Chinese paper-cut for Dog year celebration

The Dog ( 狗 ) is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Dog is associated with the earthly branch symbol 戌. The character 狗 refers to the actual animal while 戌 refers to the zodiac animal.

  Years and associated Five Elements

Persons born within these date ranges for the zodiacal Dog bear the following elemental sign:^[1]

• 1898 – 2 February 1899: Earth Dog
• 10 February 1910 – 21 January 1911: Metal Dog
• 28 January 1922 – 14 February 1923: Water Dog
• 14 February 1934 – 25 January 1935: Wood Dog
• 2 February 1946 – 21 January 1947: Fire Dog
• 17 February 1958 – 8 February 1959: Earth Dog
• 6 February 1970 – 26 January 1971: Metal Dog
• 25 January 1982 – 12 February 1983: Water Dog
• 10 February 1994 – 30 January 1995: Wood Dog
• 29 January 2006 – 17 February 2007: Fire Dog
• 16 February 2018 – 4 February 2019: Earth Dog
• 2030 – 2031: Metal Dog

  Traditional Dog attributes and associations

The Dog is a giving, compassionate, and loyal personality, making this sign the most loyal of all the signs in the Chinese zodiac. Most Dog people can be trusted to keep secrets or accomplish all kinds of difficult tasks as partners. If there's one thing they like to do is to take care of their outer appearance. Dog people love good looks and can express interesting opinions about fashion and styling. A person born in the year of the Dog may become a great designer, counselor, priest, politician, actor, judge, clerk, agent, police officer, scientist, and professor. Another great characteristic of Dog people is their patience, especially with other people. They use their minds to understand situations, provide smart solutions and they will usually do anything to help others. A Dog has a very positive attitude and can attract friends like a magnet. Most Dog people offer kind words, support and advice to friends and family. Most are great listeners, always available to lend an ear or a shoulder to a friend in need. In private, many Dog people worry a lot. Sometimes, they can be quarrelsome, stubborn, or even pessimistic. They can march in and take control of a situation, even when it doesn’t involve them directly. This can lead people to think Dogs are nosy or gossipy, but in reality, most dog people mean well. Most dog people are more concerned with the welfare of their family and friends and will do whatever it takes to help them out. Once a Dog person may determine a subject of interest, they usually master that before taking off for a new adventure. They like to finish what they start. They are honest and trustworthy people, ethically strong and morally kept. Most Dog people make loyal friends and trustworthy companions. ^[2]

Attribute
Zodiac Location[3]	11th
Ruling hours	7pm-9pm
Direction[3][4]	West-Northwest
Motto	“I Worry”[5]
Season and month	Autumn, October
Fixed element	Metal
Stem	Positive
Lunar Month Dates	October 7 – November 4
Gemstone	Diamond
Color[3][4]	Yellow, Turquoise
Roughly equivalent western sign	Libra
Polarity	Yang
Positive Traits	Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, and easy going
Negative Traits	Cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, and quarrelsome
Countries	Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Argentina, Ireland

  See also

• Chinese Zodiac
• Dog
• Dog worship
• Dogs in folklore

  References

  External links

• Dog compatibility page
• Chinese Zodiac