Almond eyes refers to an eye shape that is oval or slanted upwards toward the outer corners, forming an almond-like outline when viewed from the front or side. This eye type is a distinct breed characteristic and part of the “oriental” expression seen in certain Asian dog breeds.
Almond eyes have an uplifted outer corner and tend to be more triangular or slanted in shape compared to the rounder, more fully oval eyes of other breeds. The degree of slant can vary, with some almond eyes appearing more dramatically upswept than others.
The eyelid shape wraps around to create the distinctive almond outline, with the upper and lower lids forming parallel slants. Well-defined almond eyes have good fill under the eyes to maintain the correct eye shape.
Examples: The Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Akita, Shiba Inu, Pug, and Asian toy breeds like the Japanese Chin and Pekingese are renowned for their trademark almond-shaped eyes. This eye type is an important aspect of breed type in the standards of these oriental breeds.
Related Terms: upswept eyes, triangular eyes, oriental eyes, slanted eyes, exotic eyes, oblique eyes, slanted apertures, antetowards slant
