Dog color
Dark brown
A deep brown: the eye colour most dog standards ask for, and the shell of dark-brown layers such as Welsummers and Barnevelders.
245 Dog breeds list Dark brown. It is in a club standard for 239 breeds. At least one club disqualifies it in 1 breed.
Breeds whose standards accept Dark brown
| Breed | FCI | AKC | KC | KUSA | UKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AffenpinscherEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark eyes”) | Standard (“Dark”) | No ruling |
| Afghan HoundEyes | Standard (“Dark for preference”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“Preferably dark”) | Standard (“Dark for preference”) | Standard (“Dark brown is the preferred color”) |
| Airedale TerrierEyes | Standard (“Dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“Dark in colour”) | Standard (“Dark in colour”) | Standard (“Dark”) |
| AkbashEyes | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“golden brown to dark brown, with darker color preferred”) |
| AkitaEyes | Standard (“dark brown: the darker, the better (Japanese Akita)”) | Standard (“dark brown (Akita)”) | Standard (“dark brown (Akita)”) | Standard (“dark brown (American Akita)”) | Standard (“dark brown (Akita)”) |
| AkitaJapanese · Eyes | Standard (“dark brown: the darker, the better”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown: the darker, the better”) | No ruling |
| AkitaAmerican · Eyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Alaskan MalamuteEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark eyes are preferred”) | Standard (“dark eyes preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| American Cocker SpanielEyes | Standard (“The colour of the iris is dark brown”) | Standard (“The color of the iris is dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown to black in blacks, black and tans, buffs and creams”) | Standard (“The colour of the iris is dark brown”) | Standard (“The color of the iris is dark brown, the darker the better”) |
| American English CoonhoundEyes | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown pigmentation”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown pigmentation”) | Standard (“Dark brown in color”) |
| American Eskimo DogEyes | No ruling | Standard (“Dark to medium brown is the preferred eye color”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) |
| American Hairless TerrierEyes | No ruling | Standard (“darkest brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| American Staffordshire TerrierEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark”) | No ruling |
| American Water SpanielEyes | Standard (“dark tone to harmonize with coat”) | Standard (“of dark tone to harmonize with coat”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“of dark color to harmonize with the coat”) |
| Anatolian ShepherdEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown to light amber”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Appenzeller SennenhundEyes | Standard (“in black dogs dark brown, brown”) | Standard (“in black dogs dark brown, brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“in black dogs dark brown, brown”) | Standard (“In Black dogs they are brown to dark brown”) |
| Australian Cattle DogEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle DogEyes | Standard (“of dark brown colour”) | Standard (“of dark brown colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Australian TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown to black (the darker the better)”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| AzawakhEyes | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“hazel to dark brown”) |
| BarbetEyes | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“dark hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“dark hazel to dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) |
| BasenjiEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Basset Artésien NormandEyes | Standard (“dark (in harmony with the coat)”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark (in harmony with the coat)”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Basset Fauve de BretagneEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Dark brown is the preferred color”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Dark brown in color”) |
| Basset HoundEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown preferred”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling |
| Bavarian Mountain Scent HoundEyes | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | No ruling |
| BeagleEyes | Standard (“Dark brown or hazel”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“Dark brown or hazel”) | No ruling |
| BeauceronEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“always dark”) |
| Bedlington TerrierEyes | Standard (“Blues have a dark eye”) | Standard (“Blues have dark eyes”) | Standard (“Blues have a dark eye”) | Standard (“Blues have a dark eye”) | Standard (“Blue-colored dogs have darker eyes”) |
| Belgian LaekenoisEyes | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) |
| Belgian MalinoisEyes | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) |
| Belgian ShepherdEyes | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) |
| Belgian TervurenEyes | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“eyes dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) |
| Bergamasco SheepdogEyes | Standard (“a darker or lighter shade of chestnut colour”) | Standard (“varying from hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“dark chestnut colour preferred”) | Standard (“a darker or lighter shade of chestnut colour”) | Standard (“dark chestnut”) |
| Berger PicardEyes | Standard (“dark colour”) | Standard (“darker eye color is preferred”) | Standard (“dark, blending with coat colour”) | Standard (“dark colour”) | No ruling |
| Bernese Mountain DogEyes | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Bichon FriseEyes | Standard (“Very dark”) | Standard (“black or dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“black or dark brown”) |
| Biewer TerrierEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark, with the iris as dark as possible”) | No ruling | Standard (“black/dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Black and Tan CoonhoundEyes | Standard (“from hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“from hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“Hazel to dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Black Russian TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark colour”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark colour”) | Standard (“dark colored”) |
