Chinese Zodiac Dog

The Dog is ranked the eleventh of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiacs. Dogs were among the first animals to be domesticatedRecent Chinese Zodiac Dog Years. They have been considered as man’s best friend because of their millennia-long history of close relations, loyalty, friendship, and companionship with humans. There are many stories of loyalty dog rescuing master both in and out China. Dog people are honest, responsible and always ready to meet challenge.

Chinese Zodiac Dog Years – Am I a Dog?

You may not a Dog even if you were born in dog year! Chinese zodiac system is based on the lunar calendar, from the 1st day of Spring Festival to the Eve of next Chinese Lunar New Year. Your birthday is set by Gregorian calendar, so you have to switch it to Lunar Calendar of the year you were born to confirm your Chinese zodiac animals. For example, if you were born in Jan. 24, 1982 (a year of Dog), one day before Chinese New Year, you are a Rooster, instead of a Dog.

When are the Chinese zodiac years of Dog? Altogether there are 12 zodiac signs starting from Rat and ending at Pig. Every 12 years is a cycle. There is a simple way to calculate, that any year with a remainder of 2 divided by 12 is the year of the Dog. For example, 2042÷12= quotient, and the remainder is 2, so 2042 is the zodiac year of the Dog. Other Chinese zodiac Dog years include 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042, etc.

When talking about Chinese zodiac signs, we usually need to consider the five elements, which are Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Combining with 12 zodiac signs, each element comes in a 60-year cycle. 1958 is an earth Dog year, so next zodiac earth Dog year will be 2018.

Check following table to see whether your own Zodiac animal is Dog or not. 

Recent Chinese Zodiac Dog Years

Chinese Zodiac Calculator

Zodiac Dog in Chinese Culture

All animals in Chinese zodiac signs, including the Dog, have symbols and stories in traditional Chinese culture and Chinese history.

1. A symbol of loyalty

Dog is considered as the most loyal animals of human. Rich or poor, the dog follows his master and protects the family. 

2. A symbol of fortune and luck 

Chinese people think dog can bring luck and fortune to the family. There is a saying that dogs’ visiting brings fortune while cats’ visiting causes poor. And as dog’s barking is similar to the pronouncing of Chinese character “旺”, meaning flourishing, it becomes more popular. 

3. A symbol of servility

Though Chinese people love dogs as an animal, they have many negative sayings and idioms of dog. The dilemma arises from loyalty, which can also be regarded as servility. In China, you can use puppy to call a lovely baby or small kids. But never, remember, never use dog to describe an adult person, which is an insult.

Lucky and Unlucky Things for People Born in the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dog

Things to Bring Dogs Good Luck

Lucky numbers: 3, 4, 9 and numbers containing them, such as 24 and 49

Lucky colors: Red, Green and purple

Lucky flower: rose, cymbidium and orchids

Lucky directions: east, south, and northeast

Lucky months: the 6th, 10th, and 12th Chinese lunar months

Things to Bring Dogs Bad Luck

Unlucky numbers: 1, 6, 7 and numbers containing them, such as 15 and 68

Unlucky colors: Blue, White, Gold

Unlucky directions: southeast

Unlucky months: the 5th and 8th Chinese lunar months

Chinese Zodiac Dog Traits: Reliable, loyal, faithful, straightforward, honest, righteous and fair …

As one of the best animal friends of human, zodiac dog is liked by Chinese people. It occupies the 11th position among 12 animals and symbolizes character traits like loyalty, reliable, compatibility and kindness. Like dog sometimes becomes a member of a family, Dog people often become deeply involved in others’ lives. For Dogs, ensuring others are happy is more important than wealth, money or success. 

Dog people are determined individuals and they can always fulfill the task well. They value friendships; they’re loyal, honest, trustworthy and reliable and have strong morals and ethics.

Dogs can also be temperamental, narrow-minded and stubborn at times, but they can usually adjust themselves to make things right again.

Strengths of Dog

Dogs are reliable, faithful, honest and fair.

