Standard - The eyes are set wide apart, oval shaped of moderate size, harmonising with the colour of the coat but darker colour preferred, except in the case of chocolate where a lighter colour is permissible and in the case of merles where blue is permissible. The expression is mild but keen, alert and intelligent.

Although the standard no longer requires the eye colour to be brown, to allow for the different coat colours, it is still appropriate for brown to be specifically mentioned for the eye colour of the Border Collie. In blacks, tri-colour and red Border Collies, the eye colour is essentially brown, darker brown preferred.. Black or yellow eyes are undesirable because they detract from the characteristic mild expression of the Border Collie

The chocolate Border Collie may have a lighter brown eye and the blue may have a hazel eye.

Blue merles may have brown eyes or (one or both, or part of one or both) blue or blue flecked.

 

Please note the word “mild” with regard to expression. Incorrect eye shape, colour and size gives the dog an uncharacteristic expression. This includes a hard eye.

A “hard eye” can be one or more of the following incorrect eye characteristics -

a. Too light or too dark an eye colour.
b. Incorrect eye shape or position
c. Eyes not set well enough into the sockets.
d. An “unkind” or penetrating expression of the eyes.
e. Bulging eyes