Year of the Dog
Loyal, honest, protective. Years, personality, love, work and compatibility of the Dog.
The Dog is the eleventh sign and the zodiac's symbol of loyalty. In Chinese culture the dog is a faithful guardian of family and home.
Quick answer. You are a Dog if you were born in 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 or any other year in the cycle (every 12 years), from that year’s Chinese New Year to the day before the next one. The latest Dog year began on 3 February 2030 and ended on 22 January 2031.
| Order in the zodiac | 11 of 12 |
| Earthly branch | Xu |
| Own element and polarity | Earth, yang |
| Recent years | 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 |
| Harmonious with | Tiger, Horse, Rabbit |
| Challenging with | Dragon, Rooster |
| Lucky numbers (traditional) | 3, 4, 9 |
| Lucky colours (traditional) | red, green, purple |
Find your Chinese zodiac sign
Dog years: are you a Dog?
You are a Dog if you were born in a Dog year, from its Chinese New Year to the day before the next. Recent Dog years are 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042. The table lists every Dog year from 1900 to 2100 with its exact dates. A January or early February birthday often belongs to the previous animal: Chinese New Year in 2030 was on 3 February 2030, for instance, so anyone born earlier that January was a Rooster.
| Year | Sign | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | Metal Dog | 10 February 1910 | 29 January 1911 |
| 1922 | Water Dog | 28 January 1922 | 15 February 1923 |
| 1934 | Wood Dog | 14 February 1934 | 3 February 1935 |
| 1946 | Fire Dog | 2 February 1946 | 21 January 1947 |
| 1958 | Earth Dog | 18 February 1958 | 7 February 1959 |
| 1970 | Metal Dog | 6 February 1970 | 26 January 1971 |
| 1982 | Water Dog | 25 January 1982 | 12 February 1983 |
| 1994 | Wood Dog | 10 February 1994 | 30 January 1995 |
| 2006 | Fire Dog | 29 January 2006 | 17 February 2007 |
| 2018 | Earth Dog | 16 February 2018 | 4 February 2019 |
| 2030 | Metal Dog | 3 February 2030 | 22 January 2031 |
| 2042 | Water Dog | 22 January 2042 | 9 February 2043 |
| 2054 | Wood Dog | 8 February 2054 | 27 January 2055 |
| 2066 | Fire Dog | 26 January 2066 | 13 February 2067 |
| 2078 | Earth Dog | 12 February 2078 | 1 February 2079 |
| 2090 | Metal Dog | 30 January 2090 | 17 February 2091 |
Check a birth year
Dog age chart for 2027
How old are people born in Dog years in 2027? The age depends on the birthday, so each row gives two ages: the lower one if the birthday in 2027 has not yet come, and the higher one after it.
| Year | Sign | Chinese year | Age in 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Fire Dog | 2 February 1946 – 21 January 1947 | 80 or 81 |
| 1958 | Earth Dog | 18 February 1958 – 7 February 1959 | 68 or 69 |
| 1970 | Metal Dog | 6 February 1970 – 26 January 1971 | 56 or 57 |
| 1982 | Water Dog | 25 January 1982 – 12 February 1983 | 44 or 45 |
| 1994 | Wood Dog | 10 February 1994 – 30 January 1995 | 32 or 33 |
| 2006 | Fire Dog | 29 January 2006 – 17 February 2007 | 20 or 21 |
| 2018 | Earth Dog | 16 February 2018 – 4 February 2019 | 8 or 9 |
The legend of the Dog
In the Great Race, the Dog is a strong swimmer and might have been expected to win, yet arrived eleventh. Tellers often say it stopped to play in the water, which suits its cheerful, easily distracted character.
Dog personality
Dogs are traditionally described as loyal, honest and fair. They are protective of the people they love, speak plainly and dislike injustice. They also have a worrier's streak and can be anxious and critical when they feel insecure.
