Chinese zodiac sign 11 of 12
Year of the Dog: personality, love and years
Loyal and fair, it stands up for the people it loves and for the underdog. Years of the Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, and 2030.
Dog
- Yang
- Fixed element: Earth
- In Chinese
- 狗 (gǒu)
- Hour of the Dog
- 7–9 p.m.
The next Dog year, the Year of the Metal Dog, begins on February 3, 2030.
Years of the Dog with elements and dates
A Year of the Dog begins on Chinese New Year, not on January 1. If your birthday is in January or February, check your date against the table or enter it in the calculator.
| Year | Sign | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Wood Dog | 02/14/1934 – 02/03/1935 |
| 1946 | Fire Dog | 02/02/1946 – 01/21/1947 |
| 1958 | Earth Dog | 02/18/1958 – 02/07/1959 |
| 1970 | Metal Dog | 02/06/1970 – 01/26/1971 |
| 1982 | Water Dog | 01/25/1982 – 02/12/1983 |
| 1994 | Wood Dog | 02/10/1994 – 01/30/1995 |
| 2006 | Fire Dog | 01/29/2006 – 02/17/2007 |
| 2018 | Earth Dog | 02/16/2018 – 02/04/2019 |
| 2030 | Metal Dog | 02/03/2030 – 01/22/2031 |
Dog personality
The Dog is the sign of honest, responsible and empathetic people. It is guided by principles, has a feel for what is right and gladly helps others. It is a good listener and a faithful friend. People trust it because they know it won't betray a secret or leave them in the lurch.
Its watchfulness has another side too. The Dog can be distrustful, takes a long time to size up new people and often sees dangers that aren't there yet. It worries about its loved ones and about the future, and when it senses injustice it can be stubborn and critical.
Strengths
- Loyalty
- Honesty and a sense of justice
- Responsibility
- Empathy
Weaknesses
- Worrying
- Pessimism
- Distrust of strangers
The Dog in love
In love the Dog is faithful, protective and sincere. It needs time to trust, but once it loves, it is deeply devoted. It values a partnership built on honesty and shared values, and it finds it hard to forgive a lie. Its anxiety eases with a partner who gives it a sense of security and says clearly what they want.
The Dog at work and with money
At work the Dog looks for work that means something. It does well in medicine, law, education, social work, public service or nonprofits, wherever it can help someone or defend something. It is dependable and loyal to its team. It doesn't cope well with dishonest bosses or work whose purpose it doesn't understand.
The Dog in the five elements
The same sign looks a little different in each element. Your element comes from your birth year, and the years next to each description link to their own pages.
The Wood Dog is the warmest of its family. Wood adds openness and generosity, so it trusts people more easily and feels at home in a group. It is loyal, honest and glad to help. But it cares too much about what others think and has trouble saying no.
The Fire Dog fights for justice out loud. Fire adds courage, energy and charisma, so it readily takes the lead and defends those who are being wronged. It is honest and faithful. When it senses injustice, though, it reacts more forcefully than the situation calls for.
Earth is the Dog's fixed element, and the Earth Dog is exceptionally reliable, calm and responsible. Family and friends can count on it in any situation, and in a crisis it keeps a cool head. It inspires trust without a word. Its weaker side is a caution that borders on pessimism.
The Metal Dog is a guardian of principles. Metal strengthens its sense of justice, loyalty and courage, so it defends its values whatever the cost. It is honest and dependable. It judges others as strictly as itself, though, and sees giving ground on principles as weakness.
Water Dog
1982Water eases the Dog's distrust. The Water Dog is flexible and empathetic, connects with people more easily and better understands their motives, so it judges less hastily. It is loyal, caring and sharp. It still hasn't shaken off the Dog's habit of worrying, and its moods can swing hard.
Dog compatibility: best and worst matches
Trine
The Tiger and the Horse share the Dog's idealism and courage. With the Tiger it shares a sense of justice, and the Horse brings optimism into its life.
Secret friend
The Rabbit calms the Dog's anxiety and gives it warmth, and the Dog offers protection and steadiness in return. It is a calm pair built on trust.
Opposite sign
The Dragon stands opposite the Dog. The Dog reads the Dragon's confidence and grand style as arrogance, and the Dragon is worn down by the Dog's criticism and caution.
Dog lucky numbers and colors
- Lucky numbers
- 3, 4 and 9
- Lucky colors
- red, green and purple
This is what popular Chinese tradition says. Different sources list slightly different numbers and colors, so treat them as a fun fact, not a rule.
The Chinese zodiac is a cultural tradition more than two thousand years old, not a science. We calculate the dates and signs precisely, but read the personality descriptions as food for thought, not as a prophecy.
Frequently asked questions
What years are Dog years in the Chinese zodiac?
Dog years since 1924 are 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, and 2030. The Dog comes back every 12 years, each time with a different element. The year begins on Chinese New Year, so people born in January and early February may still have the previous year's sign.
When is the next Year of the Dog?
The next Dog year, the Year of the Metal Dog, begins on February 3, 2030.
What are the Dog's personality traits?
The Dog is seen as loyal, honest and protective. It has a strong sense of justice, can't stand phoniness and stands up for the underdog. Its weaker side can be worrying, pessimism and distrust of new people.
Who is the Dog most compatible with?
By Chinese tradition the Dog gets along best with the other signs of its trine: the Tiger and Horse. Its secret friend is the Rabbit, and its opposite sign is the Dragon. Tradition expects the most friction from that last pairing, though it doesn't rule the relationship out.
What are the Dog's lucky numbers and colors?
By popular Chinese tradition the Dog's lucky numbers are 3, 4 and 9, and its lucky colors are red, green and purple. Sources give slightly different sets, so treat them as a fun fact, not a rule.
Is the Dog yin or yang?
The Dog is always yang, because all Dog years are even numbers. Yang is outward energy: active, direct and quick to get things started. The Dog's fixed element is Earth, though from one Dog year to the next it takes on each of the five elements in turn.
Your AI forecast for the Year of the Fire Horse
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