Dogs are full of sense of Justice

Brave, Compassionate and helpful

Dogs are dedicated person

Weakness of Dog

Dog people are emotional

Dogs are person with dependent personality

Dogs are a little bit critical and like to get to the bottom of the matter

Male Dog Characteristics

Male Dogs are good at listening and enjoy great popularity. They’re practical person in daily life. In love relationship, male dogs are hard to be crazily fall in love for someone. They would stay with those they love and show his greatest care. 

In general, male Dogs are straightforward and like to right wrongs and uphold justice. They are honest and helpful. A male Dog friend is always willing to help you without hesitation. Male dogs can always bring you the sense of security.

The biggest flaw of male Dogs is that they are indecisive and one-track-minded. It’s default for them to speak sugared words. They are stubborn and prefer to tradition and are less receptive to new things. Male Dogs lay emphasis on theory yet lack of action and judgment.

Female Dog Characteristics

Female Dogs are traditional and conservative. Unlike most girls, they don’t like to dress up or wear jewelry. When they are angry, they would be on tenterhooks but in most cases, they are considerate, caring, cooperative and impartial. As female dogs are not romantic, they may not good girlfriends. But they are good partners in marriage because of their loyalty and single-mind. 

Female Dogs are independent and responsible to make the family stable. They are passionate in life and work, especially the latter. They love their work and are willing to put energies in it. Their easy-going side mainly lies in that they are willing to offer help to those in need.

Female Dogs’ preference of getting to the bottom might make others impatient. They are simple-minded which sometimes unbearable even to their close friends. Loyal as they are, female Dogs don't know how to say kind words or behave tactfully. This inflexibility will cause them a lot of trouble because they could not properly reveal others their thoughts.

Chinese Zodiac Dog Five Elements for Five Personalities

Elements	Personalities	Recent Years
Water Dog	Farsighted and prudent, brave, self-centered	1922, 1982, 2042
Wood Dog	Reliable, sincere, considerate, devoted.	1934, 1994, 2054
Fire Dog	With wide-ranging curiosity and full of fantasy. Easy to be influenced by others. Have executive power in career.	1946, 2006, 2066
Earth Dog	Dedicated, communicative, responsible.	1958, 2018, 2078
Metal Dog	Conservative, independent, cautious, helpful.	1970, 2030, 2090

Zodiac Dog Love Compatibility – Your Most Compatible Zodiacs

Chinese zodiac animal compatibility is mainly derived from the inter-promoting and inter-regulating relations of traditional Chinese astrology’s 12 Dizhi (地支, Earthly Branches). Accordingly, some of the zodiac animal signs can be compatible, while some may not get along with each other. Read on to know what Chinese zodiac signs are most compatible with the Dog zodiac in love, friendship, and business.

Best Matches: Tiger, Horse, Rabbit

According to Chinese astrology, the Dog, the Tiger, and the Horse are one of the four trines of the San He (三合, Three Harmonies) groups. The three animals in the same group could be harmonious and bring good luck to each other.

Besides, the Dog and the Rabbit are one pair of the Liu He (六合, Six Harmonies) groups. The two animal signs in the same compatible group get along very well. They have similar disposition and both are with a gentle nature.

The best companions for the people born in the year of the Dog are the righteous Tiger, the Honest Horse and gentle Rabbit. As both Dog and Tiger people have a sense of justice, they can easily come to an agreement on a goal and the Dog can assist the Tiger well to accomplish the task smoothly. As honest person, Horse people and Dog people are also ready to help others, say nothing of helping each other. The Dog and Rabbit people are both conservative and honest. So, they appreciate each other's character. No matter in work or marriage life, they could respect the other and get along well.

Least Matches: Dragon, Rooster, Ox, Sheep

The Dog and the Dragon are in one group of the Liu Chong (六冲, Six Conflicting) groups. They are not the least love compatibility because there will be many quarrels and disagreements. As for business, such a match may lead to endless troubles. The people that the Dog don't trust in and conflict most are the Dragon.

The Dog and the Rooster are also incompatible because they are in the same group of the Liu Hai (六害, Six Harming) groups. Harming means being harmful to each other generally. As such, if the Dog and the Rooster stay together, they could harm each other, even unintentionally. They have problem to trust each other and always quarrel over trifles.

What’s more, the Dog, the Ox and the Goat are also in the same group of the San Xing (三刑, Three Punishment) groups. This punishment group is called “ungrateful punishment”. The match of either two animal signs will affect each other and bring good luck in life to a close.