Strengths
- Loyalty and trustworthiness
- Honesty and a sense of justice
- Protectiveness
- Fairness
- Warmth with close friends
Weaknesses
- Anxiety and worry
- Pessimism
- Stubbornness
- Being overly critical
Dog at home and in the family
At home the Dog is described as a devoted protector who puts the family first. Dog parents are thought to be loyal and caring, and to worry about their children's safety and future.
Dog as a friend
As a friend the Dog is honest, dependable and always there in trouble. Tradition says Dogs are slow to trust but fiercely loyal once they do, and that they can be anxious or blunt.
Dog in love and relationships
In love, the Dog is described as faithful, caring and protective. It wants trust and a partner who is honest. The usual friction is worry: a Dog can fear the worst and become sharp. Tradition suggests partners who are calm and who give frequent reassurance.
Dog career and work style
Traditional descriptions place the Dog in careers built on trust and service: law, teaching, medicine, social work, the police and military, and any role that protects or advocates for others. Dogs are said to care less about money than about doing right.
In a team the Dog is described as the conscientious one who does the right thing and defends fairness. It works best in a cause it believes in and can be pessimistic about plans.
Dog and money
Dogs are traditionally seen as sensible but not very interested in wealth. They are said to give generously and to worry about money more than they need to.
Dog under stress
Under stress a Dog is said to become anxious, critical and sleepless, expecting the worst. Reassurance, exercise and time with trusted friends are the usual suggestions.
Advice for the Dog
The traditional advice for a Dog is to trust a little more, to worry less about what has not happened and to look after itself.
Dog compatibility
In the traditional system the Dog is harmonious with Tiger, Horse (its trine) and with Rabbit, its secret friend. Its opposite sign, which tradition calls a clash, is the Dragon, and the Rooster forms a harm pair with it. Every other pairing has no special relationship. These are conversation starters and not predictions.
| Sign | With the Dog | What tradition says |
|---|---|---|
| 🐀 Rat | No special relationship | No classical link. The Dog’s loyal and the Rat’s quick-witted meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐂 Ox | No special relationship | No classical link. The Dog’s loyal and the Ox’s diligent meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐅 Tiger | Trine: the same group of three | Natural allies in the same trine. The Dog’s loyal goes well with the Tiger’s brave, and the two tend to share an outlook. |
| 🐇 Rabbit | Secret friend | Secret friends. The Dog’s loyal is balanced by the Rabbit’s gentle, a bond described as close and complementary. |
| 🐉 Dragon | Clash: opposite sign | Opposite signs. The Dog’s loyal meets the Dragon’s ambitious, which attracts and irritates in equal measure. |
| 🐍 Snake | No special relationship | No classical link. The Dog’s loyal and the Snake’s wise meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐎 Horse | Trine: the same group of three | Natural allies in the same trine. The Dog’s loyal goes well with the Horse’s energetic, and the two tend to share an outlook. |
| 🐐 Goat | No special relationship | No classical link. The Dog’s loyal and the Goat’s gentle meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐒 Monkey | No special relationship | No classical link. The Dog’s loyal and the Monkey’s clever meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐓 Rooster | Harm pair | A harm pair. The Dog’s loyal and the Rooster’s observant can misread each other, so honesty and patience matter. |
| 🐕 Dog | Same sign | Two Dogs share the same strengths and the same blind spots, so they understand each other quickly and can also repeat each other’s habits. |
| 🐖 Pig | No special relationship | No classical link. The Dog’s loyal and the Pig’s generous meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
Compare two Chinese zodiac signs
The five kinds of Dog
The element of the year adds a second layer to the animal. Wood is described as growth and creativity, Fire as passion and leadership, Earth as stability, Metal as discipline and Water as adaptability. Here are the Dog years of each element, with how tradition describes each kind. Read more in our guide to the Chinese zodiac elements.
