The American Beagler Forum

Does anyone have experience with their Beagle that has a Witch Eye or (1) Blue eye? Does a Beagle with one blue eye receive any deduction by a judge in a AKC, UKC or any gun dog trial? I would appreciate your insight and comments. Thanks

This is called a "watch eye", and although it has no affect on the dogs eye sight, it is not a "hound color" when it comes to conformation rules of UKC or AKC. It has no deduction of field competitions in either registry.
Ive seen 4 repete crosses, and only in the 4th breeding did a "watch eye" come out. It is said to be a pigmentation thing, more so then genetic. I hve seen it in several different bloodlines of both hare and cottontail lines. Unless you plan on showing your hound in the show ring, It comes down to what you like.
I sort of like the "witch eye" name as it is spooky cool looking. Hope this info helps.

you are just a wealth of information rick.

I heard years ago that guys who bred or kept Elm's Jigs dogs looked for this trait and kept the pups that had it.

Marty, dont worry when you get older you too will sound smart!...aw hell you are old...Why aint ya smart yet??? Nice to hear from ya, give shout and lets tell some lies this weekend!

Rick

I think they call it Witch Eye because have you ever seen at night with a light, it is bright RED! This is Hale beagle, basset, blue tick. We dont show dogs so dont know about points.

My female beagle Blondie has one blue eye as well,,it just turned that way the last couple months,,She is light in color..I was'nt sure why it happened,I will try to get a pic online later,,Shannon

Dont know how true it is ,I've heard that some combo shots might
make this happen in dogs anyone else heard the same?

John, I havent heard that ( about shots ), but the two that Ive seen (one from my kennel), were noticed before first shots. Dont know if you remember Brian Dodge, from Briars & Cedars bc. He finished a dog by the name of Ceadar Creek Blue eyed Mo. (of course dog had a blue eye), he bred him quite a bit and up to a few years back, never threw a pup with a blue eye. Funny, but his Daughter wanted at least one to have it.

I only heard once, that the de-pigmentation gene, has to be carried by both sire and dam, but have never read in any book that that is true. Dogs come from wolves, wolves have all kinds of strange combination eye color, so although rare, why wouldnt it come through in a hound. Chicken or the egg?? No one can with fact say.

I am a Lic. conformation judge, and a blue eye on the bench is a disqualification. Rule states: eye's must be of a hound color, brown, black, hazel. There is no registry that will, or can, deduct points from a hound in a field trial, for any typt of conformation violation of breed standerd. If that was the case, there would be alot of crooked legged, bad bite hounds, never making the gate. As well as their owners and handlers....OUCH!...lol

Hope this helps

Amen Rick!
just something I had heard sometime back
John

Our Trixie Dog has one piebald Eye light Blue Almost White. Every time Someone sees her they ask is she Blind in that Eye??
Nope She can see just Fine But watch out when she locks that Evil Eye on ya!!!!!
her Mother did not have it Niether did her Father.
BUT her grand dame on One Side and her Grand sire on the other Did Both Branko hounds one had two blue eyes the other one.
her first litter of pups had none But a pup out of her bred to a branko hound had One blue eye. one pup out of a litter of 7
So guess that would make it a resesive gene then huh.
I Like it myself And YES! it is a disqualification in the Show ring!!

I've only ever seen it in RED colored beagles.

LPB

Put this up here for Rick, He said this one popped up in his last litter.
Hey this is all news to me, Only seen one beagle with a blue eye. Didn't really know what to think at the time. Now I can share my wealth of knowledge about watch eye beagles...LOL

The guy who has the redtick stud i bred my dog to has a redtick pup with bright blue eyes. Is it a disqualification in all beagles as i see alot of redticks with blue eyes.

I've got one. A pup that I am real happy with. I think hes going to be good.