Dog’s Compatibility with 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals

Zodiac Dogs’ Horoscope in 2026 -- the Year of Horse

In the  year of 2026, the horoscope for people born in the Year of the Dog will show a fluctuating pattern. On the surface, it may seem calm and everything will proceed smoothly, but in reality, there will be turbulent undercurrents. Extra caution is necessary. They will receive a trine beneficent influence in their destiny, receive support from a noble person, and their fortune in all aspects will experience a certain increase. 

However, there will also be the influence of the fierce White Tiger star, which will severely dampen their emotional life. They need to take early measures to deal with it in order to smoothly pass through this year.

It should be noted that for the Dog seeking employment, they will be lucky. They will gradually have more opportunities at work and can appropriately look for jobs that align with their interests and hobbies. This will make their work more passionate and energetic, full of motivation, and all difficulties and troubles will be resolved easily. For the Dog engaged in business or entrepreneurship, they will encounter good cooperation opportunities and must firmly grasp them.

In the second half of the year, the financial fortune of those born in the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dog will show a certain recovery. For thehe Dog who are self-employed or investing, they need to follow the market trends, seize the initiative, appropriately adjust their business strategies, in order to have a time of abundant harvest.

Career

Entering the Year of Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar of 2026, the career horoscope of people born under the sign of the Dog will experience significant fluctuations. For the Dog who have been working in the workplace, they will be influenced by the fierce white tiger star, leading to various disputes and conflicts. 

Therefore, when getting along with colleagues, one should be kind to others and not be overly assertive. When facing situations where opinions differ, one should also listen more to the true thoughts of the other party and not insist on one's own way alone.

 In the second half of the year, they will have increasing opportunities in their work, especially for the Dog who are engaged in business or entrepreneurship, they should firmly grasp these opportunities.

Wealth

In 2026, the Dog's financial situation will be affected by the fierce Black Tiger star. They will achieve a situation of earning money while moving. They need to be extra cautious. Although the income may not seem significant on the surface, they will actually receive an unexpected windfall.

During the period from August to October in the second half of the year, they may win an unexpected income. The old house at home suddenly receives good news about demolition, or they may win a big prize in the lottery, which will bring a huge amount of wealth to the people born in the Year of the Dog, making them extremely happy.

At the same time, they also need to manage their wealth well to make money generate more money, so as to achieve a more stable development.

Love & Relationship

In terms of relationship, the Dog have always been rather reserved and dull. When facing someone they like, they tend to be overly timid and are reluctant to openly express their feelings.

However, for single people born in the Year of the Dog, in 2026, they need to shift from being passive to being proactive. If they want to further enhance their love luck, they must promptly express their intentions. When facing someone they like, they should be brave enough to confess their feelings, and only then can they successfully hold hands. 

Health

People born in the Year of the Dog will also encounter several minor challenges in their health in 2026. Influenced by the Five Evil Stars, they may suffer from various minor ailments, such as joint pain, digestive system problems, or symptoms like insomnia and night sweats. The mental state of the Dog will deteriorate sharply, and they will appear listless in their behavior. They will lack enthusiasm for anything they do.

It is necessary to go to the hospital for treatment in time to achieve effective control. Do not delay any longer, or it may cause more serious physical problems.

Zodiac Dog Famous People

徐霞客Xu Xiake (Famous Chinese travel writer and geographer of the Ming dynasty) – born on January 5, 1587 Fire Dog Year

周恩来 Chou Enlai - (first Premier of the People's Republic of China) – born on March 5, 1898 Earth Dog Year

Donald Trump – born on June 14, 1946 Fire Dog Year

Steven Spielberg – born on December 18, 1946 Fire Dog Year

Michael Jackson – born on August 29, 1958 Earth Dog Year

Winston Churchill – born on November 30, 1874 Wood Dog Year

Bill Clinton - born on August 19, 1946 Fire Dog Year

Andre Kirk Agassi - born on April 29, 1970 Metal Dog Year

Madonna Louise Ciccone - born on August 16, 1958 Earth Dog Year

Chinese Zodiac Dog Vocabulary & Idioms