Strengths
- Loyal and devoted
- Honest and sincere
- Fair-minded
- Protective of others
Chinese zodiac 狗: Year of the Dog
The Dog is the eleventh Chinese zodiac animal, associated in tradition with loyalty, honesty and a strong sense of fairness.
The next Year of the Dog is the Metal Dog, from Sunday 3 February 2030.
- Chinese
- 狗 gǒu
- Earthly Branch
- 戌 Xū
- Fixed element
- Earth
- Polarity
- Yang
- Hours
- 19:00–21:00
Dog years, 1900–2100
Each Dog year starts at Chinese New Year, so birthdays in January or early February of these years may belong to the previous animal. Check the exact dates:
| Year | From – to | Element |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 10 Feb 1910 – 29 Jan 1911 | Metal Dog 庚戌 |
| 1922 | 28 Jan 1922 – 15 Feb 1923 | Water Dog 壬戌 |
| 1934 | 14 Feb 1934 – 3 Feb 1935 | Wood Dog 甲戌 |
| 1946 | 2 Feb 1946 – 21 Jan 1947 | Fire Dog 丙戌 |
| 1958 | 18 Feb 1958 – 7 Feb 1959 | Earth Dog 戊戌 |
| 1970 | 6 Feb 1970 – 26 Jan 1971 | Metal Dog 庚戌 |
| 1982 | 25 Jan 1982 – 12 Feb 1983 | Water Dog 壬戌 |
| 1994 | 10 Feb 1994 – 30 Jan 1995 | Wood Dog 甲戌 |
| 2006 | 29 Jan 2006 – 17 Feb 2007 | Fire Dog 丙戌 |
| 2018 | 16 Feb 2018 – 4 Feb 2019 | Earth Dog 戊戌 |
| 2030 | 3 Feb 2030 – 22 Jan 2031 | Metal Dog 庚戌 |
| 2042 | 22 Jan 2042 – 9 Feb 2043 | Water Dog 壬戌 |
| 2054 | 8 Feb 2054 – 27 Jan 2055 | Wood Dog 甲戌 |
| 2066 | 26 Jan 2066 – 13 Feb 2067 | Fire Dog 丙戌 |
| 2078 | 12 Feb 2078 – 1 Feb 2079 | Earth Dog 戊戌 |
| 2090 | 30 Jan 2090 – 17 Feb 2091 | Metal Dog 庚戌 |
The Dog in Chinese astrology
The Dog is the eleventh animal of the Chinese zodiac and corresponds to the Earthly Branch xū. It was one of the best swimmers in the Great Race, but in the familiar version it stopped to play and bathe in the clear river water, and so arrived only eleventh. In Chinese culture the dog has long been valued as a guardian of the home and a faithful companion.
Chinese astrology associates the Dog with loyalty, honesty and a sense of justice. Dog-born people are traditionally described as dependable, sincere and protective, ready to stand up for friends and for what they believe is right. They are said to be cautious with strangers but deeply devoted once trust is earned. The Dog is a yang sign, and Earth is its fixed element, which tradition connects with stability and trust.
Challenges
- Prone to worry
- Wary of strangers
- Can be rigid about principles
- Tends to expect the worst
In love
Traditional readings describe the Dog as a faithful, sincere partner who values honesty, commitment and mutual respect. It is said to take time to trust and then to be steady, attentive and protective. Classical rules place the Dog in a trine with the Tiger and the Horse and name the Rabbit as its secret friend; the Dragon is its clash sign.
At work
In tradition the Dog is a conscientious, reliable colleague with a strong sense of duty and fairness. It is associated with roles that protect or serve others – law, care, education, public service or any team built on trust. The Dog is said to work best when it believes in the purpose of the job and to be uneasy with dishonesty or office politics.
The five kinds of Dog
Wood Dog
A Wood Dog is said to be especially warm and cooperative, generous with its time and patient with others.
1934, 1994, 2054
Fire Dog
A Fire Dog is traditionally the liveliest and most outspoken Dog – energetic, honest and quick to defend a cause.
1946, 2006, 2066
Earth Dog
Earth is the Dog's own fixed element, so an Earth Dog is said to be the steadiest and most responsible Dog, calm and dependable.
1958, 2018, 2078
Metal Dog
A Metal Dog is described as highly principled and determined, loyal to the core and firm about right and wrong.
1910, 1970, 2030, 2090
Water Dog
A Water Dog is associated with intuition and flexibility, gentler in manner and good at understanding others.
1922, 1982, 2042
Dog compatibility
- Trine (San He)
- Tiger, Horse One of the four groups of three animals four years apart, traditionally the most harmonious match.
- Six Harmonies (Liu He)
- Rabbit A “secret friend” pair, traditionally supportive and complementary.
- Clash (Liu Chong)
- Dragon Opposite animals six years apart, traditionally the most challenging pairing.
- Harm (Liu Hai)
- Rooster A pair traditionally said to cause friction or misunderstandings.
Questions and answers
Why did the Dog come eleventh in the Great Race?
In the traditional tale the Dog was a strong swimmer, but it stopped to play and bathe in the river, so it reached the finish near the end. The story fits the Dog's image as sincere and good-natured rather than competitive.
Which animals are compatible with the Dog?
Classical Chinese astrology places the Dog in a trine (San He) with the Tiger and the Horse and pairs it with the Rabbit as a Six Harmonies (Liu He) match. The Dog clashes (Liu Chong) with the Dragon, its opposite in the cycle, and its Six Harms (Liu Hai) partner is the Rooster.
What is the Dog's element?
The Dog's fixed element is Earth, and it is a yang sign. Each Dog year also takes an element from its Heavenly Stem, so the 60-year cycle includes Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Dogs, and every Dog year is a yang year.