The Dog in Chinese Astrology

Personality of the Dog

Loyal, fair, protective. A trustworthy friend with a strong moral compass. Core traits: loyal, honest, protective, fair.

People born in the Year of the Dog (狗) tend to show these qualities in work, relationships, and how they meet challenges. Your ruling element — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water, set by your birth year — adds another layer, so a Wood Dog and a Metal Dog express the same core nature differently.

Dog compatibility

The Dog's strongest matches are the Tiger and the Horse, who share the Dog's rhythm and values. The most challenging match is the Dragon, the Dog's zodiac opposite. Real compatibility also depends on each person's full chart — month and hour animals and elements matter as much as the year sign.

Your three animals

Most people only know their year animal. But your birth month and hour each carry their own animal too — your inner (work and family) self and your private inner self. Together with your ruling element and yin/yang polarity, they form a layered portrait. The free calculator finds all three in seconds.

Explore other animals

Rat · Ox · Tiger · Rabbit · Dragon · Snake · Horse · Goat · Monkey · Rooster · Dog · Pig