| Sign | Years (1900–2100) | Described as |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Dog | 1934, 1994, 2054 | The Wood Dog is described as more flexible and sociable than other Dogs, caring and idealistic, with a gift for helping others. |
| Fire Dog | 1946, 2006, 2066 | The Fire Dog is described as passionate and outspoken, a Dog that stands up for its beliefs with a quick temper. |
| Earth Dog | 1958, 2018, 2078 | The Earth Dog is described as steady and dependable, patient and practical, the most grounded Dog. |
| Metal Dog | 1910, 1970, 2030, 2090 | The Metal Dog is described as principled and determined, loyal with strong convictions and a stubborn streak. |
| Water Dog | 1922, 1982, 2042 | The Water Dog is described as empathetic and perceptive, a gentle Dog who is a good listener and negotiator. |
Famous people born in Dog years
Based on publicly reported dates of birth, and using the exact Chinese New Year of each birth year, these well-known people belong to the Dog: Michael Jackson (29 August 1958); Madonna (16 August 1958); Elvis Presley (8 January 1935); Justin Bieber (1 March 1994); Prince William (21 June 1982); Mother Teresa (26 August 1910); Prince (7 June 1958); David Bowie (8 January 1947). Whether the sign says anything about them is a matter of interpretation.
The Dog in 2027, the Year of the Fire Goat
The Dog has no special classical relationship with the Goat. Tradition describes a neutral year for the Dog, one that depends more on your own choices than on the pairing of the signs. This is folklore, not a forecast. See the Chinese New Year 2027 page for every sign.
Lucky numbers and colours
One commonly quoted list gives the lucky numbers 3, 4, 9 and the lucky colours red, green, purple for the Dog. Such lists differ between sources and belong to popular folklore, not to any fixed rule.
The neighbouring signs
The Rooster comes before the Dog and the Pig comes after it. See all twelve in our guide to the Chinese zodiac.
Frequently asked questions
What years are the Dog years?
Recent Dog years are 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042. Each one runs from that year’s Chinese New Year to the day before the next. For example, the 2030 Dog year runs from 3 February 2030 to 22 January 2031. See the years chart for every date.
Am I a Dog if I was born in January or February?
Only if your birthday is on or after that year’s Chinese New Year. For example, Chinese New Year in 2030 was on 3 February 2030, so a person born on 10 January 2030 belongs to the previous animal, the Rooster, and not to the Dog.
What is the personality of the Dog?
Loyal, honest, protective. Dogs are traditionally described as loyal, honest and fair. They are protective of the people they love, speak plainly and dislike injustice. They also have a worrier's streak and can be anxious and critical when they feel insecure.
What are the Dog’s strengths?
Loyalty and trustworthiness; Honesty and a sense of justice; Protectiveness; Fairness; Warmth with close friends.
What are the Dog’s weaknesses?
Anxiety and worry; Pessimism; Stubbornness; Being overly critical. Every sign has both strengths and weaknesses in this tradition.
What are the best careers for the Dog?
Traditional descriptions place the Dog in careers built on trust and service: law, teaching, medicine, social work, the police and military, and any role that protects or advocates for others. Dogs are said to care less about money than about doing right.
How does the Dog behave in love?
In love, the Dog is described as faithful, caring and protective. It wants trust and a partner who is honest. The usual friction is worry: a Dog can fear the worst and become sharp. Tradition suggests partners who are calm and who give frequent reassurance.
Which signs are compatible with the Dog?
Traditionally the Dog is harmonious with Tiger, Horse and Rabbit, and challenging with Dragon and Rooster. See the full compatibility chart.
What is the Dog’s element?
The Dog is a Earth animal and a yang sign. Each year also has its own element, so Dog years can be Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water. The table on this page lists them all.
How old is a Dog in 2027?
People born in 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982 turn 9, 21, 33, 45 in 2027, and are one year younger until their birthday. The table on this page gives the ages for every Dog year since 1940.
Which animal comes before and after the Dog?
The Rooster comes before the Dog and the Pig comes after it.
What are the Dog’s lucky numbers and colours?
One commonly quoted list gives the numbers 3, 4, 9 and the colours red, green, purple. Such lists differ between sources and belong to folklore.
Other signs
For culture and entertainment. The Chinese zodiac is a traditional system of folklore and symbolism. It cannot predict events, and it is not medical, financial, legal or relationship advice. See the full disclaimer.