| BloodhoundEyes | Standard (“Dark brown or hazel”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“Dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) |
| Bluetick CoonhoundEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| BoerboelEyes | No ruling | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | No ruling |
| BologneseEyes | Standard (“the iris of a dark ochre colour”) | Standard (“dark iris”) | Standard (“Large, round, dark”) | Standard (“the iris of a dark ochre colour”) | Standard (“the iris is a dark ochre color”) |
| Border TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| BorzoiEyes | Standard (“dark brown to brown”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark brown to brown”) | Standard (“dark In color”) |
| Boston TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Bouvier des FlandresEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible in relation to coat”) | Standard (“a dark brown”) | Standard (“as dark as possible in relation to coat colour”) | Standard (“as dark as possible in relation to coat”) | Standard (“a dark nut brown”) |
| BoxerEyes | Standard (“The dark eyes”) | Standard (“Dark brown in color”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“The dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| BriardEyes | Standard (“of dark colour”) | Standard (“black-brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“of dark colour”) | Standard (“black-brown”) |
| BrittanyEyes | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“Preference should be for the darker colored eyes”) | Standard (“brown to dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“Darker colored eyes are preferred”) |
| Brussels GriffonEyes | Standard (“Brown, as dark as possible”) | No ruling | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“very dark brown”) |
| Bull TerrierEyes | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) |
| BulldogEyes | Standard (“very dark- almost black”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“very dark – almost black”) | Standard (“very dark – almost black”) | Standard (“very dark”) |
| BullmastiffEyes | Standard (“Dark or hazel”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark or hazel”) | Standard (“Dark or hazel”) | Standard (“The eyes are dark”) |
| Ca de BouEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible and according to coat colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“as dark as possible depending on the color of the coat”) |
| CanaanEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown eyes are strongly preferred”) |
| Cane CorsoEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible but according to the coat colour”) | Standard (“dark brown eyes are preferred”) | No ruling | Standard (“as dark as possible, but according to the coat colour”) | Standard (“the iris is as dark as possible, depending on the color of the coat”) |
| Cardigan Welsh CorgiEyes | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“clear and dark in harmony with coat color”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“clear and dark, in harmony with the coat color”) |
| Carpathian SheepdogEyes | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown in color”) |
| Caucasian Shepherd DogEyes | Standard (“different shades of brown from dark to hazelnut”) | Standard (“different shades of brown from dark to hazelnut”) | No ruling | Standard (“different shades of brown from dark to hazelnut”) | No ruling |
| Cavalier King Charles SpanielEyes | Standard (“Large, dark, round”) | Standard (“a warm, very dark brown”) | Standard (“Large, dark, round”) | Standard (“Large, dark, round”) | Standard (“Relatively large, dark and round”) |
| Central Asian Shepherd DogEyes | Standard (“from dark brown to hazel. The darker colour is preferable”) | Standard (“from dark brown to hazel. The darker colour is preferable”) | No ruling | Standard (“from dark brown to hazel. The darker colour is preferable”) | Standard (“Eyes are dark”) |
| Cesky TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark brown in grey-blue coated dogs”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“in light brown dogs – light to dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in grey-blue coated dogs”) | Standard (“dark brown in blue-gray dogs”) |
| ChihuahuaEyes | Standard (“perfectly dark”) | Standard (“luminous dark”) | Standard (“dark or ruby”) | Standard (“dark or ruby”) | Standard (“dark eyes are preferred”) |
| Chinese CrestedEyes | Standard (“So dark as to appear black”) | Standard (“Dark-colored dogs have dark-colored eyes”) | Standard (“So dark as to appear black”) | Standard (“So dark as to appear black”) | Standard (“very dark in dark colored dogs”) |
| Chinese Shar-PeiEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| ChinookEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown is preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown eyes are preferred”) |
| Chow ChowEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Eyes dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| CollieEyes | No ruling | Standard (“the color is dark”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Coton de TulearEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown or black”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Croatian SheepdogEyes | Standard (“dark chestnut brown”) | Standard (“dark chestnut brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Curly-Coated RetrieverEyes | Standard (“Dark brown in blacks”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown in blacks”) | Standard (“Dark brown in blacks”) | No ruling |
| DachshundEyes | Standard (“bright dark reddish-brown to blackish brown”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark reddish-brown to brownish-black”) |
| DalmatianEyes | No ruling | Standard (“the darker the better”) | Standard (“dark brown in black spotted”) | Standard (“dark brown in black-spotted”) | Standard (“dark brown in black spotted”) |
| Danish-Swedish FarmdogEyes | Standard (“Dark eye colour in dogs with black patches”) | Standard (“Dark eye color in dogs with black patches”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“as dark as possible”) |
| Doberman PinscherEyes | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“darkest brown”) | Standard (“darkest brown”) | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Dogo ArgentinoEyes | Standard (“dark or hazel coloured”) | Standard (“dark or hazelnut in color”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark- or hazel-coloured”) | Standard (“very dark brown to dark hazel”) |
