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Year of the Dog: Personality, Years, Elements and Compatibility
Quick answer: the Dog (狗, Earthly Branch 戌) is sign 11 of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Recent Dog years are 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, and the next is 2030. Dogs are known for being loyal and trustworthy. Best matches: Tiger, Horse and Rabbit.
The Dog is the zodiac's loyal guardian. It finished eleventh in the Great Race because it stopped to play in the river. Dogs are faithful, fair and protective, and they quietly look after everyone around them.
Your year animal is one of eight characters in your birth chart. See your full Four Pillars and Day Master, free.
Get your free reading性格Dog personality
| Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Loyal and trustworthy | Anxious or pessimistic |
| Fair and principled | Can be judgmental |
| Protective of others | Slow to trust |
| Honest and sincere |
In love. Dogs are devoted partners who need trust above everything. Once committed they are steady and protective, and they flourish with someone honest who keeps their promises.
At work. Dogs do well in law, social work, medicine, teaching, public service, security and any role built on trust and fairness.
年份Year of the Dog: every year and exact dates
Each Dog year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. Born in January or early February? Check the dates below, or use the Chinese zodiac calculator.
| Year | Type | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Wood Dog (甲戌) | Feb 14, 1934 – Feb 3, 1935 |
| 1946 | Fire Dog (丙戌) | Feb 2, 1946 – Jan 21, 1947 |
| 1958 | Earth Dog (戊戌) | Feb 18, 1958 – Feb 7, 1959 |
| 1970 | Metal Dog (庚戌) | Feb 6, 1970 – Jan 26, 1971 |
| 1982 | Water Dog (壬戌) | Jan 25, 1982 – Feb 12, 1983 |
| 1994 | Wood Dog (甲戌) | Feb 10, 1994 – Jan 30, 1995 |
| 2006 | Fire Dog (丙戌) | Jan 29, 2006 – Feb 17, 2007 |
| 2018 | Earth Dog (戊戌) | Feb 16, 2018 – Feb 4, 2019 |
| 2030 | Metal Dog (庚戌) | Feb 3, 2030 – Jan 22, 2031 |
| 2042 | Water Dog (壬戌) | Jan 22, 2042 – Feb 9, 2043 |
五行The five types of Dog
The Dog comes back every 12 years, but with a different element each time, so the same element and animal repeat every 60 years. The element shades the personality:
Wood Dog: 1934, 1994
Wood adds warmth, growth and a cooperative streak, so the Dog of a Wood year tends to be generous, idealistic and good with people.
Fire Dog: 1946, 2006
Fire adds passion and drive, so the Dog of a Fire year tends to be bolder, more expressive and quicker to act than other Dogs.
Earth Dog: 1958, 2018
Earth adds stability and realism, so the Dog of an Earth year tends to be steadier, more practical and more patient than other Dogs.
Metal Dog: 1970, 2030
Metal adds determination and strength of will, so the Dog of a Metal year tends to be focused, principled and hard to discourage.
Water Dog: 1982, 2042
Water adds intuition and flexibility, so the Dog of a Water year tends to be perceptive, diplomatic and good at adapting.
See the Chinese zodiac elements table for every year.
合婚Dog compatibility with all 12 signs
| Pair | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 鼠 Dog & Rat | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 牛 Dog & Ox | Punishment Pattern | ★★½ (2.5/5) |
| 虎 Dog & Tiger | Natural Allies (Fire Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 兔 Dog & Rabbit | Secret Friends (Six Harmony) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 龙 Dog & Dragon | Opposites (Clash) | ★½ (1.5/5) |
| 蛇 Dog & Snake | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 马 Dog & Horse | Natural Allies (Fire Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 羊 Dog & Goat | Punishment Pattern | ★★½ (2.5/5) |
| 猴 Dog & Monkey | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 鸡 Dog & Rooster | Harm Pair | ★★ (2/5) |
| 狗 Dog & Dog | Same Sign | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| 猪 Dog & Pig | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
Ratings follow classical relationships between the Earthly Branches: trine and Six Harmony pairs are the best matches, the clash sign is the most challenging. See the full compatibility chart.
地支The Dog in BaZi: Earthly Branch 戌
| Earthly Branch | 戌 (Xu) |
|---|---|
| Fixed element · polarity | Earth · Yang |
| Hour | 7 pm – 9 pm |
| Solar month | about Oct 8 – Nov 6 |
| Direction · season | West-northwest · late autumn |
| Hidden stems | 戊 Wu Earth · 辛 Xin Metal · 丁 Ding Fire |
In a BaZi chart the Dog can appear in any of the four pillars: the year (your generation), the month, the day or the hour. The hidden stems are the elements stored inside the branch, which is why two people with the same year animal can have very different charts.
流年The Dog in 2027
2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat. For the Dog: Punishment pattern with the Ox and Goat (丑戌未相刑). Read the fine print. Read the Year of the Dog 2027 forecast.
问答Questions about the Year of the Dog
What years are the Year of the Dog?
Recent Dog years are 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018. The next Year of the Dog is 2030, starting February 3, 2030. Each year begins at Chinese New Year, so people born in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
What is the Dog's personality?
Dogs are known for being loyal and trustworthy, fair and principled and protective of others. Their weak spots: anxious or pessimistic; can be judgmental; slow to trust.
Who is the Dog most compatible with?
The Dog's best matches are the Tiger and Horse (its trine) and the Rabbit (its secret friend). The most challenging match is the Dragon, the sign directly opposite.
What element is the Dog?
The Dog's fixed element is Earth and it is a Yang sign. Each Dog year also has its own element from the Heavenly Stem, so there are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Dogs.
What time of day is the Dog?
The Dog rules the double hour from 7 pm – 9 pm. In a BaZi chart, people born in that window have the Dog in their hour pillar.
See which element balances your chart and what your Day Master says about you. Free reading.
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