue Roan Cocker Spaniels?

February 18, 2023
Blue Roan Spaniel Life Expectancy- Five Deciding External Factors

Blue Roan Spaniel Life Expectancy- Five Deciding External Factors

February 16, 2023
Managing a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel’s Health Demands

Managing a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel’s Health Demands

February 15, 2023

Categories

  • Blue Roan Cockers
  • Dog Boarding
  • Dog Feeding
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Supplies
  • Dog Training
  • Interesting Facts
  • Uncategorized
Spaniel Dogs

Copyright © 2022 Spaniel Dogs - All Rights Reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Read More

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Dog Boarding
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Training
  • Explore
    • Differencio
    • Want to Know

Copyright © 2022 Spaniel Dogs - All Rights Reserved.

cocker spaniel appearance
SpanielDogs

Get Weekly Newsletter!


If you are a Dog Lover, then subscribe to our weekly newsletters. No Spam!

Enter your email address