| Dogue de BordeauxEyes | Standard (“hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“Color ranges from hazel to dark brown”) |
| DreverEyes | Standard (“Dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Dark brown in colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Dutch ShepherdEyes | Standard (“Dark coloured”) | Standard (“dark colored”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark-coloured”) | Standard (“The dark, medium-sized, almond-shaped eyes”) |
| English Cocker SpanielEyes | Standard (“Dark brown or brown”) | Standard (“Eye color dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown or brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown or brown”) | Standard (“The eye color is dark brown”) |
| English SetterEyes | Standard (“Colour ranging between hazel and dark brown, the darker the better”) | Standard (“dark brown, the darker the better”) | Standard (“Colour ranging between hazel and dark brown, the darker the better”) | Standard (“Colour ranging between hazel and dark brown, the darker the better”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| English ShepherdEyes | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Dark or medium brown”) |
| English Springer SpanielEyes | No ruling | Standard (“black or deep brown in the black and white dogs”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“black or deep brown in black dogs”) |
| English Toy SpanielEyes | Standard (“Relatively large and dark”) | Standard (“very dark brown or black”) | Standard (“Relatively large and dark”) | Standard (“Relatively large and dark”) | Standard (“very dark brown or black”) |
| Entlebucher Mountain DogEyes | Standard (“dark brown to hazel”) | Standard (“Must be brown, darker eye preferred”) | Standard (“dark brown to hazel”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown to hazel”) |
| EurasierEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Field SpanielEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark hazel to dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark hazel, brown or nearly black, depending on the color of the dog”) |
| Fila BrasileiroEyes | Standard (“However, a darker colour is preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“However a darker colour is preferred”) | No ruling |
| Finnish LapphundEyes | Standard (“dark brown, according to coat colour”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown or harmonising with coat colour”) | Standard (“dark brown, according to coat colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in color, but harmonizing with the color of the coat”) |
| Finnish SpitzEyes | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“Dark in color”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark”) | Standard (“preferably dark in color”) |
| Flat-Coated RetrieverEyes | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) |
| French BulldogEyes | Standard (“dark coloured”) | Standard (“dark, brown or approaching black in color”) | Standard (“Preferably dark”) | Standard (“dark-coloured”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| French SpanielEyes | Standard (“of a cinnamon to dark brown colour”) | Standard (“of a cinnamon to dark brown colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| German Longhaired PointerEyes | Standard (“Brown colour, as dark as possible”) | Standard (“Brown colour, as dark as possible”) | Standard (“Brown, as dark as possible”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| German PinscherEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“The eyes are dark”) |
| German ShepherdEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown preferred”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) |
| German Shorthaired PointerEyes | Standard (“The ideal colour is dark brown”) | Standard (“The preferred color is dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Darker brown is preferred”) |
| German SpitzEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“always dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“always dark in color”) |
| German Wirehaired PointerEyes | Standard (“As dark as possible”) | No ruling | Standard (“hazel or darker”) | Standard (“As dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) |
| Giant SchnauzerEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“Eye color is dark”) |
| Golden RetrieverEyes | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Color preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Darker brown is preferred”) |
| Gordon SetterEyes | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown in color”) |
| Grand Basset Griffon VendéenEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“large, dark and oval”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Great DaneEyes | Standard (“As dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“eyes and nails preferably dark”) | Standard (“As dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Great PyreneesEyes | No ruling | Standard (“rich dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Greater Swiss Mountain DogEyes | No ruling | Standard (“brown, dark brown preferred”) | Standard (“Hazel to dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| GreyhoundEyes | Standard (“Preferably dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Preferably dark”) | Standard (“Preferably dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| HamiltonstovareEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Hanoverian ScenthoundEyes | Standard (“darkbrown iris”) | Standard (“darkbrown iris”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown iris”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| HarrierEyes | Standard (“Always dark”) | Standard (“darker colors are always desired”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| HavaneseEyes | Standard (“of brown colour as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“of brown colour, as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| HokkaidoEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| HovawartEyes | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | Standard (“Dark to medium brown”) | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | No ruling |
