The wonder of the blue-eyed Miniature Schnauzer – the Miniature Schnauzer is an exceptional dog breed with numerous attractive traits: intelligence, affection, an extroverted temperament, humor, and a personality that’s twice as big as their bodies.

They are also very energetic. Little wonder why it is always in the top 20 most popular breeds in the U.S., England, and Germany and the favorite of many pet lovers.

Like most dog breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is being crossbred to enhance certain features such as its eyes and general appearance, hence the Blue-Eyed Miniature Schnauzer.

Read on to find out more about blue-eyed Schnauzers.

What does research say about the Blue Eyed Miniature Schnauzer?

According to research conducted by Embark Vet, the blue eye in dogs can be attributed to two genes that influence the “Merle” (M-locus) and “Piebald” (S-locus) coat color traits. These genes have the capability of predicting when a dog is likely to have a blue eye.

Embark Vet research also shows that dogs with blue eyes carry a genetic sequence that includes a 100 kilobase (1 kilobase = 1,000 DNA base pairs) duplication. As a result of this duplication, the process of pigment deposition on the iris of the eye during the development stage are usually disrupted.

Miniature Schnauzers are pure breeds. However, those with blue eyes are altered by the Merle gene. Contrary to popular belief, the Merle gene is not a color but a pattern that is found in the coat of specific dog breeds and crossed with other dogs to get the beautiful pattern and blue eye color.

The gene is so strong that it affects every coat color. It can also change the colors of a dog’s nose and pads to mottled pink and black, respectively. Since the mutation gene alters the dark pigment in the eyes, it can occasionally change dark eyes to blue or part of the eye to be colored blue.

The evidence and genetics suggest that the blue-eyed Miniature Schnauzer was created by breeding the Merle gene found in the Australian shepherds, Pomeranians, and Pomskys with a pure breed.

Once bred to the a dog with the Merle gene, the Miniature Schnauzer is bred back to the Miniature Schnauzer which sets the coloring in the dna but when DNA’d the Miniature Schnauzer is 100% Miniature Schnauzer.

Conclusion

Dogs with blue eyes exist due to so many reasons . Some of these dogs, especially those from the Miniature Schnauzer breed are not only beautiful, but they are also intelligent, affectionate and can serve as a showy and loving family pet.