Year of the Dog
狗 · 戌 (xū)
Dog Personality
The Dog is the eleventh sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle. People born in the Year of the Dog are characterized by their loyalty and sense of fairness. They are protective of the people they care about and take their responsibilities seriously. Their sincerity and reliability make them trusted confidants, though their cautious nature can sometimes tip into anxiety.
Traits & Characteristics
Key Traits
- Loyal
- Honest
- Amiable
- Kind
- Cautious
Strengths
- Faithful
- Courageous
- Sincere
- Reliable
Weaknesses
- Anxious
- Stubborn
- Can be pessimistic
Lucky Attributes
Lucky Numbers
3, 4, 9
Lucky Colors
Red, Green, Purple
Lucky Directions
East, South, Northeast
Compatibility
The Dog in 2026 & 2027
Fire strengthens Earth — a supportive year. The year's element feeds back into yours, providing a tailwind for personal development and recovering from previous setbacks.
Fire strengthens Earth — a supportive year. The year's element feeds back into yours, providing a tailwind for personal development and recovering from previous setbacks.
Years of the Dog
The Dog recurs every 12 years. Note that the Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar — if you were born in January or February, check whether your birth date fell before or after Chinese New Year that year.
| Year | Element | Yin/Yang | Full Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Fire | Yang | Yang Fire Dog |
| 1958 | Earth | Yang | Yang Earth Dog |
| 1970 | Metal | Yang | Yang Metal Dog |
| 1982 | Water | Yang | Yang Water Dog |
| 1994 | Wood | Yang | Yang Wood Dog |
| 2006 | Fire | Yang | Yang Fire Dog |
| 2018 | Earth | Yang | Yang Earth Dog |
| 2030 | Metal | Yang | Yang Metal Dog |
| 2042 | Water | Yang | Yang Water Dog |
The Earth Element
The Dog's fixed element is Earth, derived from its Earthly Branch (戌). This element colors the Dog's core characteristics regardless of birth year.
In the five-element cycle: Earth generates Metal, controls Water, and is strengthened by Fire. The birth year's element (from the Heavenly Stems) adds a second layer — which is why a Wood Dog and a Metal Dog can have quite different tendencies despite sharing the same animal sign.
Other Zodiac Animals
Related Topics
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This is a general reading based on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Your personalized reading based on your birth chart may differ.