| Icelandic SheepdogEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Irish Red and White SetterEyes | Standard (“Dark hazel or dark brown”) | Standard (“dark hazel or dark brown”) | Standard (“Hazel or dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark hazel or dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark hazel or dark brown”) |
| Irish SetterEyes | Standard (“Dark hazel or dark brown”) | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | Standard (“Dark hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark hazel to dark brown”) | Standard (“dark to medium brown in color”) |
| Irish TerrierEyes | Standard (“Should be dark in colour”) | Standard (“Dark brown in color”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Irish Water SpanielEyes | No ruling | Standard (“a warm tone of medium to dark brown”) | Standard (“medium to dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Irish WolfhoundEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Eyes, dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“The eyes are dark”) |
| Italian GreyhoundEyes | Standard (“Iris of dark colour”) | Standard (“Dark”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| JagdterrierEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) |
| Japanese ChinEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“Moderately large, dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Japanese SpitzEyes | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| JindoEyes | Standard (“Dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark reddish brown to dark brown”) |
| Kai KenEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“the iris dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Kangal Shepherd DogEyes | Standard (“Dark brown to light brown, the darker, the better”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown to light brown, the darker, the better”) | Standard (“deep brown”) |
| KeeshondEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Kerry Blue TerrierEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark as possible”) | Standard (“Dark as possible”) | Standard (“Dark”) |
| Kishu KenEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| KomondorEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“the iris of the eye is dark brown”) | Standard (“darker the better”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| KromfohrlanderEyes | Standard (“Dark brown, medium brown permitted”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown, medium brown permitted”) | Standard (“Dark brown is preferred”) |
| KuvaszEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown, the darker the better”) | Standard (“dark, brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown, the darker the better”) |
| Lagotto RomagnoloEyes | Standard (“ranges from ochre to hazel and dark brown”) | Standard (“ranges from ochre to hazel to dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“ranges from ochre to hazel and dark brown”) | Standard (“Color ranges from ochre through hazel to dark brown”) |
| Lakeland TerrierEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“In all other colors, the eyes are dark brown”) |
| Lancashire HeelerEyes | Standard (“dark colour”) | Standard (“dark color”) | Standard (“dark colour”) | Standard (“dark colour”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Lapponian HerderEyes | Standard (“Preferably dark in colour, yet harmonizing with the coat colour”) | Standard (“Preferably dark in colour, yet harmonizing with the coat colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| LeonbergerEyes | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“Dark brown is preferred”) | Standard (“Medium to dark brown”) | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown preferred”) |
| Lhasa ApsoEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark in color”) |
| LöwchenEyes | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| MalteseEyes | Standard (“they are of a dark ochre colour”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Manchester Terrier (Standard)Eyes | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling |
| Manchester Terrier (Toy)Eyes | No ruling | Standard (“nearly black”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“as near black as possible”) |
| MastiffEyes | Standard (“darker the better”) | Standard (“the darker the better”) | Standard (“darker the better”) | Standard (“the darker the better”) | Standard (“the darker being preferred”) |
| Miniature Bull TerrierEyes | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) |
| Miniature PinscherEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark even to a true black”) | Standard (“Black to dark brown according to coat colour”) | Standard (“Black to dark brown according to coat colour”) | Standard (“dark, almost a true black”) |
| Miniature SchnauzerEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| MudiEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“Black Dogs – Dark as possible”) | Standard (“As dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“Black and White dogs should have dark brown eyes”) |
| Nederlandse KooikerhondjeEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“Deep brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“deep brown”) |
| NewfoundlandEyes | Standard (“Dark brown in black and white and black dogs”) | Standard (“Eyes are dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in black, or in white and black dogs”) | Standard (“Dark brown in black and white and black dogs”) | Standard (“dark brown in color in the black and black and white dogs”) |
| Norfolk TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| NorrbottenspetsEyes | Standard (“Colour dark brown”) | Standard (“Irises are dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Norwegian BuhundEyes | Standard (“colour as dark as possible”) | Standard (“color as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“colour as dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark in color as possible”) |
| Norwegian ElkhoundEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“very dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Norwich TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Old English SheepdogEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“if brown, very dark is preferred”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Olde English BulldoggeEyes | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark to light brown”) |
| OtterhoundEyes | No ruling | Standard (“The eyes are dark”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“The deeply set eyes are dark”) |
