Rare yet Alluring!

     Due to the power of genetics, we do occasionally have puppies with heterochromia from birth. In dogs with heterochromia, the lack of melanin causes one or both of their eyes to appear blue or bluish white.  The term heterochromia is used to describe a multi-colored iris. It can affect one or both eyes.

        Heterochromia in dogs is a beautiful but rare genetic hitch, & is particularly rare in Basset Hounds!  And it does seem to be hereditary.  Hills-Pet has a great article on it here:  Heterochromia in Dogs: Two Different Colored Eyes | Hill's Pet (hillspet.com) 

     Heterochromia in dogs has people coming up with all sorts of beliefs... Congenital Heterochromia (heterochromia from birth) does not have effects on vision or hearing capabilities of a dog.  It also does not mean your dog is not purebred, as we can assure you from generations of pedigrees on all of our parent dogs.

     This is a condition that even humans can be born with, such as stars like Jane Seymour, Dan Akroyd and Kate Bosworth, just to name a few! Try searching online just for fun!
     It is something many of us think is absolutely beautiful, however that being said, as AKC breed standard goes, ”The eyes are soft, sad, and slightly sunken, showing a prominent haw, and in color are brown, dark brown preferred.”  For that reason, if you plan to show your dog and have concerns about this, please reach out and discuss this with us as soon as possible.  We cannot foresee this condition in a puppy until almost pick-up time, so it's best to mention any concerns with this trait right away.