Camera flash/eye color?

[rose_pinero]

based on the article, the eyes reflect the COLOR of the coat, not the type (?)

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by rose_pinero

based on the article, the eyes reflect the COLOR of the coat, not the type (?)

No, when the article talks of a blue coat they are referring to a silky coat. It's hard to completely describe the blue, because it's not really blue, but a metallic black. True black is darker, and more likely to be cotton. So in other words, green eye shine means, a true silky coat.

[jencar98]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

No, when the article talks of a blue coat they are referring to a silky coat. It's hard to completely describe the blue, because it's not really blue, but a metallic black. True black is darker, and more likely to be cotton. So in other words, green eye shine means, a true silky coat.

You're right Nancy. I've heard the term "gun metal blue" to describe a correct blue.

Also, in Trixie's example pictures, although the color does appear to be different shades of green, you'll notice they all have a yellow cast to them in different degrees. I do believe the difference seen in the pics is because of lighting, angle, etc. The test should be done with a yorkie in a dark room, while you stand in the other room with a flashlight shining in their eyes.

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

No, when the article talks of a blue coat they are referring to a silky coat. It's hard to completely describe the blue, because it's not really blue, but a metallic black. True black is darker, and more likely to be cotton. So in other words, green eye shine means, a true silky coat.

[Molly Savannah]

I just tried to attach a photo I took of Molly today, but it's too big. I'll try to scale it down to share. Her eyes reflected as green and her coat is very smooth and silky! Frankly, I thought she was going bald when her white, silky hair began to grow on top of her puppy head

[DaniMarie]

I'm super confused.

My Poppy's eyes reflect bright YELLOW in every single picture.........all of this information is *VERY* confusing.

What does yellow mean?!!!!


She, too, had that white silky hair on her head, that led us to believe she was balding at first....

What does the yellow mean?

Edited to ADD: I just checked out some pics...and in three pics, she has something strange going on. One eye yellow, the other blue.........both eyes yellow and green mixed together....and one eye yellow, one eye red!!!!

?!?!?!??

[itzzbarb]

Jillie is 5 months old. She has photographed with blue eyes, green eyes, amber eyes, and one blue and one green. Go figure. lol

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by DaniMarie

I'm super confused.

My Poppy's eyes reflect bright YELLOW in every single picture.........all of this information is *VERY* confusing.

What does yellow mean?!!!!


She, too, had that white silky hair on her head, that led us to believe she was balding at first....

What does the yellow mean?

Edited to ADD: I just checked out some pics...and in three pics, she has something strange going on. One eye yellow, the other blue.........both eyes yellow and green mixed together....and one eye yellow, one eye red!!!!

?!?!?!??

Remember, you will not get this effect until at least 6 months of age, and don't forget it could be your camera, but these are just general guidelines. For Joey, every picture with any camera that uses a flash produces green eyes, sometimes the shade varies, and looks olive, and sometime almost a lime green, but there's always green when a flash is used. His coat is the dark gunmetal type and is silky, not cottony. As a pup, his eyes looked blue.

What is going on is that those with the gold/bronze cast has LESS eumelanin (black) and more phaomelanin (yellow). Typically phaomelanin (yellow) does NOT get put in the tapetum. So NO tapetal pigment results in red color from the blood vessels. Whereas the blue cast dogs have more eumelanin resulting in a pigmented tapetum and the reflection that you see is bluish or green. It's very similar in chocolate and black Labs-- chocolate labs tend to have pale gold or red tapetums while the black labs have brilliant green and blue tapetums.

Again it has to do with overall production of melanin (pigment) and where it is put. It also has to do with whether the dog carries the genes for true blue, clerical blue or black AND whether they also carry the gene for progressive graying (dilute). That is my explanation I have learned from study of the breed and genes and pigment. - Darinda Tanner. Eye Shine

[DaniMarie]

Poppy is five months as well!!!

And honestly, I don't understand that second paragraph at all!!!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by DaniMarie

Poppy is five months as well!!!

And honestly, I don't understand that second paragraph at all!!!

It helps to read the whole thing, several times, but I think this is interesting.

The eye in all animals except pigs and man have a reflective layer along the back of the retina called the tapetum. This layer serves to reflect light to allow maximal usage of the available light. In some animals the tapetum is colored in others it is not.

The reddish color that you see in human eyes is the reflection of the blood vessels in the back of the eye because the tapetum is NOT colored. This is the same in the "red eye" of the Yorkie.


Once you understand what the "tapetum" is, the rest of it makes more sense.

[DaniMarie]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

It helps to read the whole thing, several times, but I think this is interesting.

The eye in all animals except pigs and man have a reflective layer along the back of the retina called the tapetum. This layer serves to reflect light to allow maximal usage of the available light. In some animals the tapetum is colored in others it is not.

The reddish color that you see in human eyes is the reflection of the blood vessels in the back of the eye because the tapetum is NOT colored. This is the same in the "red eye" of the Yorkie.


Once you understand what the "tapetum" is, the rest of it makes more sense.

Oh I get that part... I don't get how the color of the reflection somehow reflects the color/type of the dog's coat.

Sorry, I'm new to this Yorkie business.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by DaniMarie

Oh I get that part... I don't get how the color of the reflection somehow reflects the color/type of the dog's coat.

Sorry, I'm new to this Yorkie business.

Oh, I don't think anyone knows even the author of the article, but she says that:

".....but could be that pigmentation of the eye and coat texture are related genetically. Tapetums are very beautiful -- metallic, brilliant colors in most animals."

I assume that since the proper silky coat has this same "metallic" look to it that there could be some relationship between the tapetum color reflection and the type of coat, anyway, that seems to be what the author is suggesting to me. Just from reading these threads, it's seems like the overwhelming majority of Yorkies, whose eyes shine green have a silky coat.

[FlDebra]

A better way to get the true reflective color is to shine a flashlight at your dog outside at night. Modern digital cameras have a lot of variation and some of the red eye correction features will change eye color reflection too. That is why it was mentioned the older cameras give a more true reflective color too.

Many mistake the yellow color for the opposite of green -- when it really is just a very light green. Greenish yellow, green, blue all pretty much are going to coincide with the nice silky blue coats. While the reddish, reddish orange will be black cottony coats.

So -- bue eye refelctions for just about all puppies up to @ 6 months.
Then if it is a variation of green -- silky; a variation of red -- cottony. You just have to judge the yellow to determine if it is more green or red. And don't take a digital camera reflection to the bank -- it may be misleading you. The flashlight works like a charm.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

A better way to get the true reflective color is to shine a flashlight at your dog outside at night. Modern digital cameras have a lot of variation and some of the red eye correction features will change eye color reflection too. That is why it was mentioned the older cameras give a more true reflective color too.

Many mistake the yellow color for the opposite of green -- when it really is just a very light green. Greenish yellow, green, blue all pretty much are going to coincide with the nice silky blue coats. While the reddish, reddish orange will be black cottony coats.

So -- bue eye refelctions for just about all puppies up to @ 6 months.
Then if it is a variation of green -- silky; a variation of red -- cottony. You just have to judge the yellow to determine if it is more green or red. And don't take a digital camera reflection to the bank -- it may be misleading you. The flashlight works like a charm.

That's the best answer I've ever read on this subject!