| PapillonEyes | Standard (“Dark in colour”) | Standard (“Eyes dark”) | Standard (“dark with dark rims”) | Standard (“dark with dark rims”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Parson Russell TerrierEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| PekingeseEyes | Standard (“Clear, round, dark lustrous”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“Clear, round, dark lustrous”) | Standard (“Clear, round, dark lustrous”) | Standard (“dark and lustrous”) |
| Pembroke Welsh CorgiEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark eyes enhance the expression”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Perro de Presa CanarioEyes | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | Standard (“medium to dark brown”) |
| Petit Basset Griffon VendéenEyes | Standard (“Eyes must be of a dark colour”) | Standard (“Eyes large and dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“The large, dark eyes”) |
| PointerEyes | No ruling | Standard (“the darker the better”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark eyes, the darker the better”) |
| PomeranianEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“bright, dark”) | Standard (“bright, dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Poodle (Miniature)Eyes | Standard (“Black or dark brown colour”) | Standard (“very dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Poodle (Standard)Eyes | Standard (“Black or dark brown colour”) | Standard (“very dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Poodle (Toy)Eyes | Standard (“Black or dark brown colour”) | Standard (“very dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark eyes”) | Standard (“dark eyes”) | Standard (“very dark eyes”) |
| PorcelaineEyes | Standard (“dark in appearance”) | Standard (“dark in appearance”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“The dark eyes”) |
| Portuguese Podengo PequenoEyes | No ruling | Standard (“honey to dark brown”) | Standard (“from light to dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Portuguese PointerEyes | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Darker shades are preferred”) |
| Portuguese SheepdogEyes | Standard (“preferably dark in colour”) | Standard (“preferably dark in colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Preferably dark in color”) |
| Portuguese Water DogEyes | No ruling | Standard (“Black or various tones of brown”) | Standard (“Black or dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| PugEyes | Standard (“Dark, relatively large”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“Dark, relatively large”) | Standard (“Dark, relatively large”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| PuliEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| PumiEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Pyrenean ShepherdEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling |
| Rafeiro do AlentejoEyes | Standard (“brown (preferably dark)”) | Standard (“brown (preferably dark)”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Rastreador BrasileiroEyes | Standard (“dark”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Rat TerrierEyes | No ruling | Standard (“from darkest brown to hazel”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Redbone CoonhoundEyes | No ruling | Standard (“Dark brown to hazel in color, dark preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Rhodesian RidgebackEyes | Standard (“A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes”) | Standard (“A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes”) | Standard (“Black nose accompanied by dark eyes”) | Standard (“A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes”) | Standard (“A black nosed dog has dark eyes”) |
| Romanian Mioritic Shepherd DogEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| RottweilerEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“The desired color is a uniform dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Rough CollieEyes | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“The color is dark”) | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Russell TerrierEyes | Standard (“Small dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“fairly small and dark”) | Standard (“Small, dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Russian ToyEyes | Standard (“As dark as possible”) | Standard (“eyes that are darkest brown to black”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“As dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Russian Tsvetnaya BolonkaEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Saint BernardEyes | Standard (“dark brown to nut-brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Dark in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown to nut brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| SalukiEyes | Standard (“Dark to hazel”) | Standard (“Dark to hazel”) | Standard (“Dark to hazel”) | Standard (“Dark to hazel”) | Standard (“dark to hazel”) |
| SamoyedEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark for preference”) | Standard (“medium to dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| SchipperkeEyes | Standard (“Dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“eyes are dark brown”) |
| Scottish DeerhoundEyes | Standard (“Generally dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“generally dark brown, brown or hazel”) | Standard (“Generally dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“Generally dark brown or hazel”) | Standard (“dark brown or hazel”) |
| Scottish TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown or nearly black”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown or nearly black”) |
| Sealyham TerrierEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Very dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Very dark in color”) |
| Shetland SheepdogEyes | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Color must be dark”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Eye color is dark brown”) |
| Shiba InuEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Iris is dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Iris color is dark brown”) |
| Shih TzuEyes | Standard (“Large, dark, round”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“Large, dark, round”) | Standard (“Large, dark, round”) | Standard (“very dark in color”) |
