Having bred and exhibited Dalmatians for 40 years, prior to my involvement with pugs, the white color gene, is the contributing factor for the reason that 12% of all Dal puppies are born deaf, be they blue eyed or brown eyed. It has long been thought that the blue eye, is a contributor to deafness in Dals, but I have had many Dal puppies, that were bilateral hearing, (hearing in both ears) that had one or more blue eyes. However, that being said, I have also had Dal puppies that have had unilateral hearing, (one hearing ear, only) that have had one or more blue eyes. Strangely, the very few puppies that I did have, that were totally deaf, all had two brown eyes. Go figure.