| ShikokuEyes | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Silky TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark as possible in colour”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark as possible in colour”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Skye TerrierEyes | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) |
| SloughiEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“shades of dark brown to dark amber”) | Standard (“dark to dark amber”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“shades of dark brown to dark amber”) |
| Slovensky CuvacEyes | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Slovensky KopovEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) |
| Small Munsterlander PointerEyes | Standard (“As dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“As dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“as dark brown as possible”) | Standard (“Dark brown in color”) |
| Smooth CollieEyes | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“The color is dark”) | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“dark brown colour”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Smooth Fox TerrierEyes | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“Dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Soft Coated Wheaten TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark reddish brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Spanish Water DogEyes | No ruling | Standard (“from hazel to dark chestnut”) | Standard (“Hazel or dark brown, depending on coat colour”) | No ruling | Standard (“White dogs may have either light brown or dark brown eyes”) |
| StabyhounEyes | Standard (“dark brown for dogs with black and white coat”) | Standard (“dark brown for dogs with black and white coat”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown for dogs with black and white coat”) | Standard (“dark brown in black dogs”) |
| Staffordshire Bull TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark preferred”) | Standard (“dark preferable”) | Standard (“dark preferred”) | Standard (“dark preferred”) | Standard (“dark eyes are preferred”) |
| Standard SchnauzerEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Swedish LapphundEyes | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“preferably dark brown”) |
| Swedish VallhundEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“very dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Taiwan DogEyes | Standard (“Dark brown in colour”) | Standard (“Dark brown in colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Thai RidgebackEyes | Standard (“The eye colour is dark brown”) | Standard (“The eye colour is dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“The eye colour is dark brown”) | Standard (“Eye color is dark brown”) |
| Tibetan MastiffEyes | Standard (“any shade of brown ... the darker the better”) | Standard (“any shade of brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“any shade of brown ... the darker the better”) | Standard (“Any shade of brown”) |
| Tibetan SpanielEyes | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Tibetan TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown and may appear black in color”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| TornjakEyes | Standard (“dark colour”) | Standard (“dark colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) |
| TosaEyes | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“brown with preference given to the darker color”) |
| Toy Fox TerrierEyes | No ruling | Standard (“clear, bright and dark”) | No ruling | Standard (“Clear, bright, and dark”) | Standard (“Dark in color”) |
| Transylvanian HoundEyes | Standard (“The colour is dark brown”) | Standard (“The colour is dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown in color”) |
| Treeing Tennessee BrindleEyes | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“The dark, expressive eyes”) |
| Treeing Walker CoonhoundEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark in color, brown or black”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Color is dark, brown or black”) |
| VizslaEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Welsh Springer SpanielEyes | Standard (“Hazel or dark”) | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) | Standard (“Hazel or dark”) | Standard (“Hazel or dark”) | Standard (“dark to medium brown”) |
| Welsh TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| West Highland White TerrierEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark brown in color”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“as dark as possible”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| WhippetEyes | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown to nearly black”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark”) |
| White Swiss Shepherd DogEyes | Standard (“colour brown to dark-brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Brown to dark brown”) | Standard (“colour brown to dark-brown”) | No ruling |
| Wire Fox TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Wirehaired VizslaEyes | Standard (“as dark as possible preferred”) | Standard (“Iris color is as dark as possible”) | No ruling | Standard (“as dark as possible preferred”) | No ruling |
| XoloitzcuintliEyes | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“ranges from yellow to a very dark brown”) |
| Yakutian LaikaEyes | Standard (“Eyes colour is dark brown”) | Standard (“Any color is permissible”) | Standard (“Dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Yorkshire TerrierEyes | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark in color”) |
| Yugoslavian Shepherd DogEyes | Standard (“dark or light brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown to chestnut”) |
Breeds where Dark brown is a fault
| Breed | FCI | AKC | UKC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Czechoslovakian VlcakEyes | Fault (“Dark brown, black or different coloured eyes”) | No ruling | Fault (“Dark brown or black eyes”) |
| Drentsche PatrijshondEyes | Fault (“neither dark nor the light colour of the bird of prey”) | Fault (“neither dark nor the light colour of the bird of prey”) | No ruling |
Breeds where Dark brown is disqualified or not accepted
| Breed | FCI | KUSA |
|---|---|---|
| Ibizan HoundEyes | Disqualifying (“Dark eyes”) | Disqualifying (“Dark eyes”) |
| Biewer Yorkshire a la Pom-PonEyes | No ruling | No ruling |
| Bodeguero AndaluzEyes | No ruling | No ruling |
| Hortaya borzayaEyes | No ruling | No ruling |
Color changes
How Dark brown can appear or change over an animal's life.
Bluechanges toDark brown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks